Psalms 120-134 are commonly known as “songs of ascent.” They were sung anciently during pilgrimages to the temple and, according to Jewish tradition, by the Levites on the stairs leading up to the temple. The King James Version labels them as “songs of degrees.” One of those songs begins, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help” (Psalm 121:1). All of them encourage us to look up and to ascend, drawing closer to God.
As we study the last fifty psalms this week, we’ll read more psalms of David, all of the songs of ascent, the shortest psalm (117), the longest psalm (119), some important Messianic prophecies (110 and 118), and finally the closing Hallel: five psalms of pure joy (146-150). The final psalm exclaims exuberantly, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6).
One example of collective praise in the Book of Mormon happens when the people of Alma miraculously escape from their captors. After traveling for a full day, they pitched their tents in a valley, which they named “Alma” after their leader. In that valley, “they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them. … And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God” (Mosiah 24:21-22). Perhaps everyone that can speak isn’t identical to everything that hath breath, but the description of Alma’s people is certainly in the spirit of Psalm 150.
This week, as we study Psalms 101-150, let’s also raise our voices in praise to God.
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