The Psalms of Degrees, also known as the Songs of Ascents, comprise a collection of fifteen psalms within the Book of Psalms, specifically Psalms 120 to 134. These psalms hold a unique place in the Psalter due to their distinct purpose and usage in ancient Israelite worship and pilgrimage practices.

Historical and Liturgical Context

The term "degrees" or "ascents" (Hebrew: שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת, Shir HaMa'alot) suggests a connection to the act of ascending. Traditionally, these psalms are believed to have been sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for the three major feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The city of Jerusalem, situated on a hill, required an ascent, both physically and spiritually, for those journeying to the Temple.

Another interpretation links these psalms to the fifteen steps of the Temple in Jerusalem, where the Levites would sing them during certain ceremonies. The Talmud (Mishnah, Middot 2:5) supports this view, suggesting that the Levites sang these psalms on the steps leading up to the Temple.

Themes and Structure

The Psalms of Degrees are characterized by their brevity and poetic simplicity, yet they encompass a wide range of themes, including distress, trust in God, joy, and the anticipation of divine blessing. They reflect the spiritual journey of the faithful, moving from lamentation to praise, and from earthly concerns to heavenly aspirations.

1. Psalm 120: A cry for deliverance from deceitful tongues.
· "In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me." (Psalm 120:1)

2. Psalm 121: Assurance of God's protection.
· "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)

3. Psalm 122: Joy in going to the house of the LORD.
· "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD.'" (Psalm 122:1)

4. Psalm 123: A plea for mercy.
· "To You I lift up my eyes, O You who sit enthroned in heaven." (Psalm 123:1)

5. Psalm 124: Thanksgiving for deliverance.
· "If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare—" (Psalm 124:1)

6. Psalm 125: Confidence in the LORD's protection.
· "Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but endures forever." (Psalm 125:1)

7. Psalm 126: Joyful remembrance of restoration.
· "When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers." (Psalm 126:1)

8. Psalm 127: The futility of human effort without God.
· "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain." (Psalm 127:1)

9. Psalm 128: Blessings of those who fear the LORD.
· "Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways." (Psalm 128:1)

10. Psalm 129: Confidence in God's justice.
· "Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare—" (Psalm 129:1)

11. Psalm 130: A cry for mercy and redemption.
· "Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!" (Psalm 130:1)

12. Psalm 131: Humble trust in the LORD.
· "My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty." (Psalm 131:1)

13. Psalm 132: A prayer for the LORD's presence and favor.
· "O LORD, remember on behalf of David all the hardships he endured." (Psalm 132:1)

14. Psalm 133: The blessing of unity.
· "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!" (Psalm 133:1)

15. Psalm 134: A call to bless the LORD.
· "Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD." (Psalm 134:1)

Theological Significance

The Psalms of Degrees encapsulate the journey of faith, reflecting the pilgrim's progress from a place of need to a place of divine encounter and blessing. They emphasize reliance on God's providence, the joy of worship, and the hope of redemption. These psalms continue to inspire believers, reminding them of the spiritual ascent toward God and the ultimate fulfillment found in His presence.Psalms Of Degrees

Is the title prefixed to fifteen psalms, from Psalm 120 to Psalm 134 inclusive. Of this title commentators have proposed a variety of explanations. The most probable are the following: First, pilgrim songs, sung by the Israelites while going up to Jerusalem to worship; compare Psalm 122:4; but to this explanation the contents of only a few of these psalms are appropriate, as for instance, of Psalm 122:1-9. Secondly, others suppose the title to refer to a species of rhythm in these psalms; by which the sense ascends, as it were, by degrees, one member or clause frequently repeating the words with which the preceding member closes. Thus in Psalm 121:1-8,

1. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help.

2. My help cometh from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

3. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; Thy keeper will not slumber.

4. Lo, not slumber nor sleep will the keeper of Israel.

But this solution does not well apply to all these psalms.

On the Psalms. I.
... inscriptions nowhere contain the word "songs," but only "psalm" or "psalms;" for
the ... songs" at the end; and wherever there is the word "degrees," there we do ...
/.../hippolytus/the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on the psalms i.htm

After These Things, Her Nine Months Being Fulfilled, Anna Brought ...
... Another reading is: And there were about the temple, according to the fifteen Psalms
of Degrees, fifteen steps of ascent: the temple was on a mountain, and ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 4 after these things.htm

Three Degrees of Love I Shall Tell Thee, for I Would that Thou ...
... Then must thou be long over a few psalms. ... second degree also: for languishing is
when men fail for sickness, and they who are in these two degrees fail from ...
/.../chapter viii three degrees of.htm

In Judaea
... 5, 6). It is from such pilgrim-psalms by the way as Psalm 84 or from the Songs of
Ascent to the Holy City (commonly known as the Psalms of Degrees), that we ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm

And when the Circle of Three Years had Rolled Round...
... Now there were round the temple, according to the fifteen Psalms of Degrees, [1696]
fifteen steps going up; for, on account of the temple having been built on ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of the nativity of mary/chapter 6 and when the.htm

The Gate of Nicanor, or the East Gate of the Court of Israel.
... stood upon the fifteen steps going down out of the Court of Israel into the Women's
Court, singing according to the number of the fifteen psalms of degrees," &c ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 30 the gate of.htm

Letter vii. To Chromatius, Jovinus, and Eusebius.
... [97] He can scale already that ladder of which the psalms of degrees [98] are a
type; whilst I, still weeping on its first step, hardly know whether I shall ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter vii to chromatius jovinus.htm

How the Fact that the Number of the Psalms was to be Twelve was ...
... of weak ones is sure to be found); and when in different degrees they strove, each
according to his own powers, to fix an enormous number of Psalms, and some ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter v how the fact.htm

Appendix 1 Massecheth Middoth
... And fifteen steps went up from there to the Court of Israel, like the fifteen
degrees in the Psalms [Songs of Degrees in the Psalms]. ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/appendix 1 massecheth middoth.htm

The Good Shepherd' and his one Flock' - Last Discourse at the ...
... the thought expressed in one line or one couplet is carried forward and developed
in the next, forming what are called the Psalms of Ascent (of Degrees'). ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x the good shepherd.htm

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