At the end of 2008, the website connected to television’s “The Travel Channel” posted their list of the “Top 40 Travel Songs of All Time.”[1] The list came from a poll of Travel Channel fans regarding what music they love to listen to when they drive or fly. The web site tabulated the results of the poll and produced a list of the top forty travel songs.
Song #24 on the list was John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” He wrote the song while waiting for a delayed flight at the airport. It captures the pain that travel causes when travel separates us from people whom we love. Let’s listen to the first part of the song: “All my bags are packed I’m ready to go; I’m standin’ here outside your door; I hate to wake you up to say goodbye; But the dawn is breakin’ it’s early morn; The taxi’s waitin’ he’s blowin’ his horn; Already I’m so lonesome I could die; So kiss me and smile for me; Tell me that you’ll wait for me; Hold me like you’ll never let me go; Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane; Don’t know when I’ll be back again; Oh babe, I hate to go.” Sometimes traveling takes us away from people we love. It disconnects us from very important human connections. It’s a pain most of us have felt. And that common experienced helped “Leaving on a Jet Plane” to be one of the top 40 travel songs.
There was an ancient list of songs similar to the Travel Channel’s list of songs. Thousands of years ago, during some of the most important journeys which the Jews undertook, the Jews compiled a list of their own travel songs. These songs were so timeless and beloved that they were recorded, collected, and sung by generation after generation—much like some of the songs in the Travel Channel’s list. We know these ancient travel songs as Psalms 120-134. Today we begin a series on these ancient songs.
There are four important things to know about Ps. 120-134.
- First, these psalms were called the “Songs/Psalms of Ascents.” Only these 15 psalms are given this title. The word “ascents” refers to a slope or even to a stairway.[2] All 15 of these psalms relate specifically to a journey or an ascent.
- Second, Psalms 120-134 were sung by pilgrims as they travelled to and from Jerusalem for three annual festivals. Deut. 16:16 called the Jews to travel to Jerusalem each year for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Tabernacles. As Jews traveled to these festivals in Jerusalem, they would sing Psalms 120-134.[3] As they ascended to Jerusalem, these songs were on their lips.
- Third, one Jewish book called the “Mishnah” states that these 15 Psalms corresponded to the fifteen steps that pilgrims would ascend as they moved in the temple in Jerusalem from the Court of Women to the Court of Israel. The Mishnah also notes that the Levites would sing these psalms on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, presumably on these 15 steps in the temple.[4] Perhaps as the pilgrims arrived in Jerusalem and walked up these 15 steps in the temple, they were singing these songs, or the Levites were singing these songs.
- And fourth, the book of Ezra (2:1, 7:9) uses the verb “to ascend” to describe the Jewish exiles returning from Babylon to Jerusalem. Thus, these songs were also likely sung by the exiles.[5] As former captives and slaves were released from Babylon and allowed to journey back home to Jerusalem, they sang these songs.
These songs were sung by God’s people during the most important journeys of their lives. And the songs serve as a metaphor for the journey of our lives. They point to what was most important to the Jews as the Jews travelled. Thus, the songs educate us as to what is most important about the journey of our own lives.
This morning, we’ll spend some time in Ps. 133: 1Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. (Ps. 133:1-3 ESV)
First, the author shows us a picture. It is a picture of brothers dwelling in unity. The author is looking at brothers dwelling in unity. What exactly is he seeing? There are at least two possibilities. One possibility is that the author is looking at people of the same family, who normally lived apart, now being reunited in Jerusalem at the religious festival.[6] Uncle Joseph and his family who lived north of Jerusalem and Uncle Jacob and his family who lived south of Jerusalem rarely got to see each other. The distance between them was just too far and their lives were just too busy. But during the religious festivals in Jerusalem, these brothers, their wives, and the nieces and nephews travelled to Jerusalem and were reunited. Perhaps the psalmist sees them, embracing at the gate to Jerusalem (“It’s so good to see you!”), expressing amazement at how the kids have grown (“Last time I saw you, you were knee-high to a donkey!”), and walking into the city talking and laughing. And as the psalmist sees this scene, he says, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity”.
A second possibility is that the author sees members of different families meeting and getting to know each other at the festival. The festival was one of those rare times when someone from, say, the tribe of Simeon, would have the chance to meet people from another tribe, say Asher.[7] It’s kind of like when you go on a cruise or you vacation at a beach. You end up meeting people from across the country or across the world. And some of them you connect with and end up eating dinner with and playing volleyball or spades with. And by the end of the trip you feel like they could be your best friends. As the psalmist sees people who have never known each other now engaged in friendship and fellowship at one of the religious festivals in Jerusalem, he exclaims: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.”
For the psalmist, this journey song is the opposite of John Denver’s song “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” Denver lamented because the journey was going to separate him from a life-giving and meaningful relationship. The psalmist, however, rejoices because the journey to Jerusalem is going to make possible life-giving and meaningful relationships. Ultimately, this is a song celebrating our travel companions—those important people we get to know well and travel with in this life.
Some of you have lived this picture, haven’t you? There’s that brother or sister who lives in Dallas or Detroit or Des Moines who you just love hanging out with. And whether it’s on the phone, on email, or in person, they just make the journey of your life better. There’s that longtime friend from school. He/she is the one person you can really be “you” with. No pretending. He/she accepts you just as you are. And he/she makes make the journey of your life better. There’s that spouse who always encourages you, supports you, and thinks the best of you. And you cannot imagine the journey of life without him/her. Or there’s that couple you vacation with every year. And every year it’s just a blast! Being with them makes the rest of the year bearable. That’s the picture of this psalm. Deep and meaningful friendship and fellowship.
But if verse 1 is the picture, then verses 2 and 3 are the interpretation of the picture. In verses 2-3 the author of the psalm interprets what we are seeing. He helps us understand the significance of the picture. And the author interprets the picture in three ways.
First, the author says that this picture of travel companions “is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!” The metaphor comes from Lev. 8. There, Moses brought Aaron and Aaron’s sons to the tent of meeting. The entire assembly of Israelites was gathered around. And there, in full view of every person, and in the presence of God, Moses washed Aaron and his sons with water. Then he dressed Aaron in his priestly clothes. Once Aaron was fully clothed, Moses poured anointing oil on Aaron’s head. The oil was made of flowers, aromatic seeds and fruits, mixed with olive oil. [8] People would have smelled its refreshing fragrance. And it would have been poured liberally on Aaron, dripping down the sides of his head, onto his beard, and down to the collars of his robe. In this way Aaron was consecrated or set apart for the work God had given him.
This metaphor interpreted the picture of travel companions in at least three ways. First, it said that travel companions are refreshing.??[9] Just as the scent of that oil would have been refreshing and pleasant to those who smelled it, so travel companions are a source of refreshment in life. This psalm celebrated the refreshment which family members felt when reunited in Jerusalem. It praised the refreshment which strangers felt when they met each other at the festival and wound up forever-friends.
Second, this interpretation of oil said that the benefits of travel companions are abundant. Just as that oil was poured liberally and abundantly over Aaron’s head, so the benefits of travel companions were liberal and abundant.[10] The song celebrated the numerous good things that came from the fellowship and friendship formed three times a year in Jerusalem.
Third, this interpretation of oil said that travel companions are sacred. [11] The oil on Aaron’s head made him sacred. The oil showed that Aaron was from God and that his work was given by God. In a similar way, this song recognizes that there is something sacred about good travel companions. They are from God, given by God.
Social researcher Robert Putnam writes, “The single most common finding from a half-century’s research on life satisfaction, not only from the U. S. but around the world, is that happiness is best predicted by the breadth and depth of one’s social connections.”[12] Even science recognizes the truth of Psalm 133. Our journey is at its most joyful when we have a good travel companion or two. A strong friendship. A close companion. It is the one thing in life that most accurately predicts a person’s happiness. There is something refreshing about these connections. They bring abundant blessings. They are sacred.
We see just how critical friendship is when it’s taken away. Isolated people are more prone to depression, anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, substance abuse, sexual addiction, and difficulties with eating and sleeping.[13] You take away travel companions, and the journey of life becomes very difficult.
This travel song offers a second interpretation of the importance of travel companions. It says that travel companions are also “like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!” The word “Hermon” refers to Mount Hermon, a nine thousand foot high mountain north of Jerusalem. Moist Mediterranean air would blow inland toward Mount Hermon and drop a very heavy dew.[14] When the psalmist sees the wonderful relationships forming in Jerusalem at the religious festival, he says it’s as if that that heavy dew of Mount Hermon was falling on Zion or Jerusalem.
This metaphor interpreted the picture of travel companions in one primary way: travel companions are invigorating.[15] In a dry and arid place like Jerusalem, a heavy dew like that from Mount Hermon would be invigorating and life-giving. It would revitalize and energize plants and people. Thus Ps. 133 celebrates the way in which the connections formed in Jerusalem were revitalizing and energizing to those who had travelled all that way for the festival.
People who are socially disconnected are between two and five times more likely to die from any cause than those who have close ties to family, friends, and other relationships. Friendships and fellowship literally extend life. Conversely, those who have unhealthy lifestyles (they smoke, or overeat, or have elevated blood pressure) yet are socially connected live longer than people who have healthy lifestyles and have no social connections.[16] Friendships and fellowship are invigorating and life-giving. They literally extend our lives.
John Phillips tells the story of an old man who had sons which were constantly fighting.[17] The father called the sons to gather before him. He picked out the strongest son and handed him one stick. “Break it!” the father requested. With a look of contempt, the son snapped the stick in two. The father handed the son two sticks. “Break them!” the father demanded. The son broke them. The father handed him three sticks. “Break them!” Four sticks. “Break them!” Five sticks. “Break them!” With each additional stick, breaking them became harder and harder. Eventually, the son could not break the sticks. The point? There is strength in connection. Left to ourselves, we are easily broken. But when bundled together, we cannot be broken. There is something invigorating and life-giving about friendship.
Finally, the song provides a third interpretation of the picture of travel companions. It says this: For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. The song is saying that “there,” meaning Jerusalem, is the place where God’s blessing falls. And that blessing is this: life forevermore. As the psalmist looks through the streets of Jerusalem, and he sees people reconnecting or connecting for the first time with each other, he realizes: “That is the blessing of God.” The blessing of God comes when people enjoy friendships and fellowship. When people befriend, connect, love, and laugh together, that’s when the blessing of God comes. And what is that blessing? Ps. 133 says it is “life forevermore.” The word “life” can mean “fresh,” “green,” and “renewed.”[18] God blesses the journey of our life with freshness, with renewal, with the greenness of aliveness when we cultivate and nurture friendship.
During the nine years of Highland’s journey to relocation, friendships and fellowship have become increasingly important. We’ve come to value our connections to each other more than at any other time. One of the blessings of our long relocation journey is that it’s taught us the real value of friendship and fellowship.
This psalm demonstrates why our teen Huddles and adult Reach Groups are so important. It’s in those small groups and gatherings where we can really know others and be known by others. It’s in those small settings where friendships can form and where we gain the blessing described by this song.
In his book The Me I Want to Be author John Ortberg provides this friendship inventory:[19] When something goes wrong, do you have at least one friend you can easily talk with about it? Yes or No. Do you have a friend you can drop in on at any time without calling ahead? Yes or No. Is there someone who could accurately name your greatest fears and temptations? Yes or No. Do you have one or more friends whom you meet with regularly? Yes or No. Do you have a friend you know well enough to trust their confidentiality? Yes or No. If you received good news like a promotion, do you have a friend you would call immediately just to let them know? Yes or No. If you can say “Yes” to most of those questions, let Ps. 133 urge you to continue to cultivate and celebrate those relationships. Be sure to give them high priority in your life. But if you say “No” to many of those questions, spend time this week in prayer and thought, making plans to begin some friendships. Because if you want the ride of your life, it’s going to be found in friendship.
[1] http://www.worldhum.com/features/lists/world-hum-top-40-travel-songs-of-all-time-20081208/
[2]Thomas, Robert L.: New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition. Anaheim : Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998, 1981, S. H4608
[3] James L. Mays Psalms Interpretation (John Knox 1994), 385-386; Hughes, Robert B. ; Laney, J. Carl: Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2001 (The Tyndale Reference Library), S. 224
[4] Allen, 219; Richards, Lawrence O.: The Bible Readers Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton : Victor Books, 1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996, S. 378; Archer, Gleason Leonard: A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. 3rd. ed.]. Chicago : Moody Press, 1998, c1994, S. 499
[5] Allen, 219.
[6]Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 1:888
[7]Smith, James E.: The Wisdom Literature and Psalms. Joplin, Mo. : College Press Pub. Co., 1996, S. Ps 133
[8]Negev, Avraham: The Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land. 3rd ed. New York : Prentice Hall Press, 1996, c1990
[9]Jamieson, Robert ; Fausset, A. R. ; Fausset, A. R. ; Brown, David ; Brown, David: A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997, S. Ps 133:1
[10] James D. G. Dunn and John W. Rogerson, Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible (Eerdmans, 2003), 428.
[11]Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 1:888
[12] John Ortberg, The Me I Want to Be (Zondervan, 2010), 183.
[13] Ortberg, 185.
[14]Hughes, Robert B. ; Laney, J. Carl: Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2001 (The Tyndale Reference Library), S. 225
[15]Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 1:888
[16] Ortberg, 186.
[17] John Phillips, Exploring Psalms: An Expository Commentary (????, 2002), 537.
[18]Thomas, Robert L.: New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition. Anaheim : Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998, 1981, S. H2416
[19] Ortberg, 193.
