John Tillman - The Park Forum

July 28, 2026July 26, 2026

Songs of Ascent Playlist — From Badlands to Highlands

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 28 Read: Isaiah 57 Listen: (3:37) Read: Psalms 123-125 Listen: (1:32)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 123.3-4

3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,

for we have endured no end of contempt.

4 We have endured no end

of ridicule from the arrogant,

of contempt from the proud.

Psalm 124

1 If the Lord had not been on our side—

let Israel say—

2 if the Lord had not been on our side

when people attacked us,

3 they would have swallowed us alive

when their anger flared against us;

4 the flood would have engulfed us,

the torrent would have swept over us,

5 the raging waters

would have swept us away.

6 Praise be to the Lord,

who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

7 We have escaped like a bird

from the fowler’s snare;

the snare has been broken,

and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 125.3-5

3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain

over the land allotted to the righteous,

for then the righteous might use

their hands to do evil.

4 Lord, do good to those who are good,

to those who are upright in heart.

5 But those who turn to crooked ways

the Lord will banish with the evildoers.

Peace be on Israel.

Reflection: Songs of Ascent Playlist — From Badlands to Highlands

By John Tillman

The fifteen “Songs of Ascent” following Psalm 119 are a divine playlist of rescue, restoration, and worship. These songs were sung on the ascent to Jerusalem and sung about the post-exile return to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem’s temple represented God dwelling with his people as he did in Sinai’s wilderness. Every trip to the temple was a lowercase “exodus” from life’s daily enslavements and temptations to seek freedom and forgiveness at the mountain of God. “Songs of Ascent” helped people sing their way from the badlands of sin, separation, and slavery to the highlands of freedom, forgiveness, and fellowship with God.

Have you ever needed more than a vacation? Have you needed an escape?

The psalmists of Psalms 123, 124, and 125 map out that kind of journey. They move from badlands to highlands using a similar pattern from the first triad, Psalm 120, 121, and 122. The pattern begins with lament, turns to praise, and ends with peace.

Psalm 123 raises a cry for mercy. They are trapped in contempt, ridicule, and arrogance. In Psalm 124, they remember the Lord is the source of rescue. The trap is broken. They escape the attacks that tried to sweep them away. In Psalm 125, they remember where they are escaping to. Their destination and destiny is God’s righteous kingdom of justice.

My wife and I have taken many healing and freeing “escapes” to the mountains or desert highlands. In the wildest places, our phones lose their signal but our souls better detect God’s truths.

We return home with a reoriented reality. The temporary exodus reminds us an eternal one is coming. Contempt, ridicule, and arrogance may close their trap on us, but it will shatter in their faces. The scepters of swaggering tyrants will splinter. Corrupt thrones and powers will be overthrown. These truths ride home with us like a song we can sing.

I encourage travel as a spiritual discipline. Visit a National Park or your local city park. (We don’t take our inspiration from Central Park for nothing.) But even without leaving your house, “Songs of Ascent” can transport you to your true home.

Whatever kind of badlands you navigate, Jesus has opened the road to God’s highlands. No kind of sin, corruption, oppression, worry, or sickness can keep you from joining him on that narrow way. Sing your way there with these psalms. Sing your way into God’s peaceful highlands.

Music:

“Shall crime bring crime forever?

Strength aiding still the strong?

Is it thy will, O Father

That men shall toil for wrong?

“No!” say thy mountains!

“No!” say thy skies!”

Man’s clouded sun shall brightly rise

And songs be heard, instead of sighs!”

— “God Save The People,” Godspell, Steven Schwartz

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Be joyful to the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song. — Psalm 100.1

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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July 27, 2026July 25, 2026

Songs of Ascent Playlist — From War to Peace

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 27 Read: Isaiah 56 Listen: (2:11) Read: Psalms 120-122 Listen: (2:12)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 120.5-7

5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,

that I live among the tents of Kedar!

6 Too long have I lived

among those who hate peace.

7 I am for peace;

but when I speak, they are for war.

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

Psalm 122.6-9

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May those who love you be secure.

7 May there be peace within your walls

and security within your citadels.”

8 For the sake of my family and friends,

I will say, “Peace be within you.”

9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

I will seek your prosperity.

Reflection: Songs of Ascent Playlist — From War to Peace

By John Tillman

Fifteen “Songs of Ascent” follow Psalm 119. What are they?

Federico Villanueva (Asia Bible Commentary) highlights two theories. One says they were sung by worshipers “ascending” the steep roads to Jerusalem’s temple. Another says they were sung by post-exile Jews, struggling up the metaphorically steep path to resettlement. These explanations do not rule one another out and probably are both true.

The Psalms scroll is carefully edited and assembled. Human artistry and divine inspiration were partners not just in writing these poems but in curating and arranging them. These fifteen songs of ascent are a divine playlist of rescue, restoration, and worship.

Would you arrange a playlist of songs by date of release or alphabetically? Probably not, unless your only purpose was historical. Playlists are arranged for different reasons.

During one break from college, I made a “mix-tape” for the girl who is now my wife. I didn’t arrange the songs alphabetically or by release date. I arranged them so that each song added to the message that I loved her and (even though I wasn’t quite ready to ask) wanted to marry her. My father drove me back to college. During the three-hour drive, we listened to the tape. He picked up on the message and asked. “Son, are you trying to tell this girl something?”

These psalms of Hebrew poetry were gathered, curated, and assembled post-exile to tell us something. They tell us how God’s people, despite their sins and distress, are still wooed and welcomed by God, back into his presence.

Appropriately, this story begins with lament in Psalm 120. If you are ascending to a high place, you start from a low place. The singer of Psalm 120 is in a low place, captured among those hungry for war, and far from the peace of God’s temple.

Psalm 121 lifts our heads to our destination and source of help and hope. We do not rely on the strength of our legs to make this climb. God will not let us slip.

Psalm 122 celebrates the enduring hope still ahead of us—the peace of God that is beyond understanding and beyond this world.

Whatever low place you are at, God’s love calls you to ascend. Wherever you are in your ascent, keep your eyes on the heights to come. No matter how war clamors around us, peace is coming to drown it out.

Keep singing. And keep climbing.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song. — Psalm 110.1

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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July 24, 2026July 22, 2026

Be Single-Minded

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 24 Read: Isaiah 53 Listen: (2:39) Read: Psalm 119.97-120 Listen: (15:14)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Jul 25 Read: Isaiah 54 Listen: (3:14) Read: Psalm 119.121-144 Listen: (15:14)
Jul 26 Read: Isaiah 55 Listen: (2:11) Read: Psalms 119.145-176 Listen: (15:14)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 119.113-120

Samekh

113 I hate double-minded people,

but I love your law.

114 You are my refuge and my shield;

I have put my hope in your word.

115 Away from me, you evildoers,

that I may keep the commands of my God!

116 Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live;

do not let my hopes be dashed.

117 Uphold me, and I will be delivered;

I will always have regard for your decrees.

118 You reject all who stray from your decrees,

for their delusions come to nothing.

119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;

therefore I love your statutes.

120 My flesh trembles in fear of you;

I stand in awe of your laws.

Reflection: Be Single-Minded

By John Tillman

How can the psalmist say, “I hate double-minded people” and claim to love God’s law? Shouldn’t we love our neighbors and even our enemies?

“Hate the sin; love the sinner,” even when well-intentioned, is easily abused and easily misunderstood.

It is important to understand that the psalmist is not using “hate” as we usually use it. Hate groups hate others categorically and completely, based on unchangeable aspects of their being, identity, or origins. The psalmist and other biblical writers use hate to poetically emphasize choosing what is good over what is evil. Those who are “hated” by God or God’s representatives are not hated for any unchangeable part of who they are, but for their choices. And they are lovingly called to repent.

The psalmist doesn’t use hate to justify attacking or harming the double-minded. He just doesn’t want to become like them. The psalmist is concerned with his own actions and choices.

What does double-minded mean? How do we avoid double-mindedness and how should we treat the double-minded?

From the psalmist we learn how the double-minded reject taking refuge in God or his word, stray from God’s decrees, and spread delusions which come to nothing. They act wickedly with no fear of God.

In Kings, Elijah didn’t use the word “double-minded,” but scolded the people for “wavering between two opinions.” They wavered between worshiping God and Baal. (1 Kings 18.21)

In the New Testament, James described the double-minded as lacking wisdom. Instead of asking and trusting God, they doubted what God called good. Their doubt made them like chaotic waves of the sea, blown back and forth. The double-minded would not humble themselves, submit to God, or resist the devil. (James 1.5-8; 4.8)

The double-minded have no convictions or principles that ground their lives and actions. They do whatever seems right or “wise” to them at the moment. Any false idol or leader convinces them. They celebrate sins even as sins destroy them. We should rightly hate this and resist it in our own lives. But this kind of “hate” for outcomes and actions does not extend to people.

For this reason, we must be single-minded about sharing the gospel with the double-minded. As Elijah and James called sinners to “come near,” so must we. If we are humble enough to share with them, and they are humble enough to listen, God will lift us up together. No one is beyond hope.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

You are my hope, O Lord God, my confidence since I was young. — Psalm 71.5

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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July 23, 2026July 21, 2026

Awake, Awake! Amaze, Amaze!

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 23 Read: Isaiah 52 Listen: (2:46) Read: Psalm 119.73-96 Listen: (15:14)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 52.1-2

1 Awake, awake, Zion,

clothe yourself with strength!

Put on your garments of splendor,

Jerusalem, the holy city.

The uncircumcised and defiled

will not enter you again.

2 Shake off your dust;

rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem.

Free yourself from the chains on your neck,

Daughter Zion, now a captive.

Reflection: Awake, Awake! Amaze, Amaze!

By John Tillman

“Amaze! Amaze!” entered the cultural zeitgeist from the film Hail Mary Project. Perhaps it will stick around. I hope it does.

In the film and book, a human scientist, named Grace, is on a desperate “Hail Mary” space mission to save Earth from a deadly disaster. At his destination, Grace meets a rock-like alien, sent from his planet to solve the same problem. They work out a rudimentary translation system to communicate, work together, and save both their planets.

Grace names the alien “Rocky,” for obvious reasons. Rocky’s limited number of words in the computer translation program don’t seem to include adjectival present participles, like “amazing.” This is why Rocky shouts the verb, “amaze” repeatedly at moments of joy and discovery. And honestly, isn’t “Amaze, amaze!” objectively better than “amazing”?

Like Rocky, biblical Hebrew repeats words for emphasis. Most English translations rephrase them. For example, in Isaiah 26.3, the literal translation would be “peace, peace,” but to capture the intended emphasis, most translations say “perfect peace.” But here, in Isaiah 51.9 and 17, and in 52.1, the literal translation of “Awake, awake” preserves the poetic emphasis of the original.

The first “awake, awake,” is a cry to God, to arise and save Israel as in former times. The second cry is to Jerusalem, drunk and collapsed from God’s cup of judgment. The third is to Zion and encourages her to rise up from her suffering and enslavement to be what God calls her to be. On her own, she fell into shame and defilement. But God offers salvation. In his power, she need not stay down. She can awake.

She is captive but can break the chain from her neck. She is disheveled but can clean herself off. She is naked but can clothe herself in royal garments. She is powerless but can sit on the throne God provides.

This message is also for us. God says to us, “Awake, awake!” The grace of Jesus saves us from deadly disaster. We can be set free, washed clean, clothed in righteousness, and commissioned to his purpose. (John 8.36; Titus 3.5; Gal 3.27; Acts 1.8)

Salvation comes to us in a moment, but awaking to its full meaning is a process we participate in. How awake are you? If you are awake, are you rising up? Are you liberated? Cleansed? Empowered? God says to us, “Awake! Awake!.” Say back to him, “Amaze! Amaze!”

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork.

One day tells its tale to another, and one night imparts knowledge to another.

Although they have no words or language, and their voices are not heard,

Their sound has gone out into all the lands, and their message to the ends of the world.

In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber; it rejoices like a champion to run its course.

It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens and runs about to the end of it again; nothing is hidden from its burning heat. — Psalm 19.1-6

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

How Did He Do It?

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 21 Read: Isaiah 50 Listen: (2:09) Read: Psalm 119.25-48 Listen: (15:14)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 50.4-10

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,

to know the word that sustains the weary.

He wakens me morning by morning,

wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;

I have not been rebellious,

I have not turned away.

6 I offered my back to those who beat me,

my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;

I did not hide my face

from mocking and spitting.

7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,

I will not be disgraced.

Therefore have I set my face like flint,

and I know I will not be put to shame.

8 He who vindicates me is near.

Who then will bring charges against me?

Let us face each other!

Who is my accuser?

Let him confront me!

9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.

Who will condemn me?

They will all wear out like a garment;

the moths will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears the Lord

and obeys the word of his servant?

Let the one who walks in the dark,

who has no light,

trust in the name of the Lord

and rely on their God.

Reflection: How Did He Do It?

By John Tillman

How did Jesus do it?

How did he set aside his divine glory to live in flesh and struggle? How did he obey perfectly while experiencing the same temptations every human faces? How did he follow the Father’s will completely while still having a human mind? How did he worship in a corrupted temple and synagogue system?

But most of all, how did he endure the cross? How did he face the suffering? The torture? The shaming? The taunting? The physical pain and struggle? And death itself? How did he do it?

Isaiah’s servant psalms are ultimately, and most importantly, about Jesus. Isaiah paints many pictures that match up with, and were fulfilled by, Jesus’ life and sufferings. But Isaiah does more than tell us that Jesus would have his beard torn out, or his back beaten, or that he would be mocked and spit upon and pierced for our transgressions. Isaiah shows us not just the physical treatment Jesus would face, but a picture of his inner life that connected him to the Father and made it possible for him to endure.

Isaiah shows us how Jesus did it. And Jesus shows us how we can do it.

Jesus had a rich and satisfying inner life with God through scripture and prayer. He woke “morning by morning” listening. God opened his ears, gave him a “well-instructed tongue,” and taught him words that “sustain the weary.” Jesus felt God near to vindicate and help him.

Jesus’ humanity required him to eat food, drink water, and sleep. It also required him to partake of God’s words, drink in his Spirit, and dream the dreams and purposes of God. Because he did this, Jesus was able to set his face “like flint” toward Jerusalem and his suffering.

Oh, that this would be true of us! That our tongues (and typing fingers) would be well-instructed! That our mind would wake to the Spirit’s whispering! That our ears would be tuned to his melodies! That our faces would be set like flint against trouble, knowing his flint-like face stands beside us!

We have crosses to carry both now and in the future. This is how we do it—imitate Jesus. Pray we never face the physical sufferings Jesus did. But by following his life-giving, scripture devouring, Spirit empowering, pattern of connecting to God, we can do whatever Jesus calls us to.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Small Verse

The earth is the Lord’s and all the fullness thereof, the world and we who dwell within. Thanks be to God — Traditional

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Psalm 123.3-4

Psalm 124

Psalm 125.3-5

Reflection: Songs of Ascent Playlist — From Badlands to Highlands

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Read more: How Did He Do It?

Read The Bible With Us

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Psalm 120.5-7

Psalm 121

Psalm 122.6-9

Reflection: Songs of Ascent Playlist — From War to Peace

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Read more: Awake, Awake! Amaze! Amaze!

Read The Bible With Us

Links for today’s readings:

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Psalm 119.113-120

Reflection: Be Single-Minded

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Read more: Cry, Creator, Cry!

Consider Supporting Our Work

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 52.1-2

Reflection: Awake, Awake! Amaze, Amaze!

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

Read more: The Stretching Arm of Salvation

Read more: The Arm of Flesh versus the Prince of Peace

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 50.4-10

Reflection: How Did He Do It?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Small Verse

Read more: Discipline for the Anxious

Read more: Breathing Prayers