According to major Reformed theologians, what is the Christian fulfillment of the Songs of Ascent (Ps 120-134)?
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### According to major Reformed theologians, what is the Christian fulfillment of the [Songs of Ascent](https://www.gotquestions.org/Songs-of-Ascent.html) (Ps 120-134)?
I'm particularly interested in **what a Reformed theologian determines to be the Christian referents of these 4 nouns** so that the verbs attached to them are meaningful in the Christian context in this age (today), **the verbs representing what a Christian can physically do**, just like how in the OT the Israelites would sing the Psalms as they physically ascended the mountain to go to the temple.
Secondly, the interpretation of these 4 nouns should be distinct (i.e. they cannot all be Jesus, at least they should be different aspects of Jesus). For Catholics, the meaning can naturally be connected to ["going to mass"](https://media.ascensionpress.com/podcast/tjcs11/) to physically meet Jesus (the Eucharist) in the house of God (the cathedral) where the throne of the bishop (seat of authority for the bishop acting *in persona Christi*) is. St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is on the [Vatican Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_Hill) .
The 4 nouns are:
1. the physical city & walls of **Jerusalem**: "built as a city should be", "solidly united", "Feet were standing within"
2. the **physical temple** which is the house of God: "Let's go to"
3. **mount Zion** on which the city rests (or referring to the city): "where God desires it for his home", "those who trust in the LORD are like mount Zion", "the LORD bless you from Zion", "mountains surround Jerusalem"
4. the **thrones of the house of David**: "there thrones for judgment are placed"
Sample verses from the CSB translation:
- Ps 121:1: "I **lift my eyes toward the mountains**."
- Ps 122:1-2: "**Let's go** to the **house of the LORD**." Our feet were standing **within your gates, Jerusalem**
- Ps 122:3-4: "Jerusalem, **built as a city should be**, solidly united, where the tribes, the LORD's tribes, **go up to give thanks** to the name of the Lord"
- Ps 122:5: "**There, thrones for judgment are placed**, thrones of the house of David."
- Ps 122:6-7: "Pray for the **well-being of Jerusalem**: "May those who love you be secure; may there be **peace within your walls**, security within your fortresses."
- Ps 125:1-2: "Those who trust in the LORD **are like Mount Zion**. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever. The **mountains surround Jerusalem and the LORD surrounds his people, both now and forever**."
- Ps 128:5-6: "May **the LORD bless you from Zion**, so that you will see the **prosperity of Jerusalem** all the days of your life ..."
- Ps 132:13-18: "For **the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his home**: "This is my resting place forever; I will make my home here because I have desired it. I will abundantly bless its food; I will satisfy its needy with bread. I will clothe its priests with salvation and its faithful people will shout for joy. There I will make a horn grow for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one. I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown he wears will be glorious."
The answer should have references from Calvin's work, such as from his *Institutes of the Christian religion* or his commentaries on Scripture, **OR** from the work of a major historic Reformed theologian such as Jonathan Edwards, Charles Hodge, Abraham Kuyper, Herman Bavinck, etc.
Asked by GratefulDisciple
(27012 rep)
May 23, 2023, 03:06 PM
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Last activity: May 23, 2023, 03:24 PM