It seems the richest psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are written in times of trauma and triumph.
Let’s scan the landscape. We’ve seen that Psalms 113–118 are the foothills rising up toward Psalm 119. Called the Egyptian Hallel, they were sung on Israel’s red letter days. Now on the other side of what we called Mount Monumental is another grouping named the Songs of Ascent or Songs of Degrees. This will be an interesting study. Although it matters little in enjoying the subjects in these psalms, it would be good to consider the meaning of the title. Notice that these psalms have a distinct setting. They are associated with the worship of the Lord at the temple. For example, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’” (Ps 122:1). Interestingly, though this psalm is ascribed to David, the temple wasn’t built in his time. So this mini-hymnbook, composed of Psalms 120–134, must have been compiled at a later date. But when? Let’s look at the clues. There are 15 psalms, 10 of which are anonymous. Dare we say they’re arranged like an ancient sundial, with Solomon’s in the middle (Ps 127), and two by David on each side? When we think of a story featuring the numbers 10 and 15, linked with titles using the words “Ascent” and “Degrees,” doesn’t it take us to the story of King Hezekiah and the extending of his life by 15 years, evidenced by the shadow going back by 10 degrees (Isa 38:1-20)? Listen to what he says on that occasion: “The Lord was ready to save me; therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life, in the house of the Lord” (v 20). We see from that passage that Hezekiah was a psalmist. Perhaps the 10 anonymous ones are from his pen, what he calls “my songs,” and were used during the revival in his day, sung as the people wended their way to the house of the Lord. Something to think about anyway.