Bombs going off in Boston. Stabbings at a college in Texas. Bullets ending the lives of children in Connecticut. Unmanned aircraft dropping bombs on unsuspecting Afghans.

Heads of state threatening to unleash nuclear war. Terrorists calling for murder on a grand scale. Nations attacking others over land disputes that go back hundreds and even thousands of years.

Holy men calling for jihad. Christian leaders calling for the death of other human beings. Men taking up swords and guns in the name of the holy God.

“Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.” (Psalms 120:5–7)

The first psalm in the Psalms of Ascent states the problem well: we are living in Meshech or in Kedar, far from God’s holy city. The third psalm in the group reminds us of where we want to be:

“I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”” (Psalms 122:1)

We don’t want to live in Meshech any more. We’re sick of Kedar. We long to go to the presence of the Lord.

Then let our songs abound,
and every tear be dry;
we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground,
we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground,
to fairer worlds on high,
to fairer worlds on high.

We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.