What do you think?
Rate this book
Worshiping on the Way: The Psalms of Ascents
“Drink deeply from this stream that flows from the well of Scripture, that the Lord might make you more like Christ.”
In Worshiping on the Way, Pastor Jonathan Cruse explains how the Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120–134) were divinely inspired to grow and sustain Israel in their journey to Jerusalem. Today, these same songs give the Christian church a glimpse of the new Jerusalem and draw our hearts heavenward. Explore these Psalms to enrich your corporate worship during our earthly pilgrimage to the heavenly Mount Zion.
“In the Old Testament, the Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120–134) supported and directed pious Israelites on their journeys to the earthly Jerusalem with its king and temple; for Christians, they help us enter the heavenly Jerusalem to draw near to Jesus, our king and temple. Jonathan Cruse’s engaging study opens these psalms for us in a very interesting, insightful, and practical way, encouraging a desire for godliness and helping us on to God.”
—W. Robert Godfrey, teaching fellow and chairman of Ligonier Ministries
“Jonathan Cruse’s writing makes me want to read more of it! We need more Bible in our lives, and we need more guides to the Bible like Cruse, who makes me want to return to the Bible to see more in its pages. The Bible is God’s word, and the Bible is the tool God uses to change lives. This guide to the Psalms of Ascents will put those two things together for you. Drink deeply from this stream that flows from the well of Scripture, that the Lord might make you more like Christ. These psalms are awesome, and this book will help you see how. Enjoy!”
—James M. Hamilton, professor of biblical theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
“One of the pillars of Reformed piety has been the practice of reading or singing psalms. In this book on the Psalms of Ascents, Pastor Jonathan Cruse pastorally unpacks the beautiful Psalms and insightfully reminds us that Christians are traveling people on a pilgrimage to our eternal home characterized by worship and community. This delightful volume will edify you and increase your desire to read (and sing!) the Psalms.
—Joel E. Kim, president and assistant professor of New Testament, Westminster Seminary California
“The Bible teaches that we Christians on earth are pilgrims journeying toward our heavenly home in Christ. In these brief chapters, Jonathan Cruse explores this truth with exegetical care and pastoral insight, encouraging us to carry the Psalms of Ascents close to our hearts as we traverse that journey. To all who are heading to the Celestial City and want to long for God’s heavenly presence with greater grit and deeper gratitude, read this book and be refreshed on your way!”
—R. Carlton Wynne, associate pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA), Atlanta, Georgia; adjunct professor of systematic theology, Reformed Theological Seminary (Atlanta)
“In this disillusioned age of de-churching, the visional call to ascend Mount Zion to the heavenly Jerusalem provided to us by Christ is needed now more than ever. With his approachable, pastoral manner, Jonathan Cruse opens up the Psalms of Ascents to restore this vision and issue such a call. With its concise chapters and study questions, Worshiping on the Way will greatly bless those who read and discuss its pages.”
—Barry J. York, president, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
About the
Jonathan Landry Cruse is pastor of Community Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he lives with his wife and three childre
In Worshiping on the Way, Pastor Jonathan Cruse explains how the Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120–134) were divinely inspired to grow and sustain Israel in their journey to Jerusalem. Today, these same songs give the Christian church a glimpse of the new Jerusalem and draw our hearts heavenward. Explore these Psalms to enrich your corporate worship during our earthly pilgrimage to the heavenly Mount Zion.
“In the Old Testament, the Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120–134) supported and directed pious Israelites on their journeys to the earthly Jerusalem with its king and temple; for Christians, they help us enter the heavenly Jerusalem to draw near to Jesus, our king and temple. Jonathan Cruse’s engaging study opens these psalms for us in a very interesting, insightful, and practical way, encouraging a desire for godliness and helping us on to God.”
—W. Robert Godfrey, teaching fellow and chairman of Ligonier Ministries
“Jonathan Cruse’s writing makes me want to read more of it! We need more Bible in our lives, and we need more guides to the Bible like Cruse, who makes me want to return to the Bible to see more in its pages. The Bible is God’s word, and the Bible is the tool God uses to change lives. This guide to the Psalms of Ascents will put those two things together for you. Drink deeply from this stream that flows from the well of Scripture, that the Lord might make you more like Christ. These psalms are awesome, and this book will help you see how. Enjoy!”
—James M. Hamilton, professor of biblical theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
“One of the pillars of Reformed piety has been the practice of reading or singing psalms. In this book on the Psalms of Ascents, Pastor Jonathan Cruse pastorally unpacks the beautiful Psalms and insightfully reminds us that Christians are traveling people on a pilgrimage to our eternal home characterized by worship and community. This delightful volume will edify you and increase your desire to read (and sing!) the Psalms.
—Joel E. Kim, president and assistant professor of New Testament, Westminster Seminary California
“The Bible teaches that we Christians on earth are pilgrims journeying toward our heavenly home in Christ. In these brief chapters, Jonathan Cruse explores this truth with exegetical care and pastoral insight, encouraging us to carry the Psalms of Ascents close to our hearts as we traverse that journey. To all who are heading to the Celestial City and want to long for God’s heavenly presence with greater grit and deeper gratitude, read this book and be refreshed on your way!”
—R. Carlton Wynne, associate pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA), Atlanta, Georgia; adjunct professor of systematic theology, Reformed Theological Seminary (Atlanta)
“In this disillusioned age of de-churching, the visional call to ascend Mount Zion to the heavenly Jerusalem provided to us by Christ is needed now more than ever. With his approachable, pastoral manner, Jonathan Cruse opens up the Psalms of Ascents to restore this vision and issue such a call. With its concise chapters and study questions, Worshiping on the Way will greatly bless those who read and discuss its pages.”
—Barry J. York, president, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
About the
Jonathan Landry Cruse is pastor of Community Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he lives with his wife and three childre
176 pages, Hardcover
Published January 7, 2025
12 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 5, 2025
I listened to this book which I think affected my rating overall. These Psalms of Ascent (120-134) reflect the highs / lows of life along with the promise of a community of brothers and sisters who are in it with you and the promise of the Lord holding and keeping you always. This book developed as a series of sermons and as such, one of the strengths of the book is that it consistently relates these Psalms to the church and to Jesus.
December 30, 2025
After memorizing the Psalms of Ascent this year, I wanted to read through some sort of commentary on them. This thin volume fit the bill perfectly. The book is a collection of sermons the author preached through Psalms 120-134. The chapters are not too long, making the book perfect to use as a sort of daily devotional. The questions at the end of each chapter make the book conducive for a small group study too. If you want some explanation on these Psalms without reading too technical a commentary, this book is excellent.
Truth: 4/5
There are some chapters in this book that are better/go deeper than others. My favorite chapters were on psalm 120, 127, 128, 131 and 134. Due to the brevity of the chapters, I felt like some stayed a bit surface level when they could have gone deeper.
Structure: 5/5
Very well written and easy to read throughout. This book is accessible in every way.
Usefulness: 4/5
As mentioned above, some chapters went deeper than others and affects the application of each chapter as well. The author clearly had an overall application for the Psalms in mind regarding the importance of the Church. While this application is good and warranted, it sometimes felt forced within certain psalms and sometimes other textual applications were neglected. Overall, however, the picture of starting in the wilderness of Psalm 120 and ending in the corporate worship of Psalm 134 with the up and down pilgrimage in between was very practical.
Truth: 4/5
There are some chapters in this book that are better/go deeper than others. My favorite chapters were on psalm 120, 127, 128, 131 and 134. Due to the brevity of the chapters, I felt like some stayed a bit surface level when they could have gone deeper.
Structure: 5/5
Very well written and easy to read throughout. This book is accessible in every way.
Usefulness: 4/5
As mentioned above, some chapters went deeper than others and affects the application of each chapter as well. The author clearly had an overall application for the Psalms in mind regarding the importance of the Church. While this application is good and warranted, it sometimes felt forced within certain psalms and sometimes other textual applications were neglected. Overall, however, the picture of starting in the wilderness of Psalm 120 and ending in the corporate worship of Psalm 134 with the up and down pilgrimage in between was very practical.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews