INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 122
Back in Psalm 120 , WE MEET THE PILGRIMS. In Psalm 121, we find them TRAVELLING ON THEIR JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM. In Psalm 122, THEY HAVE ARRIVED!
"I was happy when they said unto me, "Let's go to the Temple of the Lord. JERUSALEM, we are standing at your gates." Psalm 122:1&2 (NCV)
Psalm 122 is still a "A Song of Ascents", but this time it has an author - DAVID. It is one of
the 4 "Songs of Ascents" attributed to him. He wrote it, both, for what Jerusalem was is in his day, and for what it would under his son Solomon and his successors.
This Psalm is all about JERUSALEM - the destination - the city where God chose to live among His people. It is a place where the 12 Tribes of Israel go up to meet together to "praise the Lord in according to the statues of the Lord."
"You must seek the Lord at the place of worship He Himself will choose from among all the tribes - the place where His name will be honoured." Deuteronomy 12:5
"David wrote it for the people to sing at the time of their going up to the Holy Feasts in Jerusalem. It It comes third in the series, and it appears to be suitable to be sung when the people had entered the gates, and their feet stood within the city." Charles Spurgeon
WORSHIPING IN GOD'S TEMPLE - Read Verses 1&2, I Chroniocles 22.
During David's day there was never a TEMPLE, but he knew that one would be built, having extensively planned and prepared for it. It is possible that David wrote here of the pilgrimage to the TABERNACLE, which existed in his day and was regarded as the HOUSE OF THE LORD. It is more likely, though, that he wrote it in anticipation for the pilgrims who would come tom TEMPLE that was to be built by Solomon.
"Then David said, “This will be the location for the Temple of the Lord God and the place of the altar for Israel’s burnt offerings! ....... David said, “My son Solomon is still young and inexperienced. And since the Temple to be built for the Lord must be a magnificent structure, famous and glorious throughout the world, I will begin making preparations for it now. So David collected vast amounts of building materials before his death....... Then David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. 7“My son, I wanted to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God.........Now, my son, may the Lord be with you and give you success as you follow his directions in building the Temple of the Lord your God."
1 Chronicles 22:1, 5, 7,11 (NLT)
Coming to GOD'S HOUSE made David happy, though he knew that no building could contain all of GOD'S GLORY AND GREATNESS. But, at the HOUSE OF THE LORD David focused all his PRAYERS and WORSHIP, just like our Churches today. Like David, we also rejoice in GOD'S WORD in the community of God's people.
Like David, going to GOD'S HOUSE - our Church - should be a glad thing. Not always "fun and entertaining", but it should be "good and welcoming" for both the believer and the non-believer. If this is not the case it is probably a "state of the heart" that is the problem.
Most people regard "our feet standing within the gates", to be David's description of the statement made by the "joyful pilgrims" who have finally arrived in Jerusalem. They come because this is where David set up the Tabernacle, and where the "Ark of the Covenant" and the "Altar of Sacrifice" were. Later Solomon built thge Temple that David had planned and prepared for their later WORSHIP if the Heavenly Father God.
"Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name.” 1 Chronicles 22:19 (NLT)
JERUSALEM - A UNIFIED CITY - Read Verses 3&4
"Jerusalem is a well-built city and it seamless walls cannot be breached. That is where the TRIBES go up - the TRIBES OF THE LORD - to praise the name of the Lord according to the statues given to Israel." Psalm 122:3&4 (NIV)
David had conquered the city of Jerusalem and he made it the capital of the Kingdom of Israel. It had been a Caananite stronghold held by the Jebusites. He built the city and rejoiced when God's walls were built.
"It mattered not how wicked and degraded a place may hace been in former times, when it is sanctified to the use and service of God it becomes honourable......now it is a city compacted together for the "joy of the whole earth". (Plummer, cited by Charles Spurgeon)
Jerusalem was not a large city, but it was not a disorderly "collection of tents and shacks". It was built in a compact, orderly manner - a real "unified city". One of the reasons David established Jerusalem as his capital was because he wanted it for a meeting place for the 12 tribes of Israel. God's chosen people could come together for unified worship in the House of the Lord.
"Christians today should reflect this same UNITY, even with their DIVERSITY." David Guzik
The primary purpose of the "Feasts of the Tabernacle", were so that the 12 tribes could gather together and give THANKS TO GOD. Their appreciation of what God has done for them in the PAST, gave them FAITH for what He would do in the FUTURE.
"The unity of the city reflected the unity of the Tribes on these special occasions. The Israelite tribes came together for the purpose of PRAISING THE LORD. It was an act of loyalty as the Lord commanded them to present themselves before Him." (VanGemeran - cited by David Guzik.
"Here stand the thrones where judgement is given, the thrones of the Dynasty of David."
Psalm 122:5 (NKJV)
David's house was established to rule over Israel. David's lineage reigned in Jerusalem, and will forever reign through Jesus Christ, our Messiah. For Jerusalem is also where Jesus died and rose again. In doing this we have been unifies as one with Him and His Father God.
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.
I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you.
And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. ....I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me."John 17:20-21,23
PRAYING FOR PEACE IN JERUSALEM - Read Verses 6-9
Jerusalem was cherished in the hearts of God's people. It was where the Temple was, where ordinary people
could draw near to God. That is why David is telling his people, and those generations to follow:
"PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM. May those who love you be secure. O Jerusalem, may there be PEACE
within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say: "MAY YOU HAVE
PEACE." For the sake of the House of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity." Psalm 122:6-9 (NIV)
David exhorted pilgrims coming to the Holy City to PRAY FOR THE PEACE of his city. Jerusalem's
Jerusalem's name itself is "CITY OF PEACE." It was also the "CITY OF WORSHIP"and the seat of Government for the nation of Israel.
David's prayer included a BLESSING for those who LOVED this city and prayed for its PEACE. The BLESSING was not only
for the INDIVIDUAL but for the whole COMMUNITY - "David's fellow countrymen living in the city."
Ancient Jerusalem had "political, economic and social importance. " Yet the most important reason people loved and cared for
their city was because of the "HOUSE OF GOD."
"Jerusalem was an outpost of Heaven in the world. The holiest place within the Temple complex was where God's
glory lived. God made the earth a place where God dwells with His people." John Greco
"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Habbakuk 2:14 (NIV)
CONCLUSION - OUR CHURCH TODAY
Christians should have the same great love and care for their Churches today, and seek to be God's SERVANTS in them. In light of all that Jesus has done, it is no longer enough just to PRAY for Jerusalem. The House of the Lord is no longer confined within the walls of one city. We must pray for our brothers and sisters, EVERYWHERE, near and far!
"Just as it was good for the PILGRIMS in Israel to seek the good of Jerusalem, for the sake of GOD'S HOUSE, so
Christians today can and should seek the good of society for the sake of GOD'S HOUSE." David Guzik
"First WE LOVE IT, then we LABOUR FOR IT. As in this passage, WE SEE ITS GOOD, and then SEEK ITS GOOD." Charles Spurgeon
"House of the Lord", Phil Wickham (Composer & Performer), (2021), Apple Music
"The Holy Bible"- New Century Version", 2005, Thomas Nelson
"The Holy Bible - New International Version", 2011, Biblica
"The Holy Bible - New King James Version", 1982, Thomas Nelson
"The Holy Bible - New Living Translation" 2015, Tyndale House Publishing
Greco, John, "A Devotional Adventure in the Book of Psalms - The Songs of Ascent", 2023, You Version
Guzik, David, "Psalm 122 - Coming to the House of the Lord and the City of God," 2020, www.enduringword.com
Spurgeon, Charles, "The Treasury of David - Commentary of Psalms", 1885, 2021, Christianity.com
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