Psalms Reading – 4.27.2022
Psalm 122
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up—
the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your prosperity.
David’s name appears in four of the songs of ascents. This is fitting because David, as king, is closely connected to Zion. There are three sections to the psalm with each one referring to “house.”
Verses 1-2 speak of the entire pilgrimage from the declaration of “let us go” to the pilgrims standing at the gates of Jerusalem, ready to enter God’s holy city. Pilgrims “ascend” to Jerusalem because it is “above” every other location, if not in altitude, in holiness as being set apart for the glorious Lord.
“According to the statute” speaks of three major festivals that were commanded for pilgrims to celebrate at Jerusalem each year: the Festival of Unleavened Bread (includes Passover), the Festival of Harvest (Weeks or Pentecost), and the Festival of Ingathering (Booths or Tabernacles)
Jerusalem is not only the home of the Lord; the house of King David is there also. There is a close relationship between the Lord’s presence in Jerusalem and the throne of His anointed leader. The reign of the Lord and the reign of the king do not compete against one another; rather, they were to be a “hand in glove” as the king’s primary responsibility was to lead the nation spiritually according to God’s law.
It was vital to pray for Jerusalem’s peace so it could live up to its name. He says the peace benefits his family and friends and the house of the Lord. The people of God thrive when the center of God’s earthly kingdom is secure and at peace so they can freely worship at the house of the Lord. May we pray for the peace of the earthly locations of power: Jerusalem, Washington DC, other major centers of power, including the heavenly presence of God on earth in the Body of Christ, the Church.
Memory Verse: Psalm 121:1-2, I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Question(s) to Consider: Are you motivated to pray for peace in our world? What motivates you?