Psalm 122

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”

2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!

This psalm attributed to David expresses the joy of worshiping in community. David is happy to join the congregation at their invitation, when they said to him, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” David is included in that community in the following verse when he says, “Our feet have been standing within your gate, O Jerusalem!” David lived in Jerusalem of course, about as close as one could get to the temple mount (the temple had not yet been built). This is probably referring to one of the feast days when the tribes travel in from every region of the country to worship together. As a worship leader, David is anticipating this moment, counting the days, envisioning what the experience will be like. Having made all the preparations -- the music, the food, the sacrifices, the facilities (this is a huge event) -- David is excited that the moment has finally come. He’s been figuratively standing in the gates of Jerusalem for some time now in anticipation. Now he is there to welcome the pilgrims as they enter those gates, the same gates that God himself entered when the ark of the covenant was brought up (Psalm 24). How do you feel about worshiping in community? Is it an obligation, a chore, a habit? Or is it an unqualified joy that you anticipate like a child anticipates Christmas? Bring this attitude to church each week, and I guarantee you will have a great worship experience, no matter how good the production is. 

3 Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together,

4 to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord as was decreed for [or as a testimony for] Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

The first word of verse 3 (Jerusalem) is the last word of verse 2 (an example of anadiplosis, staircase parallelism common in the Songs of Ascents). David describes the compact nature of the city. This was true of every city in the ancient world. They were built to be defensible from a siege. With walls, an internal water supply (didn’t exist in Jerusalem until the days of Hezekiah, 300 hundred years after David), and a high place for firing projectiles, the city was the place to go when armies invaded. Of course, David is emphasizing more than just the physical layout of the city, he is speaking of the tightness of the bonds of community and faith. They are bound together by a shared history and ancestry. They are family and periodically they got together for week long feasts to commemorate that shared history and reinforce its meaning. These gatherings were decreed in the law because of their value for nation and community building. In the same way, the church is commanded to gather and remember our shared history, our common ancestry in the family of God. It serves to bind us together and if we choose to forsake gathering, we will soon lose our connection to one another and to God. May the church experience this type of firm binding, not because we have run to the church to escape an invading world, but because we love one another and want to celebrate our lives and history together. 

5 There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!

7 Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”

Verse 5 speaks to the role of the monarchy in Israel. One of the roles of the king was to provide justice for all the people. His was the court of final appeal, and so people made their way to Jerusalem to make their case before the king. Solomon prayed for wisdom to judge well, humbling seeking God’s help in this monumental task of securing justice. The people came to Jerusalem for justice (verse 5) and for security within its walls and towers (verses 6,7). The thrones for judgment are based on the revealed word of God, the statutes and laws that He instituted. So ultimately, citizens are coming to Jerusalem to hear the word of the LORD as well. In fact, this was a primary aspect of the gathering, listening to the words of God read and singing the songs of their history. This is corporate worship today -- gathering before the throne of God, listening to his word, and retelling what he has done. Linking words in verses 6 and 7 are “peace” and “security” (prosperity), another example of anadiplosis (staircase parallelism). The word translated “security” (prosperity) in some versions means “rest, quiet, ease, tranquility.” It sounds very similar to the word, shalom. David’s desire is that the city be a place where worshipers can gather in peace, find rest for their souls, as they celebrate what God has done, submit to his law, and enjoy the company of their brothers and sisters. This is the purpose of  the gathering of the church as well. May all who stand in the gates of our churches experience joy, peace, community, and may they hear the judgments of God proclaimed.

8 For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”

9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.

The psalmist promises to pray for the peace of Jerusalem for the sake of the community and for the sake of the house of the LORD. It’s a prayer for unity and security from two threats that can potentially undo the blessings of corporate worship. The internal threat is division within the community which ultimately has its origin in pride. It may manifest itself in doctrinal arguments or leadership battles, but pride is always at the root. The external threat comes from forces outside the community -- the broader culture, other nations, natural disasters -- things that are beyond our control but impact the community substantially. The church has endured almost 2,000 years of such threats, and the Jewish people have as well. It’s actually quite an amazing story considering how many religions and civilizations are lost to history. There are two ways of looking at unity of the church. On the one hand, the church has splintered into thousands of groups and is divided doctrinally and ethnically. There were times in history where the church literally killed other members of the church over these things. On the other hand, you could say that this is a beautiful mosaic of diversity that has broadened the reach of the church to the extent that national and cultural borders cannot contain her. You can find thriving expressions of faith in every country, while translators and church planters are working heroically to extend her reach even further. We pray for their effectiveness, and we pray for the security of the church, even as she meets secretly in many places.