I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem-built as a city that is bound firmly together. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.” For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good. Psalm 122, NRSV.
Heavenly Father, we give You thanks that we can come into Your presence and study Your Word. We pray that You will bless us with wisdom as we study, in the name of Jesus we pray; Amen.
At first glance, it appears that the only theme of this psalm is the temple of Jerusalem. But a closer look reveals that the theme is twofold, the city of Jerusalem, and the temple in Jerusalem. This is very important, and very interesting. David begins this psalm with an expression of joy, at the invitation to go to the house of the LORD. It should bring joy to all those who love the LORD, because the “Desire of all nations” (Haggai 2: 7), the One who brought glory to the temple declared, “…My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56: 7, last part). Emphasis provided. That includes you and me, praise God!
Why is this so important? If you remember the last time that Jesus visited the temple in Jerusalem, shortly before He was crucified; He made a statement that we could easily overlook; unless we understood just how much His Father’s house meant to Him (Matthew 21: 12, 13). After pronouncing the seven woes upon the Scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy; He wept over Jerusalem, the chosen city. Jerusalem had been chosen to be the place of worship; the place of judgment, the place of redemption, and salvation. Instead, it had become a place where prophets were murdered (Matthew 23: 37). Outside its city walls, the “Son,” the “Heir,” Himself, would be murdered (Matthew 21: 37-39; 27: 32-50)!
On that final day, as He left the temple at Jerusalem, He declared, “See, your house is left to you, desolate” (23: 38). Emphasis provided. When His glory is in the house, it converts it into a sanctuary! When the glory of the LORD departed from the temple, it became just another house. Now, His house can be found in every nation, among every kindred, tongue, and people! His house is found where people worship the Father in Spirit and in truth! His house is where His glory is permitted to take over and bring conviction, and conversion, to sincere souls who are seeking for truth!
The other item of interest in this Scripture is the call to pray for the city of Jerusalem; for its peace, its safety, its good. If the city was safe, the safety of relatives and friends was guaranteed; the safety of the sanctuary was guaranteed. How many of us pray for the safety of the cities, and communities, where our sanctuaries are located? How many of us pray for the governors, and mayors, of the cities where we worship? How many of us pray for the leaders of our nations? We need to remember that our safety is tied up in their safety. When the children of Israel were going into Babylonian exile, the LORD, through the prophet Jeremiah, enjoined them to, “…seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29: 7). We are also temporarily exiled from the heavenly Canaan; let us remember to pray for the land of our captivity!
NOTE: Some minor changes have been made to this devotional since it was published earlier today.