Psalm 122

Millions of tourists visit Israel every year, and over half of these are Christians whose primary destination is Jerusalem.

Many people visit over and over.

There is just something special about that ancient city.

As believers our spiritual roots are there.

Jerusalem is the center of our past and the center of our future.

Psalm 122 is the first of three Songs of Degrees, or Songs of Ascent, that were written by David.

It seems to have been written for those who were coming up to Jerusalem to worship at the feasts.

Generations later the people of God sang it after the Babylonian Captivity.

Then there was a new sense of urgency in their prayers and their songs longing for peace in the Holy City.

We as Christians have the privilege to not only enjoy our present in our local church, but we also look for that glorious future when we too will worship in the New Jerusalem.

For us there are two applications, and maybe more, but we can rejoice as we come to gather together to worship in our local church, and we can rejoice as we pray that the day will come soon when we will worship in our eternal home.

I see Three Clear Instructions to Believers in these verses:

I. Rejoice and Heed the Invitation

1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

David rejoiced at the opportunity to go to the house of the Lord.

David was a man after God’s own heart and his heart was glad with excitement and anticipation when he went to the house of God.

Like David our hearts should fully anticipate going to God’s house.

God has commanded us to assemble regularly together

Hebrews 10:25 KJV

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

But we ought not need a command to come.

There’s something different in the air when it’s Sunday!

The Jewish Feasts were anticipated times when the Israelites would gather in Jerusalem and worship.

They were joyous occasions.

Perhaps we lose the anticipation because we gather every week, yet the number of times is not what needs to change, it is our heart that needs to change.

These peoples hearts were happy and sang as they made their way to Jerusalem.

Far too often we allow our lives, and the lives of our children, to become too crowded with activities that there is no time for church.

But we need to make church a priority in our lives.

It is not optional for the Christian.

“I can worship God anywhere.”

Yes you can, but it doesn’t remove the obligation God has given us to worship together in the church that he established.

We don’t move God’s schedule around ours, we need to move our schedule around God’s!

Mark 2:27 KJV

27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

The Bible tells us as the day approaches we ought to be gathering even more.

Why - because the world around us is evil.

We need each other to stand against the world, the flesh and the devil.

Worshiping together here on earth is a preview of what awaits for us in heaven.

Only there it will be without taint from sin.

Pure worship.

So the first clear instruction from David is to Rejoice and Heed the Invitation.

II. Know Why God Founded Jerusalem

and this will not only apply to our church, but also to our future home in the New Jerusalem and New Earth.

2 Our feet shall stand Within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is builded As a city that is compact together:

4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, Unto the testimony of Israel, To give thanks unto the name of the Lord.

5 For there are set thrones of judgment, The thrones of the house of David.

God’s people loved Jerusalem, they rejoiced to be within its gates.

When they were in Jerusalem they were in the place where God’s presence dwelt in a special way.

God founded Jerusalem for a special purpose.

The old Jerusalem is where God’s presence was centered.

It was a picture of the New Jerusalem, and there is definite application we can make to the local church as well.

A. To Bring Security

3 Jerusalem is builded As a city that is compact together:

Jerusalem had strong, closely guarded walls.

It was a secure city.

The people felt safe within its gates.

David mentions the city being compact together, meaning the walls were solidly joined together.

No gaps or weak spots to be broken through by an enemy.

What a wonderful picture of the local Church!

When we stand together in prayer for and with each other there are no weak spots or holes where the enemy can get through.

God brings security to God’s people through the prayers of the saints.

In the New Jerusalem we will have secure walls but there will be no need for the gates to ever close because our safety is in the presence of the Lord.

B. To Build Unity

Verse 4 begins by saying, “Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord...”

Israel was a nation of tribes.

Each tribe would operate independently on a day to day basis.

But they would all come together at Jerusalem.

They would gather for feasts as one nation, one family, one people.

Our church is a wonderful example of this as well.

We are individual families, responsible for God for our homes and our individual lives.

Each family is different, has a different atmosphere, a different feel.

But when it is time for worship, we all gather together in unity to worship the Lord.

Galatians 3:28 KJV

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:2 KJV

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Romans 12:4–5 KJV

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

We come together and worship Christ as one body, having many members.

We are different families, yet united by blood, the blood of Jesus Christ.

A spirit of unity is so important to the health of a church.

In the New Jerusalem we will be all be in unity.

There will be no sin to divide us, no pride to separate us.

So Jerusalem brought security, and built unity, then we see that God founded Jerusalem

C. To Provide a Worship Center

Verse 4 continues, “Unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.”

Jerusalem was the worship center where people came together in unity.

God ordained a place, and actual physical location where His people would meet together to worship Him.

When they gathered in this place to give thanks to the Lord, they were keeping or obeying the testimony of Israel, that is the laws that God gave His people.

In the current age, we are provided a Worship center where we are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

We need this time together to worship Christ.

It uplifts us, it feeds us, it encourages us to make right decisions for Christ based upon His word.

In the New Jerusalem we will gather as one people and worship Christ!

John said in...

Revelation 21:22 KJV

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

We will not need a temple, or church building because the Lord God almighty and the Lamb will be the worship center!

We will worship Him face to face.

D. To Execute Justice

5 For there are set thrones of judgment, The thrones of the house of David.

Jerusalem was Israel’s political center.

it housed the thrones of Judgment the supreme court of the land.

The king would deal justice in matters that could not be resolved on their own.

In the church today we are not to take our squabbles to the courts of our earthly nation, we are to handle them within the church so that we may protect our testimony.

1 Corinthians 6:1–8 KJV

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

Matthew 18:15–17 KJV

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

In the New Jerusalem there will be no sin, but Jesus will be our King.

And He will rule and reign forever more.

Oh I look forward to that day when we will live in peace in that New Jerusalem.

Until then we can have a picture, a foreshadowing of that here on earth through our church…if we will all yield to the Holy Spirit of God and obey him.

So we are given the clear instructions to Rejoice and Heed the Invitation, to Know Why God has Founded Jerusalem, and then third clear instruction given here in Psalm 122 is

III. To Pray for Peace in Jerusalem

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.

7 Peace be within thy walls, And prosperity within thy palaces.

8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.

David exhorted the people of Israel to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Israel’s capital was a very special place.

Not only did God’s people live there, but the House of God was there.

We need to pray for Jerusalem, I have included the prayer request on our prayer sheet for Israel.

We need to pray for Israel, There are great and precious promises given to those who love Israel.

Pray for them to return to God, pray for them to unspotted from the world.

The Bible gives us some things that we can pray for specifically in these verses…again these requests can easily be transferred over to prayers for our church.

A. That All Who Love Jerusalem Will Prosper.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.

David prayed that all who loved Jerusalem would prosper.

This is more than a financial abundance, it indicates being in a state of peace, quiet, and safety.

Genesis 12:3 KJV

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

We know that God will protect His church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against her.

And we can pray that those who love our church will prosper.

When we gather together and study and meditate corporately on the Word of God we inherit the blessings given to those who do so individually.

Joshua 1:8 KJV

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

B. That the City Provide Peace and Prosperity

7 Peace be within thy walls, And prosperity within thy palaces.

Our prayers for Jerusalem can be that God will protect those within its city.

David prayed that the city would be at peace.

There is much strife and division within the city today.

We should pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

And that the leaders of Israel would make wise decisions according to God’s Word and thereby bring prosperity to their land.

Like wise we can pray the same things for our church.

Pray that God will protect all that are within these walls, pray that God will guide His leaders to bring prosperity to our church.

C. That Peace Will Come for Our Families Sake

8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

David wanted peace and safety for Jerusalem for her citizens sake.

So his prayer included peace for those families sake.

In the church we need to pray for peace and unity for our families sake as well.

I have seen many a family destroyed because the fathers or mothers get upset with the pastor or another church member and the people who end up getting hurt…the people who we end up losing the most is the kids.

It’s not worth it!

It’s not worth our personal preferences, or wants.

When there is a church split, some leave and go to another church, but there are is always a group of Christians who have not had a chance to grow that ends up getting out of church all together.

Pray for peace and unity in our church for our families sake!

D. Pray for Peace for God’s House

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.

David loved the city of Jerusalem, he sought the best for the city.

But there was one major reason: God’s house was there.

The presence of God rested in the tabernacle, and later the temple, in Jerusalem.

There God’s people were free to worship Him.

Those who came back from Babylon knew what it was like to lose their freedom to worship.

The people had lost the privilege to gather in His house and worship.

May we never lose site of the privilege we have to gather in this hallowed space!

A space dedicated to the Lord these 127 years in this location, and 166 years in Mayville.

Let us pray for peace in our church because what we have here is special!

I have seen many church buildings boarded up, closed down.

There are thousands of churches without pastors right now in our country.

The number of churches without pastors is on the decline, but only because many churches without a pastor end up closing their doors.

One of the most dangerous times for a church is in between pastors.

I thank the Lord that we have had a smooth transition here three years ago, but that is the exception rather than the rule.

The average time without a pastor is 12-24 months.

Many leave the churches seeking to be fed, or over arguments in the church.

Many churches search committees fall into the trap of power, and end up destroying the church and hurting people in the process.

But there are many other things that destroy a church.

The colors of the wall, the colors of the carpet, petty differences, or preferences.

Things that have no eternal value end up destroying the church.

As the end times take firm hold all around us, we need to eb ever more vigilant to pray for our church.

The devil is seeking to destroy us.

He will do everything he can to divide God’s people.

Let us, like David say…I will seek thy good.

Conclusion

More than ever we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

When we look at Scripture we know that peace will not come to Jerusalem until Jesus comes again and makes the City of David the capital of His Kingdom.

God’s plan will ultimately be fulfilled in the New Jerusalem.

Until then, we as the church can pray that Israel will turn to God.

We can pray for the peace of Israel.

We can pray for peace in our own churches.

Pray that we will be as God’s people the kind of light and example to this dark world around us.

So that we can spread the peace of God even in this present evil world.