Committed Joy

Today, we gather and want to celebrate mothers. For some, this day brings warmth and joy as we celebrate the women who have shaped our lives. It’s a time to express gratitude for the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and other women who have nurtured and loved us. We celebrate the ways in which you are a reflection of the person of God. That He created you specifically in ways that reflect Him. We want to honor the love, strength that you exhibit, and His tenderness, care, and compassion that you share with us. We are so grateful for the invaluable role that you play in shaping our lives.

I recognize, that this can also be a very hard day. One that can bring feelings of sadness, loss, or pain. If this day stirs up difficult emotions for you, please know that we see you, and you are not alone. We pray that the Lord would bring healing and comfort to your soul.

He is the God of all comfort, the one who knows our hearts, understands each of our journeys.

In the past few weeks we have been in a new series called “ASCEND: The way of Worship.” It’s a series on the Psalms of Ascent. These are the Psalms that the Israelites would sing on their way to Jerusalem for the three major feasts. Psalms that Jesus and his disciples would have sang.

In our first three, we see movement in the journey. In psalm 120, our author was a long way off. In 121, he could see the hills as he drew closer to Jerusalem. Now in 122, with great joy and relief he has made it to the city gates. Lets read this Psalm together.

Psalm 122 (ESV)

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!

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 Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

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!”

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.

As we look at this Psalm, we find it to be a Psalm of David. We know that David had great affection for the city. For much of his kingship he reigned within the walls of Jerusalem. More than that, David was well known for his love towards God’s house - the temple.

Consider

Psalm 27:4 “4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

Psalm 65:4 “4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!”

David loved going to the temple. He loved finding himself in the presence of God and worshiping the Lord.

Over the course of his life, He watched the Lord do many amazing acts. But what we find in David, is that even from a young age, he had tremendous trust and faith in God. He was one who had the gift of faith. Believing that God would win the day, that He would intervene and have His way.

Thus, when others call to David, saying “its time to go worship.” He says,

Psalm 122:1 “1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!””

He had an eagerness about him. It was as if the longing of his heart was to simply go and worship. Weather it be by himself or with others, we know that David was going to go. But others just make the times of worship sweater. They just make it all the more meaningful as we turn and we see brothers, sisters, friends, collectively lifting the name of the Lord.

I remember the first time it hit me. I was in 8th grade and I went to an large christian conference for students. We met in a large hockey stadium. There were probably 8-10,000 people there. Most of them in Jr. High and High school. The band started to play and we began to sing songs of worship. I remember feeling overcome by amount of voices lifting the name of the Lord. I just looked around and cherished the moment.

Then occasionally you meet people. People who are like David and they just long to worship. Just waiting and ready to go. When I did my internship at Westwood Community church in Chanhassen MN, I worked alongside a friend named Kari. Kari was one of those people. I can recall numerous occasions where she would get an excited smile and just say something along the lines of “I want to get in there to worship with everyone.” It brought enthusiasm and encouragement to her soul when she could praise God alongside others who were dear to her.

Over the years, I have witnessed that longing growing within my own life. Just this past winter at winter camp, we were gathering for the worship session, my enthusiasm and desire to be in there were causing my heart to beat a little faster. As the music began to play and the leaders and students began to cry out to the Lord, I found myself just cherishing it. But there was a greater moment to come. I was sitting behind a whole row of our students and I had my eyes closed. When I opened them, I saw every one of those students in front of me, singing with their hands raised towards heaven. My knees went week.

There is something special about worshiping God together. There is something special about gathering in this place and collectively focusing all of our attention on the Lord. Collectively, in unison, praising His name.

It’s a taste of heaven.

Just as a mother longs for the well being of her child, so we should long to worship the Lord and to worship the Lord together. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. But it is a practice that is regular in our lives, we will find greater depths of worship.

Notice that David writes - “Let us go.” Its a statement that reveals determination. He is purposeful in finding opportunity to go worship. You see as a christian pilgrim, your times set aside with the Lord, your intentional movement towards the Lord isn’t optional. As a Christian, we must move towards the Lord or we may be no Christian at all. When God’s people are committed to making worship and worship gathering a priority, when we worship Him together, we will find

spiritual enrichment,

deeper more profound times of worship in time,

our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ will grow stronger,

Our longing to be in worship will grow.

The gathering of God’s people is significant and it will have a profound impact on your life if you are committed to engaging and being part of the community.

Can I just say, that I love worshiping the Lord with you here. It is a great privilege to me, as we gather week after week to be here in this room with you.

Psalm 122:2 “2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Lets recall that our Pilgrims have been on a long journey. They have finally made it. They are gathering in the gates. Even David seems to be coming down to meet those who are arriving. They celebrate, their safe arrival; their seeing old friends; gathering with all the tribes of Israel.

There is great relief in making it to the end of long journey. But I imagine there was greater excitement as they embraced one another. Reaching the gates would have been very special.

Psalm 122:3–5 “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 Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5 There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.”

Not only were the gates of Jerusalem a special gathering place after a long journey, but we must remember what Jerusalem meant to Israel. Jerusalem was the political capital as the kings palace and throne where there. More than that, it was the place where God’s presence dwelt in the temple.

This is before Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit was given to all believers. Prior to that day, the Lord didn’t indwell every believer. Rather, His presence was found in the temple, in Jerusalem. This was the center of all Isreal. This was the place where they would gather in unity. The place that they would go to seek after God.

To see that the city is in one peace, bound firmly together, with the gates strong was a physical reminder of the Lord protection. That He enabled these walls to be built to protect them from danger. That He is the one who upholds the walls and the gates. And there they stand, tall and strong. To see the city in such good shape would be a great blessing to all who enter.

Additionally, in verse four we see the calling of Israel. To come to Jersualem for the feasts. In each of these feasts there is joy and celebration. There is much to be thankful. And that thankfulness should be directed towards the Lord. He is the one who has established them and keeps them.

Now you might be saying, “this is all well and good. I am sure they were excited, I am sure this was a joyous celebration, I am sure they were thankful to the Lord, but how does this relate to us today? What should we take away from this?”

Let me answer that by saying, one of the great joys of the Christian is that God was just as faithful then as He is now. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He does not change.

Just as the Lord provided for them He provides for us.

Just as they looked back and saw the hand of the Lord keeping them safe on their journey, so can we.

As they looked forward to the gathering and the festivals that celebrate the Lord with thankfulness so do we.

we get to do it each Sunday.

But we also get to look forward to the times of gathering in the new jerusalem.

More than all of that, the church of today needs to recognize an important truth about this passage. The truth of this passage is found in two parts.

1. These festivals, the gatherings of Israel represented a great unity across the whole country. A unity that went beyond gathering. A unity that aimed to have compassion on all others, aimed for their well-being and encouragement. It was a unity that ran deep through their veins. That they were one people, set aside by one God, for His purposes.

Just as they were called to this unity as God’s chosen people, so are we.

We are called to have deep commitment to one another.

Ephesians 4:1–6 (ESV)

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

You see, we are called to be unified, to make sure that rifts do not come between us. Making sure we understand that here in this place, we can be unified for a greater purpose. Yes, we may have differences, but Jesus overcame those and invited us to do the same.

We are called, to gather together as God’s chosen people, set aside for His purpose, and to be unified as one body that is moving toward Him. Because He is worthy.

2. Their unity is not found the strength of Jerusalem or in the strength of their numbers. Throughout generations, people have tried to maintain unity and failed. Countries have fallen apart, once thriving businesses collapse, families that cant even talk to each other. We can try to maintain unity all we want, but the problem is we are human. Eventually, we will find a way to break the unity even if it comes by our own attempts to maintain it.

The only way to be truly unified was the same for them as it is for us.

Their gatherings, their festivals, their joy and gratitude was all centered around one thing.

All of it pointed directly to God. They made much of Him and acknowledged that even if for no other reason, they could be deeply unified and bound to one another because of their commitment to elevate the name of the Lord.

This should be our focus. He should be our focus. And around these gatherings we should know beyond the shadow of a doubt that we are all on the same team, striving for the same goal, that Jesus is the king of kings, that He reigns in this place and no one else.

Its around Him that we gather. It’s because of Him that we gather.

Psalm 122:6–9 “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!” 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.”

Many of us will read this and believe that it is a call for us to literally pray for Jerusalem. And that would be good, something we should do. But that is not the thrust here.

The bible teaches that until Jesus comes, there will not be peace in the world or in Jerusalem. There might be peace from war, but not God’s Holy shalom peace that we talked about two weeks ago. We even see Jesus weeping over the city because of their ignorance of God’s peace for them.

The thrust of this call is to pray for the peace of God’s people as they administer their calling, as they come before Him in worship, as the make Him the center of their lives.

“May those who love you be secure Lord. May you watch over them and give them security within your arms. Lord, for my brothers and my companions sake, will your grant them peace, if for nothing else than for the sake of peace within your own household Lord.”

Do you pray for brothers and sisters around the world?

Do you pray for brothers and sisters here in the community of Grace Church?

We so often are weighed down by the weights of the world around us, do you pray for the Lord to bring encouragement and to help each of us move toward Him?

With all of the trouble in our lives and around the world, we need to pray. We need to be committed to each other as we aim to build one another up. You see the call of the believer has always been to look on each other with empathy and compassion. Then to sacrificially come alongside and build up.

It’s interesting, that in a series on ascending to worship that we would be called to help one another along the way. That we would be called to recognize that the journey is challenging and we will all need help along the way.

But more than that, what I think this Psalm reveals is that its a great privilege.

It’s a great privilege to encourage.

It’s a great privilege to come alongside and help those who are in need.

It is such a blessing to be a blessing to those around you. Particularly in matter of the faith where we can encourage and uplift one another. What stands out in this Psalm, is that its a blessing to be part of the church. To gather together, centered around the person of Jesus, who saves us from our sin and invites into a journey where He provides true fulfillment.

This Psalm celebrates those blessings and lifts them up to the Lord with deep gratitude.

At the same time, we are reminded that we struggle, that we drift, that there are real challenges that we face each and every day. So we are called to pray, to come alongside, and to joyfully move forward.

I don’t know if you have picked up on it yet, but there is a very real sense in which we come to understand this Psalm and in response we start to think, “We get to be the church.”

I know for many of us, we grew up feeling like we had to go to church.

But as we wrap our minds around everything the church is called to be and all the blessings that we receive from the Lord in that calling, the more we will enter into joy and gratitude.

Because we will experience the profound depth of unity in a body centered around Jesus.

That unity will inspire profound joy and gratitude.

In that joy and gratitude, we will feel compelled to worship in how we serve the Lord.

In that moment, He will remind us to love each other sacrifically as we move toward His throne.

All of life is designed for us to live in relationships with a Holy God. In that relationship, He lavishes His love on us and reminds us that we need each other as we journey towards Him.

You see, the Christian life has a great deal to do with Committed Joy. When we are committed to Him, He will bring about great joy.

In that joy we recognize, “we get to be the church.”