“I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me”

The Suitcase of Expectancy

(Walk on stage with a large suitcase and place it next to you.)

How many of you have ever packed a suitcase for a trip?

Think about the last time you packed for something exciting—a vacation, a honeymoon, or maybe a mission trip. The moment you start packing, your mind shifts into anticipation mode. You’re not just throwing things into a bag—you’re preparing for something that’s coming.

Now, imagine if I walked on stage with this suitcase and told you, “I don’t really know where I’m going. I just packed this because it’s Sunday.”

That wouldn’t make any sense! We pack when we expect something!

In Psalm 122, David describes the expectation of worship—the joy of stepping into God’s presence, the unity of the people, and the peace that follows.

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

David was packing his suitcase for worship—he was ready, he was eager, and he knew something powerful was about to happen.

But here’s the problem—many of us come to church like we’re carrying luggage with no destination.

We show up, but we’re not expecting anything.

We come, but our minds are distracted.

We sing, but our hearts are disconnected.

So today, I want to unpack three things from Psalm 122 that will help us rediscover the expectancy of worship.

• Expectation: Worship is a Joy, Not a Job

• Engagement: Worship is About God, Not Just Us

• Encounter: Worship Brings Peace in the Chaos

Let’s open up our suitcase and pack with expectancy.

I. Expectation: Worship is a Joy, Not a Job

(Open the suitcase and pull out a boarding pass.)

Have you ever held a plane ticket in your hand?

The moment you have it, you know something is coming. You’re going somewhere. That ticket represents an experience that’s ahead.

That’s how David saw worship.

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

David wasn’t dragging his feet to worship—he was running with excitement.

Cross-Reference: The Call to Worship with Joy

• Psalm 100:2 – “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!”

• Hebrews 10:25 – “Do not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but encourage one another.”

Application: Do You Come to Worship With Expectation?

Imagine if I had treated my wedding day like just another event.

• “I guess I have to go.”

• “I hope it doesn’t take too long.”

• “I’ll go, but I hope they play music I like.”

My wife would have had some serious questions!

But isn’t that how we sometimes treat worship?

Worship is not just another Sunday—it’s an encounter with God.

Are you packing with expectation? Or are you just showing up?

II. Engagement: Worship is About God, Not Just Us

(Pull out a wedding invitation from the suitcase.)

A wedding invitation means something—you’re being invited into a moment of celebration.

But imagine getting an invitation to a wedding and showing up only focused on yourself:

• “I don’t like the decorations.”

• “The music isn’t my style.”

• “How long is this thing going to be?”

That would be crazy! But let’s be honest—we do this in worship all the time.

Psalm 122 says that Jerusalem was the place where tribes gathered to worship God together:

“Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together, 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.” (Psalm 122:3-4)

Worship was never meant to be about me—it was meant to be about us.

Cross-Reference: Worship is About Unity

• Acts 2:42-47 – “They devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer.”

• John 4:23-24 – “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.”

Application: Are You Fully Engaged in Worship?

• Worship isn’t about our favorite songs—it’s about God’s presence.

• Worship isn’t about our preferences—it’s about praising the King.

• Worship isn’t just about us—it’s about the whole body of Christ lifting up one voice.

When we engage fully in worship, we experience God’s presence in a deeper way.

III. Encounter: Worship Brings Peace in the Chaos

(Pull out a small anchor from the suitcase.)

You know what an anchor does? It holds a ship steady in the storm.

Worship is our anchor.

David closes Psalm 122 by praying for peace:

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you!” (Psalm 122:6)

At my wedding, there were so many things that could have gone wrong.

The schedule. The weather. The nerves.

But when I saw my bride walk down the aisle, all the stress melted away.

That’s what worship does.

Life is unpredictable.

The world is stressful.

But when we worship, we step into the presence of the One who never changes.

Cross-Reference: Worship Brings Peace

• Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

• Isaiah 26:3 – “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.”

Application: Worship is the Answer to Anxiety

• When life is chaotic—worship brings clarity.

• When we feel overwhelmed—worship reminds us that God is in control.

• When our hearts are restless—worship gives us peace.

Conclusion: Pack Your Bags With Expectation

(Close the suitcase and hold it up.)

Psalm 122 teaches us:

1. Expectation – Worship is a joy, not a job.

2. Engagement – Worship is about God, not just us.

3. Encounter – Worship brings peace in the chaos.

So here’s my question:

Are you packing with expectancy, or are you just showing up?

Imagine if we showed up to worship like we show up for a wedding day.

Imagine if we packed our hearts like we pack for an exciting journey.

Because God is waiting at the altar—and He’s invited you to meet Him there.

Will you come with expectation?