The Joy in Praying for Another

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300 Quotations for Preachers from the Early Church Pray Unceasingly on Behalf of Others

But you also pray unceasingly on behalf of others, for there is in them a hope of repentance that they may find God. Therefore allow them at least by your deeds, to be disciples. In response to their anger, your gentleness; in response to their arrogant rhetoric, your humility; in response to their abusive speech, your prayer, in response to their deception, your steadfast faithfulness; in response to their violence, your gentleness; not being eager to imitate them. Let us be found to be by gentleness their brothers and sisters, and let us be eager to be imitators of the Lord.

IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH

Read This Morning’s Passage

English Standard Version Psalm 122

122 A SONG OF mASCENTS. OF DAVID.

1  I was glad when they said to me,

g“Let us go to the house of the LORD!”

2  Our feet have been standing

within your gates, O Jerusalem!

3  Jerusalem—hbuilt as a city

that is ibound firmly together,

4  to which the tribes jgo up,

the tribes of the LORD,

as was kdecreed for1 Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

5  There lthrones for judgment were set,

the thrones of the house of David.

6  mPray for the peace of Jerusalem!

“May they be secure who love you!

7  Peace be within your nwalls

and security within your ntowers!”

8  For my brothers and companions’ sake

I will say, o“Peace be within you!”

9  For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,

I will pseek your good.

What is the Outline of this Psalm?

The psalm is spoken by an individual (vv 1, 8, 9) who functions as a member of a larger group (vv 2, 9) and at one point addresses that group (v 6). These factors, together with the psalm’s references to the temple and Jerusalem, give the psalm the speaking voice of a pilgrim visitor to the holy city.[1]

Outline of psalm

vv 1aβ–2 The individual is genuinely excited to be going to Jerusalem with their companions.

in vv 3–5 Jerusalem is praised and you begin to get a sense of the deep pride that the Psalmist has for the beloved City of God.

and in vv 6–9 The individual begins to pray openly for the city he loves, for his companions that are on his journey with him, and for God who provides peace to all who seek it.

Verse 9 The Psalm ends with a commitment, and a charge for us all as we would leave our time here today.

[1]Leslie C. Allen, Psalms 101–150 (Revised), vol. 21, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2002), 211.

Our Excitement to God to Worship.

Pandemic has taught us to have this excitement. Singing together with a live band has been a joy for us but also for them.

My one Sunday off going to New Life reminded me of my own excitement.

This is our goal as we come back: We desire Sunday morning to be a celebration of our Lord and want it to be that one day of the week we look forward to the most.

The Knowledge that provides a sense of Pride.

The Psalmist is filled with knowledge about Jerusalem. You can see his pride as he talks about the beloved Capital of God.

As I continue to move into this role of leading Canyon Creek forward into our future I am distinctly aware of our past. It is a little easier for me than most because I was a part of that past, but to listen to the immense pride people take over the construction of the building in which we worship gives you a small sense of the pride felt by this Psalmist towards Jerusalem.

Pride in the front doors.

Pride in the stain glass windows.

Pride in the Preschool.

Pride in the Mission style look

Pride in simply being faithful with the resources God has provided. This ought to be celebrated.

What is intercessory prayer?

It is simply praying on behalf of another.

He prays for the peace of his beloved city.

He prays for the security of his beloved city.

He prays for the inner peace of the beloved city.

He prays that he will seek good for all.

Our Example for this in Christ

In his ministry he would often get away from the crowds and simply communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit. An aspect of this time of prayer was to pray for the lost.

And even now as Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, Paul says this about what Jesus is doing right now:

300 Quotations for Preachers Christ Is Praying for Me

If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet the distance makes no difference; He is praying for me.

ROBERT MURRAY MCCHEYNE