The immense joy of coming to the house of God. Psalm 122
Psalm 122 is a wonderful composition by King David, in which the immense joy of going to the house of God and expressing love and adoration to him is made manifest. In the house of God worship is rendered to exalt his name and his presence is like the oil of gladness that is poured out on his people. David wrote:
I rejoiced with those who said to me:
To the house of the LORD shall we go.
2 Our feet were
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem, which is built
Like a well-knit city.
4 And thither went up the tribes, the tribes of the LORD,
according to the testimony given to Israel,
To praise the name of the LORD.
5 For there are the seats of judgment
The thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
That those who love you may prosper.
7 Let there be peace within thy walls
And rest within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and my companions
I will say, Peace be with thee.
9 For the house of the LORD our God
I will seek her good. Psalms 122 Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960).
Imagen source
Jerusalem was the city chosen by God to dwell in perpetually and it was the city that David chose as the capital of Israel. In this beautiful city was the ark of the covenant in David's time and there David and the people rejoiced in praising God. It was a great joy for King David when someone said to him, "We will go to the house of God." It was a joy, a wonderful joy to be told, "Let us go to the house of God." Praising God and doing worship to honor and revere him should be paramount in the life of a child of God. Christians are called to rejoice in the house of God and sing with sweet praise to Almighty God.
David said that the very act of setting foot at the gates of Jerusalem represented indescribable joy, for it was the city of the joy of the Lord in which Solomon's temple was to be built. That is why David said:
I rejoiced with those who said to me:
To the house of the Lord shall we go.
2 Our feet were
within your gates, O Jerusalem. Psalm 122: 1-2
Imagen source
Jerusalem, the city of peace and joy, was the city to which all the tribes of Israel came to praise the Most High God. Jerusalem, a glorious symbol of peace and joy, was the place God chose for his people to build him a house and for the Lord to dwell among them. Jerusalem was a glorious city that was very well walled and united among them, which made it almost impossible for it to be invaded by their enemies. In this beautiful city the tribes of Israel went up to hear the testimony of the Lord centered in his word and the people worshiped and praised him. Jerusalem is the royal city, where God promised David that there would not fail to be a man of his seed to sit on the throne of Israel.
Jerusalem is still a beautiful holy city longed for by all the peoples of the world. In Jerusalem the Messiah will reign for a thousand years with all those redeemed by the blood of Christ. Jerusalem holy city of peace, in which David was inspired and said:
Jerusalem, which is built as a city well joined together
as a well-knit city.
4 And there went up the tribes, the tribes of JAH,
according to the testimony given to Israel,
To praise the name of the LORD.
5 For there are the seats of judgment
The thrones of the house of David. Psalm 122: 3-5
Imagen source
God's people should pray continually for the peace of Jerusalem, for through her, God prospers those who love her. Jerusalem is a holy land of love and hope, a land coveted in the eyes of God, where God will reign forever. Jerusalem is a symbol of peace and those who seek her must long for her glorious peace within her walls and in her royal palaces. Out of love for the people of Israel, we must pray for them and say to them, "Peace be with you."
Let us not grow weary of asking for the peace of Jerusalem, as King David commanded, when he wrote.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem;
May those who love you prosper.
7 May peace be within your walls
And rest within your palaces.
8 For my brothers and my companions
I will say, "Peace be with you. Psalm 122: 6-8
Imagen source
David closed Psalm 122 by saying:
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God
I will seek his good. Psalm 122:9
The house of God inspires love, for in it is his presence, and he does good to those who seek him. The house of God is the place of worship, where praise and worship are the true rational sacrifice that pleases God. Everyone who abides in the house of God will seek the good of his neighbor.
Imagen source