Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.” 122:6, 7
A Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem
Psalm 122, a psalm of Zion, is the 3rd song of ascent. This poem describes the joy of the pilgrim on arriving at Jerusalem to worship God. This is one of four songs of ascent attributed to David (also Ps. 124, 131, 133). Psalm 122 seeks peace and security for Jerusalem, for it is the site of the house of the Lord and worship is precious to His people.
122:1 I was glad: The Hebrew verb for laughter and delight is used to describe the attitude of the pilgrim who arrives in Jerusalem to worship the Lord. The joy of the pilgrim in this psalm contrasts strongly with the sorrow of those who were not able to come to worship God, because of personal (42:1-3) or national exile (137:1-3).
1 A Song of Ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
122:3 The visitor is overwhelmed not just by the buildings of Jerusalem, but by the fact that the city was the place for the worship of God. Where the tribes go up: This refers to the three annual feasts of ancient Israel, as well as to any time that an individual or family needed to worship the Lord in the Holy City.
3 Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together,
122:5 thrones: Jerusalem was not only the central place for worship, it was also the site where civil judgments and decisions were made. Religious and civil issues were closely intertwined in the Law of God.
For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.
122:6-9 peace of Jerusalem: In the process of praying for the good of the city, the people came under God’s blessing. It is God’s desire for the city to have peace. True peace will only come when the Prince of Peace returns to establish His rule. Because of the house: The determination of the pilgrim to seek the good of Jerusalem was based on the fact that the site was the central location for the worship of the Lord and the place God had chosen for Himself.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. 7 Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.” 8 For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.
** The day will come when we enter the new Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, we will be free to worship the Lord in peace. But we don’t have to wait until that day. Thanks to God who is with His people and churches, we can have peace and security both as an individual and as a church whenever we worship Him with sincere heart. So, with the Holy Spirit indwelling in us, we can have peace and security this day.
We will have peace and we will prosper. It’s not wrong to seek prosperity in this way. It was God’s blessing from the very beginning for us to increase and multiply. He wants us to have both peace and joy at the work of our little hands.
122 1 A Song of Ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” 2 Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem! 3 Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together, 4 Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the Lord, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5 For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. 7 Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.” 8 For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.
