“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” Psalm 122:1
David was glad when he was invited to go to the house of the Lord. Such a feeling about being in the house of the Lord is evidence of God’s saving grace in his life.
In Psalm 51:5, it is written, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” When we are born into this world, we have a sin nature, not Christlikeness. To gain Christlikeness, we must be born again. In John 3:5-7, Jesus told a highly educated religious leader of Israel, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
In Ephesians 2:1, it is written, “You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” A dead person cannot revive himself. He needs God to do that. Thus, every conversion to faith in and profession of Christ is a miracle of God. It is a spiritual rebirth in one’s soul.
In 1 Corinthians 2:14, it is written, “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The natural man must receive the Holy Spirit. He or she must be born of the Spirit of God. God naturalizes sinners for His kingdom by applying the blood of Christ to their sin and thus blotting out their sins, and then, He fills us with His Holy Spirit, giving us new life.
Scammers want kingdoms without borders, but their outrage and protests will not remove the borders that God has set around His kingdom. A person must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Some interpret “water” in John 3:5 as a reference to baptism. I believe it symbolizes the Word of God. In Ephesians 5:26, God sanctifies and cleanses His people “with the washing of water by the Word.” In John 1:1, 14 and Revelation 19:13, Jesus is called the Word of God. It is through the preaching of the Word and the convictions of the Holy Spirit that souls are converted.
Outward water baptism symbolizes the work of God’s Word and His Spirit in one’s life. To God belongs the glory! In the Books of Acts, the people who were convicted of their sins and turned to Christ for salvation wanted to be baptized.
Thus, when believers willingly and joyfully gather for public worship, it is because God has done a work of grace in their lives and they are glad because of it.
“Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!” Psalm 122:2
For those who love the Lord, being in Jerusalem is a wonderful event. In Psalm 84:10, David considered even being a doorkeeper in God’s house a privilege. [2] Thanks be to God for volunteers who stand at the doors of God’s house and who welcome worshippers to enter!
“Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the Testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the Name of the Lord.” Psalm 122:3-4
Jerusalem was beautiful not only because of its location but also because of its design. Its houses were built closely together rather than scattered. Its streets were orderly, and the city was well planned and united. [3]
Jerusalem was where all the tribes of Israel gathered as one family under God. They were united as they joined their voices together in harmony to worship God our Creator and Savior. They thanked the Lord. One of the main purposes of public worship is to give thanks to God. [4]
“For thrones are set there for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.” Psalm 122:5
Jerusalem is where much of the Word of God was proclaimed and documented. It is where Messiah atoned for our sins. It is where the Holy Spirit was poured out on believers in Jesus on the Day of Pentecost. True justice and good Law comes from the Word of God and Spirit of God.
In David’s day, the people of God loved Jerusalem not only because it was the center of worship but also because faithful rulers governed there. Under David, a man after God’s own heart, justice was upheld. The people’s civil well-being was protected along with their spiritual life. [5]
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces. For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, ‘Peace be within you.’ Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.” Psalm 122:6-9
Ther Lord urges us to pray for the peace and well-being of Jerusalem. Throughout Scripture Jerusalem comes under attack both spiritually from false prophets and physically from evil kings who want to defraud and oppress the people under them. Wherever God is at work, the devil is also at work trying to sabotage and destroy the good that God is doing.
Even those who cannot do anything else to help Jerusalem can still pray for it. Prayer is not a small thing. Prayer is God's appointed way of bringing His blessings. [6] Hans Van Staden said of prayer, “When man works, man works. When man prays, God works.”
Peace is a gift of God. In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” In James 3:18, it is written, “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
The peace and prosperity of God’s work on earth should be in the prayers for every believer. [7]
“They shall prosper that love you.” God blesses those who love His people and His work.
David gives us words to pray: “Peace be within your walls.” We should pray for peace among all who live in Jerusalem. We should pray that the walls and defenses of the city would protect the people and that enemies would not overcome them. We should pray for those who govern and make decisions for the people. When leaders act wisely and prosper in their responsibilities, the whole community benefits. [8]
Jerusalem also represents the heart of the Kingdom of God. So, in a sense, when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are praying for the whole people of God worldwide who love and serve Him. David cared for people more than brick and mortar. He cared for the faithful people of God. He considered them his family and very much enjoyed worshipping God with them.
[1] “The Song of Ascents” (Psalms 120–134) are songs to sing as one journeys toward God.
[2-8] Material developed, added to and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
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