Friday, June 19
By: Marilyn Gladson
Psalm 122 New Living Translation (NLT)
Psalm 122
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.
1 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 And now here we are,
standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is a well-built city;
its seamless walls cannot be breached.
4 All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people—
make their pilgrimage here.
They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord,
as the law requires of Israel.
5 Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,
the thrones of the dynasty of David.
6 Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
May all who love this city prosper.
7 O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
and prosperity in your palaces.
8 For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
“May you have peace.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.
My father was a student at Baylor when I was born. I have been Baptist from the womb. During most of my childhood, Daddy was a bi-vocational pastor in tiny, country churches while also teaching school and coaching basketball. That old saying was an absolute fact in our house: when the church doors were open, we were there. I learned this little chorus when I was about 6 years old, “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.” I did not know then that my Sunday School teacher was hiding scripture in my heart with song. Honestly, though, my 6-year-old self was more glad to climb trees, read books, and play baseball than “go into the house of the Lord.” Now, 60 years later and after months of being unable to gather together with my church family, when we can once again meet for worship, I will sing the truth: “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.”
This psalm is one of the songs of ascent. It was sung as the people of Israel made their pilgrimages to Jerusalem for Passover and other festivals. When they were “standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem,” they felt security and gratitude. But there were also the “thrones of judgment.” James Howell writes, “We might shrink back from the place of judgment. But we misunderstand. The Hebrew word rendered ‘judgment’ is mishpat, and mishpat is when the neediest, the marginalized, those nobody else cares for are cared for. God’s justice isn’t blind, like that statue outside the U.S. Supreme Court. God isn’t an unbiased, fair judge. God sees, God loves, God is entirely biased in favor of each pilgrim, each one of us. This God is literally dying to give us more than we’d dream of.” And that is cause for even more gratitude. God shows us mercy, even at the place of judgment.
The psalm closes with a prayer for peace – for Jerusalem and for “peace within you.” Today’s news reports are filled with violence, and peace seems impossible. But I am reminded of words Aaron Tyler told our LifeTimers several years ago. He was quoting a Palestinian Christian who was speaking specifically about the conflicts in Israel. He simply said, “Peace is inevitable.” May we all pray for peace with such confidence.
A Time of Reflection
- Are you glad to be called to the House of the Lord? What is different about worshipping together as a congregation and watching the services from home?
- Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). What does it mean to you to receive peace from Jesus?
A Guide to Prayer
Brethren We Have Met to Worship
WORDS: George Atkins, 1819. MUSIC: “Holy Manna”; William Moore, pub.1825. Public Domain
Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumbering on the brink of woe;
Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go?
See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses’ sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;
Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Is there a trembling jailer, seeking grace, and filled with tears?
Is there here a weeping Mary, pouring forth a flood of tears?
Brethren, join your cries to help them; sisters, let your prayers abound;
Pray, Oh pray that holy manna may be scattered all around.
Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to heaven, at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around |