Devo 03: Psalm 122
Let Us Go to the House of the Lord
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
2 Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for[a] Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions' sake
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.
Devotional Thought:
Have you ever been far away from home and started thinking about the good times you associate with home? That’s what the psalmist is doing in the first half of this psalm (v.1-5) even as he sings this song with other people as they journey back to Jerusalem for the yearly festivals where they would worship God in His Presence. Even though today, we don’t travel to a physical location to meet with God, we are still on this journey Home. We’re homesick for a place we know that exists though we haven’t seen with our own eyes yet. A place where there is unity in diversity (v.3-4, 6-8). A place of perfect peace and justice (v.5). And though we are not there yet, we are called to experience the joy of New Jerusalem together with others in the local church. And because we know perfect peace and unity is coming, we get involved in the life of the church and seek peace and unity with our brothers and sisters.
Prayer:
Our God of Peace, we live in a world of conflict and fighting. And sadly we as your people and Church are often swept up into that as well. Whether with others inside the Church or out, forgive us for neglecting this joy and peace. Because of the joy and peace that we know is coming for us soon and what we already have in Christ, help us to seek joy and peace with our friends in the Church today by being present in each others lives. And Lord, as a Church where unity and diversity exists, help us to seek peace in this World. Amen.
