LET US GO TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

Passage: Psalms 122:1-9

Key verse: 122:1

NIV

Psalm 122
A song of ascents. Of David.

1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet are standing
    in your gates, Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is built like a city
    that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up—
    the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
    according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment,
    the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love(A) you be secure.
7 May there be peace(B) within your walls
    and security within your citadels.(C)”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.(D)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Let Us Go to the House of the Lord

A Song of (A)Ascents. Of David.

122 I was glad when they said to me,
    (B)“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
2 Our feet have been standing
    within your gates, O Jerusalem!

3 Jerusalem—(C)built as a city
    that is (D)bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes (E)go up,
    the tribes of the Lord,
as was (F)decreed for[a] Israel,
    to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 There (G)thrones for judgment were set,
    the thrones of the house of David.

6 (H)Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
    “May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your (I)walls
    and security within your (J)towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions' sake
    I will say, (K)“Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will (L)seek your good.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 122:4 Or as a testimony for
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, to praise the name of the Lord (1-5). To the people of Israel, the city of Jerusalem represented God's presence among them. It was the city of the temple, the temple where God dwelled with his people. It was the house of the Lord. It is the place where God invited his people to worship him and praise his name. But it was more than just an earthly city. Jerusalem and the temple represented the eternal city, the kingdom where God dwells in majesty for all eternity. To stand in the gates of Jerusalem meant to praise the name of the Lord and to stand before his throne. Second, peace be within you (6-9). The Psalmist prayed for the peace of Jerusalem. He prayed for the security of the city and the temple. It was a prayer for the nation that called itself by the Lord's name. It was also a prayer for the house of the Lord. It was a prayer that the Lord would not take his presence away from his people, but would live in peace among them. It is truly our source of joy to be invited to come to the Lord and pray for peace.

Prayer: Lord, bring my feet to stand before you. Grant peace to your people.

One Word: Come to the Lord, pray for peace