PRAY FOR PEACE

Passage: Psalms 122:1-9

Key verse: 6

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

The psalmist rejoices because he stands in Jerusalem at the house of the LORD (the temple). God appointed the place so his people could come and worship. Jerusalem was the royal city of David’s palace. It was the throne room of God. Let all the people of God praise the name of the LORD. Christians worship and praise God our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, our King.

The psalmist prays for the peace of Jerusalem, the capital city of God’s people. This is a prayer for peace among God’s people under God’s gracious reign. Christians are to pray for and pursue peace. Jesus is our peace. He gives us peace with God (Ro 5:1) and peace with people (Eph 2:14).

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the privilege to know and worship you through Jesus Christ my King. May your peace reign in us, among us and through us for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

One Word: Worship God and pray for peace