Psalm 122: Peace be on Jerusalem

A song of ascents. Of David.

[Preliminary Comments: In this third psalm of ascents, the pilgrim-psalmist approaches the city from outside and seeing its gates and great walls, acknowledges this is the city of God of the house of David and calls for us to pray for peace for it.]

v.1 He rejoiced when they first suggested going to Jerusalem to worship

v.1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
    ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’

v.2,3 Now as he comes up to the gates, he extols the city

v.2 Our feet are standing
    in your gates, Jerusalem.

v.3 Jerusalem is built like a city
    that is closely compacted together.

v.4,5 This is the place where the people of God gather to worship God

v.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.
v.5 There stand the thrones for judgment,
    the thrones of the house of David.

v.6,7 As God’s dwelling place, we should pray for its ongoing peace

v.6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    ‘May those who love you be secure.
v.7 May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.’

v.8,9 As a foundation stone of their lives he will pray for its blessing

v.8 For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’
v.9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.

[Additional Comments: In the previous two psalms, the psalmist has been adjusting his outlook to reject the world and trust in God in heart preparation for meeting up with God at the temple but, as a pilgrim, he approaches the city and is almost overwhelmed by its greatness and recognizes that this is both the dwelling place of God among His people, and the place of national gatherings to be with Him. He wants it to be not only strong but secure and lasting and therefore recognizes a need to pray for its peace.

After perhaps going back and meditating on individual verses, now read it meaningfully out loud straight through

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 you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.’
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.

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: