Christian Photographers Community

Psalm 122

This is another psalm called a "song of ascents," and it's easy to imagine that anyone who lived in or near Jerusalem would be very aware that it was being sung.  From the temple the kantor led out with the first line, then it was repeated and repeated again at ever greater distances down the hill to the very edges of the city as all the people walked toward morning worship.  It's likely that their beautiful singing reverberated from the hills for miles around Jerusalem!

What a joy to hear them praising God and singing out their gladness at going into the house of the Lord! They were all coming to "the Testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the Name of the Lord!"  That "testimony" was none other than the holy place, the most holy place, and the ark of the Covenant - all of which, together with all the implements and furniture, were indeed a visual testimony to the blessed Covenant of Jehovah!

In fact, Jerusalem itself was a testimony, for in it were the "thrones of the house of David," a man through whom God carried out many of the promises and blessings of that Covenant.

This morning expression of praise was overwhelming to all who heard it, to all who were so privileged as to be in or near Jerusalem when it was sung. God's people knew that God was pleased to dwell with them there, and all who were approaching the temple were therefore exhorted to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem," and for the prosperity of all who loved her.

Each one, in fact, was exhorted to sing out loudly and to say, "For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, 'Peace be within you!' Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good!"  In other words, each member of the vast throng was urged to renew commitment to God and His covenant and to pray for the testimony of this city of God.  What a delightfully moving way to start the day!

How do you start your day?  Do you rejoice in God's presence with His people, His presence by His Spirit among the people of His Church?  Do you rejoice when it's time to gather with them? Do you gladly join in their praise to God, and do you eagerly go to hear the proclamation of His written "testimony?"  Oh how we should all thank Him for His Church and His people – the people who are, after all, the temple of the living Christ!