Daily Devotions – Let us go to the house of the Lord

Daily Devotions – Let us go to the house of the Lord

 

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

Psalm 122

A song of ascents. Of David.

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up— the tribes of the Lordto praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel. There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.

This psalm is a prayer that expresses a longing for several of the things that make for peace. Peace begins when we are willing to leave our own “house” (which means the place where we are in charge) and become eager to live in God’s house, where God is in charge. When we come before “thrones of judgment” in v. 5, this refers to coming before the throne of Christ, giving up control, and letting Christ make the final judgment on all things. This is the recipe for peace. Simply put, it is our desire to control our own affairs that leads to violence. When I want to get my way, and you want to get your way, only violence can settle it. But when we relinquish control, and allow God to have his way, we can live at peace with each other. This is summed up in v. 9, where we pray to dedicate our lives to the prosperity of God’s house (instead of building up our own homes and lives). When God’s house prospers, we all prosper.