Psalm 122 A Unity in Relationship

Part 1 -- Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem 

Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together;

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Psalm 122: 3, 6

A Song of Ascents, of David

1     I was glad when they said to me,

       “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

2    Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem,

3    Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together; 

4    To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord—

       An ordinance for Israel—to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
 

5    For the thrones were set for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

6    Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

      “May they prosper who love you.

7   “May peace be within your walls,

       And prosperity within your palaces.”

8    For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say,

       “May peace be within you.”

9     For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.  

This call to prayer is for all who accept God’s authoritative Word.  God asks for all of His people fro every nation and background to take concern for the city of Jerusalem.  God’s purpose for this age will climax in the setting up of His Kingdom.  When we prayer the familiar prayer: Thy Kingdom come, we are aligning ourselves with that purpose.  The prayer continues, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  It is still invisible to our eyes—but will one day be an earthly realization.  The administration of righteous government will go forth from Jerusalem to all the earth. 

To all who heed God’s call to love Jerusalem and pray for her peace, God gives a promise – They shall prosper.  This is not prosperity of material things, but a deep inner well being, and a freedom from care and anxiety.   To be closely compacted together, gives us the revelation of how God’s people will be united together.  Tracing back the Hebrew root of the words closely compacted together is formed from a root which means “a friend,” a “comrade,” or someone very close—a basic human relationship warm and uncomplicated.  The unity of Christ’s church rests in the strength of personal relationships, not on such things as meetings, attendance, or doctrines.  

Personal commitment is first and foremost to the Lord Himself, second, to all who are committed to Him.  This will always hold us together even when we disagree.  It makes us “closely compacted together.”

Amen