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.
What would it take to make verse 1 a reality in your own church community?
This psalm is one of many songs of "ascent", meaning that it would be used to prepare the hearts of people as they approached Jerusalem to gather together for worship. With verse 2 in mind, how could you personally instill this sense of readiness for a worship gathering?
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.
Many people think of ancient Israel in terms of shepherds, rural caves, or battles in large open valleys. But verse 3-5 of this psalms describes a different perspective. What do you learn about the pro-urban environment of Israel?
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. NIV
This psalm is attributed to David. How is his prayer in verses 6-9 for Jerusalem's peace a personal prayer (See verse 8 in particular)?
How is his prayer in verses 6-9 for the sake of the house of the Lord our God?
::::: Personal Application :::::
For your sake and for the sake of your local church community, for what do you need to pray in terms of your city (or the Christians in your networks) today? Be sure to take some time to do that