Psalm 122:9

Psalm 122:9

Peace, prosperity and security

This Psalm begins with the words, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”Today’s verse, the final verse of Psalm 122, involves the house of the Lord too. But this time David reveals his true longing, by this time Jerusalem did house the Tabernacle but the house that he longed for was yet to be built, a glorious Temple that would dominate the skyline and draw pilgrims from every corner of the land and beyond. Because Jerusalem had become the heart of the worship of the Israelites of course David prayed for its safety and its preservation for generations to come, that is why he involves his friends and family (v8). And now he prays that God’s house may be protected too. Peace, prosperity, security – these are big words in this Psalm.

As we have commented, the city of Jerusalem has rarely been at peace, it has only occasionally prospered, and it has rarely been secure. Endless invasions and bloodthirsty conflicts have battered its walls. It has been both the centre of the world’s attentions and the object of violence and destruction like no other city on earth. And yet still it stands, and still its Jewish inhabitants pray the prayer of King David. This should come as no surprise, if Jerusalem was the City of God in David’s day and it housed the Holy Place where He dwelt amongst His people, then God’s greatest enemy would endlessly try to destroy it! We can be sure that the Satan hates Zion and he hates its ancient residents too. In the last 70 years that city has become, once again, the focus of the world’s attention. The Bible assures us that the story has not ended yet, Jerusalem will ultimately triumph and the Lord will reign from its citadels. That is why we must continue to pray for its peace, prosperity and security. 

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