Psalm 122:1 Church Going

Psalm 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us go to the house of the LORD.

The third song of ascents is the first of four specifically marked Of David. David tells us that he rejoiced with those who said to him Let us go to the house of the LORD. He remembers the invitation with gratitude. He then describes the moment when his feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. He further describes the place - the way it is built like a city that is closely compacted together. Lots of people all together in one place. It is the place where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel. He mentions the thrones for judgment ... the thrones of the house of David. He then calls for prayer for the peace of Jerusalem and expresses his commitment to seeking her prosperity. It is a very Old Testament setting then and much has changed since it was written. When we come to a psalm like this then if we want to benefit from it we need to bear in mind those changes. When Isaac Watts famous hymn book appeared all those years ago, his versions of Psalm 122 were headed “Going to church”. That is not doubt the way we should approach this psalm. It teaches us something about our approach to corporate worship and the attitude we should have towards God's people. It is still our duty to pray and work for the prosperity of God's people. It should also make us glad when people urge us to come together with God's people for worship. We should look forward to Sunday when God's people gather for worship. Some people live for Friday or Saturday night when their work is over for another week and they can go dancing. Christian people should long for Sunday when they can go and meet with God's people and worship him. Not just Sundays either, we should always be glad when there is an opportunity for corporate worship – either formally or more informally. Hebrews 10:25 exhorts us Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.