Psalm 122

Psalm 122
A song of ascents. Of David.

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, O Jerusalem.

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 the thrones for judgment stand,
the thrones of the house of David.

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 brothers 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.


“Going to God’s house can be a chore or a delight. For the psalmist, it was a delight. As a pilgrim attending one of the three great religious festivals, he rejoiced to worship with God’s people in God’s house. We may find worship a chore if we have unconfessed sin or if our love for God has cooled. But if we are close to Him and enjoy His presence, we will be eager to worship and praise Him. Our attitude toward God will determine our view of worship.”
- Commentary of Ps 122:1. Life Application Study Bible.

I decided to quote this entire commentary from the Life Application Study Bible because I felt it so accurately and truthfully explained why we sometimes struggle with worshipping God.

We all know we must worship God, but sometimes that word “must” brings such a negative feeling to worship. It’s as though someone forced you to do it. When we feel that way, we need to ask ourselves why we do. More often than not, it's because we are affected by circumstances and situations around us.

For example, if you are angry with someone, it’s very likely you will find it hard to worship God. The root of that unwillingness could be thinking that God is unjust, or that you “deserve” to be treated better, which is a very subtle form of pride, which is sin. Therefore it is not surprising that you will struggle with worshipping God.

Lifting your eyes towards the Lord can change that perspective. In the midst of your own struggles, if your attitude towards God is always one that wants to please Him and to enjoy His presence, the circumstances around should not drive you away from Him but TOWARDS Him. However it is not magic. It involves our choice. Before it becomes a natural reflex, we must exercise our will to worship God simply because He is worth it.

This reflection is largely based on verse 1 and its commentary. Bringing it back to where we are right now, remember that these are a series of songs which were written and sung as people were travelling to the temple to worship God.

So even as we are all on different journeys with God, it is unavoidable that we will encounter times and situations when we will find it hard to worship God. At that time, are we able to say “I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us go to the house of the LORD"?

Act on it:
1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any sins which you have not confessed and repented of. Receive God’s forgiveness.
2. Are the waters of difficulties quenching the fire of God in your life? Go to God and ask Him to rekindle the fire, then look for someone you can be accountable to.

I just want to end of by saying I’m so proud of you because you did so well at CCR! More importantly, you were a blessing to others, which is on the heart of God.

Luv,
jenn