The Psalms of Ascent are a set of fifteen psalms that were traditionally sung as priests entered the temple, and Jews journeyed to the Holy Land to celebrate the Passover Festival. They offer hope, encouragement, and peace in a time of uncertainty. Today we will read and discuss Psalm 122, the third psalm in the psalms of ascents, and the first one authored by King David.
The third psalm of ascents is the first one authored by King David – one of only four that he authored. Psalm 122 is a beautiful song of prayer for a holy Jerusalem.
Psalm 122
Two things I want to point out right away:
#1 – In the original Hebrew, the name used for “Lord” here is “Yahweh”. This is the personal name of God, referencing our personal relationship with God.
#2 – The city of Jerusalem, at the time when this was written, was the future home of the temple Solomon built, and was also the seat of government. Court was held here, and the judges were under the authority of God.
Jerusalem was a city united by God. All tribes of Israel would come together three times each year, particularly for the Passover Festival.
The final verses, Psalm 122:6-9, are King David’s prayer for Jerusalem, a prayer for peace, which will lead to security and prosperity for all the people.
We need to be praying for our community, our government authorities, and our world to turn back to God and be under His authority. By living under His authority, we will live in peace, which, ultimately will lead to security and prosperity for our world, too.
Each day, from March 23-April 6, 2020, I will be live on Instagram reading and discussing each of the fifteen psalms of ascents. I want to encourage you to join me.
Also, take a moment each day for your own study. Write the psalms (they’re all relatively short), and dig into God’s Word. That is where we will find peace.
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