Psalms 122:0 ¶ A Song of degrees of David.
Three times each year the men of Israel were to come to the temple and present themselves before the Lord.
Deuteronomy 16:16 “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty….”
Many believe that these fifteen Psalms that are called the songs of degrees (elevation, journey to a higher place, go up) because they were to be sung as they ascended the temple mount.
Psalms 122:1 ¶ I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
This is an interesting opening verse for David since there was no temple in Jerusalem at that time. He had, however, moved the ark of the covenant to a specially prepared place in Jerusalem. The ark represented the presence of God among His people. So, where the ark resided could rightly be referred to as the house of the LORD. It would seem that “they” represented a group of people close to David in some capacity that suggested they present themselves before the LORD to offer Him their thanks. Going to the LORD’s house was a joy to him, not just a duty. Going in fellowship with his friends just added to his joy.
Psalms 122:2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
Psalms 122:3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
As I read the different translations for verse two, it seems to be identifying the fact that they are in Jerusalem. As I looked at the Hebrew, I liked the way verse 3 was expressed in the CJB: “Yerushalayim, built as a city fostering friendship and unity.” As I read that translation, it made me think of how God’s house should be a place where people gather to foster friendship and unity rooted in their relationship to Him.
Psalms 122:4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
Psalms 122:5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
We read in the verse from Deuteronomy above that the people were required to present themselves before the LORD three times a year to thank Him for His many blessings. When David became king, he established Jerusalem as the governmental capital of Israel. When he brought the ark to reside in the tabernacle of David, Jerusalem was established as its religious capital.
I loved this application from Spurgeon: “Note that Israel was one people, but yet it was in a sense divided by the mere surface distinction of tribes; and this may be a lesson to us that all Christendom is essentially one, though from various causes we are divided into tribes. Let us as much as possible sink the tribal individuality in the national unity, so that the church may be many waves, but one sea; many branches, but one tree; many members, but one body. Observe that the tribes were all of them the Lord's; whether Judah or Benjamin, Manasseh or Ephraim, they were all the Lord's. Oh that all the regiments of the Christian army may be all and equally the Lord's own, alike chosen, redeemed, accepted, and upheld by Jehovah.”
Psalms 122:6 ¶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Psalms 122:7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
I am reminded that Jerusalem was originally known as Salem, meaning “peaceful,” the place where Melchizedek was the King/Priest. From its beginning, it was designated as a city of peace.
Hebrews 7:1–2 “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace….”
David urges the people to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, noting that those who do so because they love the city and its people will be blessed. (This is a verse that is often part of my prayers along with Isaiah 62:6-7.) He then pronounces his own blessing for the people of the city to be at peace and experience prosperity, the blessings of God.
Isaiah 62:6–7 “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”
Wiersbe: “The name ‘Jerusalem’ means ‘foundation of peace,’ and yet the city has been a center of conflict for centuries. If we understand biblical prophecy correctly, there can be no peace in Jerusalem or on earth until the Prince of Peace reigns on David’s throne. So, when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are actually praying, ‘Your kingdom come.’”
Psalms 122:8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
Psalms 122:9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
David admits that he wants peace in Jerusalem for the benefit of those he loves. His desire was to build a temple to the LORD and to honor God with a place more befitting His presence than the tabernacle that housed the ark. He wanted peace and prosperity for Jerusalem to mark it as a place worthy of the LORD’s presence.
Psa. 123:0 A Song of degrees.
Three times each year the men of Israel were to come to the temple and present themselves before the Lord.
Deuteronomy 16:16 “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty….”
Many believe that these fifteen Psalms that are called the songs of degrees (elevation, journey to a higher place, go up) because they were to be sung as they ascended the temple mount.
Psa. 123:1 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
I immediately thought of my life verse, Isaiah 26:3, as I read this verse—Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
I often like to look up at the heavens as I pray to the Father. It’s a beautiful and awesome reminder of just how big my God is and how totally sufficient He is for any burden on my heart, any need in my life.
Courson: “Here is a real secret for me: I have found that if I look inward, I’ll be depressed. If I look outward, I’ll be distressed. But if I look up and fix my eyes on the Lord, I’ll be strengthened.”
Psa. 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
A servant is at the mercy of his master. The Psalmist is picturing the man of faith as a servant of the LORD. It’s interesting that emphasis is made regarding the focus being on the hand of the master or mistress. The hand is representative of the actions of the master toward his servant.
The hand of the LORD is strong and mighty.
Deuteronomy 3:24 “O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?
Isaiah 40:10 “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him….”
The hand of the LORD is righteous.
Psalm 48:10 “According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
His hand is that of a shepherd to those who look to Him in faith.
Psalm 95:7 “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice….”
John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
The hand of a shepherd represents security, provision, and protection.
The hand of the LORD is filled with good.
Psalm 104:28 “That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.”
Note should be made that the attitude of the servant is humble and submissive. Those who humble themselves before God can look forward to an exalted position in the future.
1Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time….”
The attitude of the servant of God is one of confident expectation. The Psalmist declares that the eyes of His servants will stay on the LORD “until” He shows them His mercy.
Psa. 123:3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Psa. 123:4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
These verses state the reason for this petition before the LORD. They have been experiencing scorn and contempt from the rich and proud. Isn’t that so often the truth. Those who have in abundance usually have a spirit of pride at what “they” have accomplished. Instead of having a heart of pity and kindness toward those that don’t have as much, they often respond with scorn (derision, mocking) and contempt (disrespect, neglect).
As I read through this psalm several times, I got the idea that the scorn and contempt being experienced by these servants of the LORD may have been due to their faith and obedience to Him.