The Psalms of Ascent

Psalm 122 ‘I’m glad I’m in church!’

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”
KJV 1 A Song of degrees of David

The psalms of ‘accents’ or ‘degrees’ take their title from the pilgrim caravans as they saw and entered their destination – Jerusalem. The phrase ‘assents’ may have come from either the assent up into Jerusalem v4 “That is where the tribes go up,” or they may take their title from the ‘Stairs of Assent’ which led into the courtyard of the Temple.

Whatever the origin of their name, these are worship songs as they near the Temple. The Jews made regular pilgrimages, because before the revelation of the New Covenant in Jesus, God was in His temple. Remember Jesus going as a child to the Temple when he was lost as a child.

1Ki 8:11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

It was not an option, it was mandatory.

The temple the psalmist sings about, is Solomon’s Temple, do you recall that although the temple was often known by his name, David was forbidden to build it. 2 Sam 7. 12-13 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

There is an interesting story, which we will return to, about David’s purchase of the land for the Temple

2Sa 24:24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.

Having said this you will note that the Bible heading calls this a psalm of David, it is thought therefore that this is attributed to David at a later date.

The psalms are poems

This psalm is a hymn of joy over Jerusalem; it expresses deep joy over the city and concern for its welfare.

Nevertheless, this psalm challenges us today about our relationship to God’s House. The church.

Are you glad you’re in church?

If you invited someone, would they be glad or nervous or worried?

Peoples attitude to attending church varies on their background.

The psalmist has been invited and he’s keen to go!

V1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."

Vs 3-5 emphasise the importance of the temple to the Jew.
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.
How does this reflect on the importance of God’s House, the church, to us today? V3 The church as a close-knit community
V4 that is where you will find God’s people. Praising and listening to God’s word
V5 Speaks of the covenant relationship God made with Abraham and Isaac, through to David and on to you and me through David’s ‘Greater Son, Jesus.

The church is the gathering, the ‘ecclesia’ of God’s people and although the psalmist speaks of the building, it is the relationship between the worshippers and God that is at the heart of this psalm. What is your relationship with the church, the ‘living body of Christ’?
1Pe 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

The story of the pig and chicken looking at a poster advertising eggs and bacon. The chicken turns to the pig and says, “I’m involved in that”. The pig turns to the chicken and says. “Yes, but I’m committed!”. What is our commitment to the church?

The psalmist encourages the worshippers to
v6 to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem’ The relevance to Jerusalem today and the church worldwide.
V6 & 7 for security
"May those who love you be secure. 7 May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels."
v8 for the brothers and sisters that are in the church
8 For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you."
v9 for the sake of the house of God - I will seek your prosperity!

The church is a battleship not a cruise liner. It’s built for heavy seas, to withstand fire and to build comradeship amongst the crew. And the good news is ‘we outgun the enemy’.

It’s easy to judge the church by worldly standards of success. What is God’s standard?
Remember the verse we looked at in 2Sa 24:24. “I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing”

Sunday lunch was taking place at the home of a church going family, the usual dish was served ‘Roast Preacher’. Someone announced “I didn’t get much out of the service today!” a quiet voice of an elderly godly relative spoke. “But what did you bring?”

Are you ‘Glad you’re in Church? What did you bring as an offering?