Sunday,
January 3, 2016 pm
STUDIES IN PSALMS
I WAS GLAD!
Psalm 122
This particular psalm is attributed to David, though some question this.
It is a psalm about the city of Jerusalem.
As travelers are headed toward the various feasts there is a
gleeful anticipation, an attitude that shows love for the LORD and all
things about Him. In this
lesson we will make application to our attitude toward the church.
a.
Joyful anticipation -
i.
At times, there are
events that we cannot wait to get started with – perhaps a long awaited
vacation or something else you have been looking forward to.
There is great excitement as you plan the event.
The events the psalmist speaks of shows a similar attitude in going to
worship God.
ii.
The feasts of Israel
were designed to be joyful occasions reminding them of how God had
blessed them, protected them and delivered them.
They were times of intensified worship and meaningful ceremony.
They were an integral part of Israel’s faithfulness.
Sadly, they were not always carried out with proper enthusiasm.
The prophets continually addressed corruption in their worship.
Even after idolatry was finally removed from the land, Malachi addresses
a wearisome and corrupt attitude toward worshipping God.
NO WONDER, they rejected Him!
iii.
What is our attitude
toward assembling with the saints?
While we might not have the degree of anticipation for assembling
with the saints as some special event, (especially on a weekly basis) it
still ought to be something we DO anticipate, so much that we will make
great efforts to be here. Worshipping
God ought to be special to us.
It MUST also be a priority to us.
AND, then there are occasional intense efforts, such as gospel meetings,
that we ought to be anticipating even more, knowing that such can revive
our spirits. But do we?
iv.
Hebrews 10:24-25 calls for us to exhort one another and not forsake the
assembling of ourselves together.
Everything we read about true worship implies that it is to be done with
gladness.
Psalm 100:1-2, “Make a joyful
shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come
before His presence with singing.”
Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in
your hearts to the Lord.”
v.
Some will allow the most
meager of excuses to keep them from assembling with the saints.
Others just don’t see it as important.
As we have noted before: When one asks, “Do I have to attend
Sunday night or Wednesday Bible studies” the issue goes much deeper than
a single assembly. One
wonders whether such find real joy in worshipping and serving God.
b.
A desire to go to the
house of the LORD
– this is where anticipation begins.
Desire cannot be commanded.
It is developed as one appreciates whatever it is.
We ought to WANT to do those things pleasing to God!
To the Jews, Jerusalem was where they assembled to worship God.
It began with David as he brought the Ark of the Covenant into
the city (2 Samuel 6). Also
Jerusalem would be where the Temple would be built by Solomon.
Jerusalem was indeed a special city.
Throughout the prophets it was referred to as Zion (2 Sam. 5:7, 1
Kings 8:1) (a term I attribute to “the place where God meets with His
people”).
Today, the “house of the Lord” is His church – 1 Timothy 3:15 describes
it as “the house of God, which is
the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth.”
1 Peter 2:4-5, we are described as living stones being built up a
spiritual house and holy priesthood.
This is the church that Jesus built – Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 1:22-23
As we appreciate what the church, how great is our DESIRE to be in it.
c.
Feet standing within your gates
– not only anticipation on the way, but also gladness
when there.
Having anticipated the journey to the city, as they enter and wait for
the feasts to begin, they are there and ready.
Similarly, as we gather to worship God there ought to be joy as we greet
one another preparing to worship Him.
There ought to be that desire to actually worship Him.
John 4:24 – worshipping Him in spirit and in truth.
We have recently addressed the need to strive for excellence in
our worship to Him. That
will come when we are ready to hear Him with a noble heart – Acts 10:33,
17:11 – receiving the word with readiness…
d.
NOTE: While this
anticipation is about the church, it could ultimately also be about
heaven. Hebrews
12:22-23.
a.
Jerusalem is the place
where the tribes go up – where God is.
Reference is made “To the Testimony of Israel” – probably a reference to
the 10 commandments that were placed in the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus
16:34, 25:16, 21; 40:20, etc.)
They would assemble where the Law of the LORD was present and there give
thanks to His name.
b.
When we assemble to
worship God
we are coming together
as the church (1 Cor. 11:18, 14:23).
God has designated that we are to assemble “on the first day of the
week” (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:1-2) and He gives us instructions as to HOW
we are to worship Him.
c.
A city compact together – the church is a body of brethren connected together.
Ephesians 4:16 describes us as “joined and knit together”
In Joh 15:5 as Jesus described Himself as the Vine and we are His
branches, the implication is we are together joined to Him.
Colossians 2:2 speaks of hearts being encouraged, being knit together in
love, and attaining to all the riches of the full assurance of
understanding…
Col. 2:19 speaks of holding fast to the Head (Christ), “from
whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments,
grows with the increase that is from God.”
Worship ought to be something that unites us!
We demonstrate to the world our unity in our conduct.
a.
Pray for the peace of
Jerusalem. The psalmist is
desirous that all be well for the city of God.
He prays for her and calls for others to pray for her as well.
Remember that Jerusalem was not only the city of God, but also
the capital of Israel (and later Judah) – peace would involve not only
peace with God, but peace from her enemies.
b.
Do we pray for the
church?
In our prayers, we need to include the church – both locally as
and as a whole.
Paul continually emphasized prayer for the church – Romans 1:8-10,
Ephesians 1:15-16, Phil. 1:9-11
1 Tim. 2:1-2 – praying for leaders of the country so we can worship and
serve God freely
Praying for our leaders – elders and preachers continually need prayers
for their work and the
furtherance of the gospel – Hebrews 13:7 speaks of remembering those
ruling over us (includes our prayers); 2 Thess. 3:1-2 – Paul requests,
“pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly…”
and that we be delivered form unreasonable and wicked men.
1 Thess. 5:25, “Brethren, pray for us.”
c.
Pray for:
i.
May they prosper who love you
– do we lift up the hands of the godly?
They need our prayers as much as those with problems, both
physical and spiritual.
ii.
Peace within her walls – Phil. 4:6-7 – when we pray properly, peace is the result.
God desires that we be at peace – 1 Thess. 5:13.
Mark 9:50 – Jesus also emphasized it!
John 17:20-21 – Jesus prayed that we may be united!
John 13:35 – by this all will know you are disciples – by your
love.
iii.
Prosperity –
growth as God desires – not just numerically, but in faith, closer to
God, one another, etc. Pray
that the word will spread – 2 Thess. 3:1;
3 John 2, John prayed “that you may prosper in all things and be in
health, just as your soul prospers.”
iv.
For our brethren – “Pray for one another” James
5:16; Acts 12:5, 12 – we pray for each other during the difficult times.
d.
Because it is the house
of the Lord, “I will seek your good” – the psalmist concludes by
determining to live so as to seek the good of the house of the Lord.
Do we live to seek the best for the church? We are again reminded here
of being a proper example.
You cannot separate it!
We need to defend the Lord’s church.
We need to reflect the Lord’s church in our lives.
We need to sacrifice for the Lord’s church.
We need to proudly seek others to join us.
In all these, we are seeking her good!
This is a very practical psalm describing one who REALLY wants to be
here. What about you?
Is that your desire?