Psalm 122 – Worship


Psalm 122
1I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
2Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together,
4to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.
6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!
7Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”
8For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.

So, why do you participate in a weekly worship service? Or for some, why don’t you? The temptation for many is to rattle off numerous (shallow) reasons for staying away from worship. “Sunday is my only day to sleep in.” “I have family commitments to attend to.” “The best time to golf is on Sunday morning.” Pick your reason. I may not have listed it, but you know what it is. The Psalmist (in this case, David) addresses these question with answers. As those Hebrews on pilgrimage to Jerusalem quoted this prayer, they were reminding themselves of the reason for the walk. They were going to Jerusalem to practice that which lies at the center of our faith – worship.

Why is it that worship is the common background to all Christian existence and that it is so faithfully and willingly practiced? The psalm singles out three items: worship gives us a workable structure for life; worship nurtures our need to be in relationship with God; worship centers our attention on the decisions of God.
Peterson, Eugene H. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society. InterVarsity Press.

We attend worship for a myriad of reasons, some of them worthy and some of them selfish. First of all, let’s acknowledge that worship is a voluntary experience. There is no law in the land that demands we find a house of worship to spend an hour each Sunday. Instead, we are moved (I believe by the Holy Spirit) to join with God’s people in recognition of all that He has done and still does for us. Yes, we get to spend time with our friends and fellowship around a cup of coffee and some small talk. But we are also reminded that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. We are worshiping the God who created us, saves us, and provides all that we need (and most of what we want!). We do so because we want to and, in that worship, we find some rather intangible rewards.

At the lowest level, we are surrounded by community. Our inbred need for others has opportunity for expression. In a healthy church situation, there should be hugs, handshakes, and conversation for everyone present. In an ideal world, you would leave the worship with a renewed understanding of your place in the whole.


But ultimately, worship is about God. And that might run counter to what most people expect, as in many churches, worship has become a consumer experience. I think that many come to a worship experience because for them, it is about them. Worship is always first and foremost about God. He is the great Creator, Provider, and Savior who deserves a few moments of worship and praise. We need a weekly (daily?!) reminder of who He is and who we are not, for we are quick to forget both of those things. So this week, when you find yourself in church, remember I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

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