Psalm 122:1
~17 min read
💭 Consider this: Why do you really come to church? Can you say, like David, that you are “glad” when coming to church? Why or why not?
TRANSCRIPT
The focus of tonight's meditation will be mainly on Psalm 122:1 where David says, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."
For a brief background of Psalm 122, I am sure we are all familiar with this Psalm. It is that particular Psalm, together with the rest, that is classified as a song of degrees. To those of you who may have your Bibles in your hands, you can notice that beginning in Psalm 120 up until Psalm 134, you would find a superscription that says, "A Song of degrees." You would find it in the superscription, meaning right above the very first verse of every Psalm from Psalm 120 to Psalm 134. You will notice that there is that superscription, or others would call it a heading, and the heading there is "A Song of degrees."
Now, these are the particular Psalms that are usually sung by the pilgrims every time they go up to Jerusalem for worship. As we all know, God's people in the Old Testament would go up to Jerusalem most three times in a year to worship the LORD in the Temple. And so these particular Psalms, the song of degrees or a Psalm of degrees, are those Psalms that pilgrims would sing every time they go up to Jerusalem for worship.
Looking at Psalm 122 tonight, the very first thing that you will notice in this particular Psalm is that of David's gladness when people called upon him and invited him, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." As we endeavour to look closely at this verse tonight, I want us to consider three main thoughts and from there draw out principles that we may consider applying in our everyday life, especially in our daily walk with the Lord, even so in our spiritual journey. Just as it is a pilgrim Psalm, please be reminded that like the pilgrims of the Old Testament, we are also strangers and pilgrims of this Earth. And so the principles that we will learn from here tonight are very much applicable to us, and it would be to our benefit if we would learn them.
I. The Psalmist's Delight
a. David's Delight For Himself
Look with me now at Psalm 122:1, and I want us to consider first of all the psalmist's delight. The psalmist's delight, of course, the psalmist here is none other than David. You would find it there at the superscription, "A Song of degrees of David." So I want us to look carefully and look closely at the delight of the psalmist here, who is none other than David. Notice what David here said, "I was glad." “I was glad.” Notice here David's delight for himself. He was delighted. He was delighted to receive an invitation to go into the house of the Lord.
Look again at that portion of verse one, "I was glad." There you find David's delight for himself. He was delighted to be invited by others to go into the house of the LORD. And as we look at that delight of David, it is but a reflection of David's devotion and passion for the LORD. The fact that he was glad that he was invited to go into the house of the LORD is but an evidence and a manifestation of his devotion and passion for the LORD.
I don't know about you, but on many occasions, I have experienced reaching out to our friends, even our fellow members of the church, even regular worshippers. At times, when you happen to meet them somewhere else on some other days of the week, we would surely be delighted to extend the invitation, ‘See you in church this Lord's day.’ More often than not, and sad as it is, there seems to be no delight in their response. Perhaps, of course, in our dialect, but I would just say it in English, the equivalent would sound like this, ‘I'll try,’ or maybe ‘I'll see how.’
Such a response to an invitation doesn't show any delight, and such a response is reflective of the condition of the heart. It gives you that impression that to that particular person, in that particular point of time, coming to church for worship may not be his priority. It is reflective of the attitude of the heart that whenever you would reach out, ‘Hope to see you in church,’ ‘I'll try,’ such a response does not reflect gladness in his heart. But as you can see, on the part of David, he himself testified, "I was glad." His delight for himself, and such a delight is a reflection of David's devotion and passion for the LORD.
Even for ourselves that are gathered here in church tonight, and even those that are with us online, for a moment let us consider: when was the last time that you were delighted or glad at the thought of going to church for worship? If not for prayer? I say it again: when was the last time you were delighted or glad at the thought of going to church for worship or prayer meeting like this? I thought of asking you because more often than not, our attitude towards going to church or coming to church is more of a duty, something that needs to be fulfilled and isn't much of a delight. It's more of an obligation rather than a devotion.
No doubt we are committed to going to church, to attend worship services, prayer meetings, fellowship meetings, and all the activities of the church. Yes, no doubt about it. You are committed, we are committed. The fact that we are here tonight is reflective of our commitment to come. But oftentimes we seem to be satisfied to express our commitment as if it is something that needs to be checked off a list. ‘I have attended the Lord's service,’ a checklist to be ticked. So it's more of a mere commitment.
That I thought of asking, when was the last time you were delighted and were glad? As we reflect upon David's delight for himself here, I hope and even pray that our commitment to coming to church can even grow to be coupled with devotion, to be characterised by delight. I am sure you can see the difference when somebody says, ‘Oh, it's Sunday once again, go to church again,’ compared to somebody who says, ‘Wow, it's the weekend! it's the Lord's Day! Come, let's prepare for worship!’
The former is more of an obligation that needs to be complied with, while one with excitement is a reflection of that delight, that devotion of the heart. Yes, while we, by God's grace, have committed ourselves to come regularly, even without fail, to all the church meetings and fellowship meetings, we need to pray and pray earnestly that, ‘Lord, may this commitment be more characterised by delight, devotion, not just a mere duty to be complied with. Let there be joy and gladness in our hearts every time we come to church.’ We need to examine ourselves. Yes, praise God, all these years we have committed ourselves to coming. May we all be encouraged to reflect and consider the delight of David for himself: “I was glad.”
b. David's Delight For Others
Moving on, not only do we see David's delight for himself in this verse, we also see David's delight for others. Look with me again in Psalm 122:1, "I was glad"— that is his delight for himself—"when they said unto me,"—there you would find David's delight for others. Yes, David was glad on behalf of those who invited him. He was delighted to know that other people share his heart's desire, and that is to go into the house of the LORD. Meaning he's not just happy to be invited, he is also happy that others have thought of inviting him because it is reflective now not only of his heart's desire but also of the heart's desire of those people who invited him. He is delighted knowing that others around him, especially those who invited him, shared his heart's desire, and that is to go to the house of the LORD.
He was glad that others are reaching out to him, inviting him to go with them into the house of the LORD. And what more, for sure, he is delighted that others have thought of inviting him to join them going into the house of the LORD and not anywhere else. Sometimes we can be so excited and be delighted when others would invite us to go for a party or to join them in some other gatherings. But notice David's delight here. He was delighted for himself to be invited to go into the house of the LORD, and he is also delighted realising that people around him also share that desire of David.
c. David's Delight For Himself & Others
Notice carefully the progression here: "I was glad when they said unto me," David delighted for himself. David's delight for others. Now, notice David's delight for himself and others. Notice carefully the three personal pronouns in this verse: there's an ‘I,’ there's a ‘they,’ and there's a ‘we’ in that phrase "let us." So, David's delight for himself, David's delight for others, now notice David's delight for himself and for others: "Let us go into the house of the LORD."
Somehow, David was delighted to realise and discover that he, together with the others, shared one thing in common. And what is that one thing in common that they share? Their love to be in the house of the LORD. Their delight to go into the house of the Lord. And what is there in the house of the LORD? Obviously, they love to be in the house of the LORD for worship. They love to be in the house of the LORD to be in company with other believers and fellow believers. And obviously, they love to be in the house of the LORD for service. After all, what else would we be doing in the house of the LORD? The psalmist’s delight for himself, the psalmist’s delight for others, the psalmist’s delight for himself and for others.
I am sure we are also into this. Every time we come together for worship on the Lord's day or in a prayer meeting like this, surely you are delighted to see one another. ‘Wow, good to see you! I'm glad that you are here.’ May we commit ourselves to continuing going and coming into the house of the Lord, but this time moving further up with gladness and delight, not as a mere duty, not as a mere obligation, not just a mere commitment. Let it be an expression of your affection to the Lord. Let it be an expression of your worship unto the Lord. Let it be an expression of your joy, your gladness, and delight to be in the house of the Lord.
II. The Psalmist's Desire
Now we move on. We have considered the psalmist's delight. Look with me at a second thought: the Words that we see here are also reflective of the psalmist's desire. David was glad to be invited to go into the house of the LORD, obviously because it was his heart's desire.
We know very well that David, of all the characters in the Bible, is the one that is known as the man after God's own heart, and his delight simply confirms to us his desire. We often read of David’s delight and even of his desire in many of his psalms. If you can, turn your Bibles for a while. Turn with me to Psalm 27:4, it says here, "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;” And what is that one thing that he desired of the LORD? “that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” Yes, it is of no wonder that David finds delight to be invited into the house of the LORD, for after all, it is his heart's desire to be in the house of the LORD.
You will also find it implied in Psalm 26 and verse 8. Psalm 26:8, it says here, "LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth." Look at his desire: "I have loved the habitation of thy house." Then one more Psalm. Psalm 65:4, look with me at what David here said, "Blessed is the man whom thou chooseth, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple." These verses express not only David's delight but more so of David's desire.
There's another Psalm, although not written by David, but written by another psalmist. But somehow, it is worth considering as it also speaks of David's delight and that of David's desire. Turn with me to Psalm 84. Psalm 84:1-3, it says, "How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God." Look with me in verse 4: "Blessed are they."—Who are the ‘they’, who are ‘Blessed’?—"Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah." Then the more familiar verse from the Psalm, verse 10, it says here: "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."
See for yourself the psalmist's delight as well as the psalmist's desire: "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." (Psalm 122:1)
III. The Pilgrim's Duty
From the psalmist's delight to the psalmist's desire, let us now move on to consider the third and the last: the Pilgrim's Duty. The Pilgrim's Duty. "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD." (Psalm 122:1) Notice carefully here the practice of mutual edification, the practice of mutual encouragement, of reaching out to one another. That second half of the verse that says ‘let us,’ let us collectively, an expression of mutual encouragement, of mutual edification, of building one another up in the faith.
David's gladness here—listen carefully—David's gladness here, as you can see, is not only in the company of God's people but most of all in the commonality of purpose. Not just in the company of the people, but in their commonality of purpose. And what is the commonality of their purpose? To go into the house of the LORD. You know, in our time, you can be in the company of fellow believers but doing something not edifying. You can be in the company of believers but not in the house of the Lord. You can be in the company of the believers but doing unwholesome activities. David's gladness is not only in the company of God's people but most of all in the commonality of purpose, and that is to go into the house of the LORD.
And obviously, in its context, it refers to worship. Here we see that practice of edifying one another, building one another up, reaching out to one another, whereby both the invited and those who invite come to a resolve to do one and the same thing. And what is it that they would want to do? To go into the house of the LORD. It is not being told by others to go by yourself, but rather it is being told, ‘Let us all together go to the house of the LORD.’
As we look at the words of David here, yes, you cannot help but notice how it highlights the practice that we ought to cultivate and ought to practice as well, and that is the practice of mutual exhortation and of mutual edification on areas like the principles of our faith, the profession of our faith, and the practice of our faith. "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." There you find the principles of our faith, the profession of our faith, and the practice of our faith.
We actually can see a parallel to what David here said in the New Testament found in the book of Hebrews chapter 10. Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 10 and look with me at verse 20 to verse 25. Hebrews 10:20-22, there you find the principles of faith: "By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God;" Look at verse 22 now: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." Let us go into the house of the Lord. Let us draw near.
Come with me now to verse 23, a more familiar verse. Hebrews 10:23, it says, "Let us hold fast the"—what?—"the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" The principle of our faith, the profession of our faith. And notice again that collective and mutual reaching out: ‘let us’, ‘let us’. Then one more, verse 24 and 25, where you would find the practice of our faith. Hebrews 10:24, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." Verse 25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching."
I hope we are able to see for ourselves the similarity of how we ought to practice mutual encouragement, mutual edification, building one another up in these three areas:
- the principles of our faith,
- the profession of our faith, and
- the practice of our faith.
In Psalm 122, David was glad to go into the house of the LORD, glad to be in the company of the saints, glad to be in communion with the brethren. Yes, but most of all, he was glad to be in the presence of the LORD. Remember what I said earlier: David's gladness was not only in the company of God's people, but most of all in their commonality of purpose—to be in the house of the LORD.
We may not know David's condition and David's situation when he wrote Psalm 122, but the thought of what he declared and what he testified in this Psalm, the thought of going into the house of the LORD, brought gladness and joy unto him. "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD." Somehow we need to examine ourselves tonight. How about us? How about us? Are we not glad to be in the house of the Lord? Are we not glad to be in this prayer meeting this evening? It could be that, yes, we are here because we are committed to coming for prayer meeting to pray. Praise God. But there's still room for us to grow and mature—not only in our perspective, not only in our commitment, not only in our understanding. May we also grow in our attitude in regards to coming to the house of the Lord.
Like any other churches, our church is family-oriented, and I believe the same is true: to be family-oriented in a sense that it is so common to see families coming for worship, parents tagging along their children. We praise and thank God for the commitment of the parents to bring their children to church. Though for sure, our little ones may have that excitement in coming to church, but obviously, their excitement may not necessarily mean, ‘I'm excited to worship the Lord.’ Perhaps they may be excited to meet their fellow children to play, or perhaps they may be excited to learn lessons in their children's ministry. There is that gladness, there is that delight, but that gladness and delight is yet to grow and mature in order for them to come to a point that their joy and gladness will no longer be in the company of their fellow children but in their devotion to the Lord.
The same is true to us adults (including) new believers. It could be that we are committed because, after all, we commit ourselves to be an active member of the church, but it does not necessarily mean that you have that joy and gladness. There has to be that constant examination of ourselves. What is it?
As far as children are concerned, yes, they have joy and delight, but for other reasons. And if I may add to it, children, every time we would reach out and tell them, ‘Prepare, let's go for worship,’ children have no choice. ‘I have to, I need to,’ because after all, they need to obey their parents. Well and good. Praise God. But let's continue to commit ourselves to training them to the point that they also would come and reach the point that they themselves would develop that gladness—not for any other reasons, but gladness to be in the house of the Lord to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, in the beauty of holiness.
For little ones, yes, we cannot expect them to really have that joy and gladness in worshiping the Lord. They can be excited for any other reasons, but praise God that as we continue to bring them along, as we continue to bring them along in God's time, with much prayer, persistence on the part of the parents, setting a good example to our children, by and by, their delight will not just be to be in the company of their fellow children or the activities that they are doing, but to be in the house of the Lord as an expression of devotion, as an expression of worship and service unto Him.
Yes, are we not glad to be in the house of the Lord this evening? Considering this message tonight, may we also have the same disposition whenever we think about the house of the Lord, especially when others express the same desire of going to the house of the Lord for worship, for prayer, for fellowship. Even so, as we all look forward to the Lord's return, whereby He would call us, ‘Come, enter into my rest,’ (Hebrews 4:3, 9-11) or perhaps call us to the Father's house (John 14:2) not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1).
Let us pray.
Lord, we give thee thanks for these thoughts that you have impressed upon us. Bring to our attention what the testimony of David had brought upon us tonight: the desire, the delight that is expressed by David, even so that duty of reaching out to one another, even to encourage and exhort one another. Help us, Lord, that we not only would learn of this but we also by your grace live by this.
Be with us tonight as we carry on and proceed to our time of prayer and intercession. Sanctify our hearts, sanctify our minds, sanctify our lips, that every word and prayer that would be uttered would be pleasing, acceptable, and glorifying in your sight.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Pray with Your Eyes OpenPray with Your Eyes OpenPsalm 5:1-12
Message 3: The Test of TrustMessage 3: The Test of TrustPsalm 11:1-7
Morning Devotion 2: Psalm 13Morning Devotion 2: Psalm 13Psalm 13
Message 4: The Life of TrustMessage 4: The Life of TrustPsalm 20:1-9
Learn To Deal With DepressionLearn To Deal With DepressionPsalm 42
Dealing with DepressionDealing with DepressionPsalm 42
God Is Our RefugeGod Is Our RefugePsalm 46
Morning Devotion 3: Psalm 46Morning Devotion 3: Psalm 46Psalm 46
True Confession, Repentance and Restoration [Part 1]True Confession, Repentance and Restoration [Part 1]Psalm 51:1-9
Morning Devotion 1: The Joy of Thy ForgivenessMorning Devotion 1: The Joy of Thy ForgivenessPsalm 51:1-9
True Confession, Repentance and Restoration [Part 2]True Confession, Repentance and Restoration [Part 2]Psalm 51:10-12
The Joy of SalvationThe Joy of SalvationPsalm 51:10-12
Morning Devotion 4: The Joy of Thy SalvationMorning Devotion 4: The Joy of Thy SalvationPsalm 51:10-19
True Confession, Repentance and Restoration [Part 3]True Confession, Repentance and Restoration [Part 3]Psalm 51:13-19
O Come, Let Us Worship the LordO Come, Let Us Worship the LordPsalm 59:1-11
Hear My Cry, O God!Hear My Cry, O God!Psalm 61:1-8
The Man that is Blessed of the LordThe Man that is Blessed of the LordPsalm 65:4
Wilt Thou Not Revive Us Again?Wilt Thou Not Revive Us Again?Psalm 85:1-13
Teach Us to Number Our DaysTeach Us to Number Our DaysPsalm 90:10-12
Morning Devotion 1: Psalm 90:10-12Morning Devotion 1: Psalm 90:10-12Psalm 90:10-12
The Lord Is KingThe Lord Is KingPsalm 93
Christian ParentingChristian ParentingPsalm 127:3-5; Matthew 10:37; Matthew 6:32; Psalm 113:9; Psalm 128:3
Morning Devotion 2: Obedience to God’s WordMorning Devotion 2: Obedience to God’s WordPsalm 119:1-8
Morning Devotion 3: The Cleansing Power of God’s WordMorning Devotion 3: The Cleansing Power of God’s WordPsalm 119:9-16
I Was GladI Was GladPsalm 122:1
Christian ParentingChristian ParentingPsalm 127:3-5; Matthew 10:37; Matthew 6:32; Psalm 113:9; Psalm 128:3
Message 7: What are children for? Heritage of godly seed for Christ!Message 7: What are children for? Heritage of godly seed for Christ!Psalm 127:3, Malachi 2:15, Ephesians 6:4
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A Prayer in the CaveA Prayer in the CavePsalm 142
