Psalm 122

Remember that God our Creator is the helper of those who decide to make pilgrimage?  Well look at the first thing He does to help: He gives us some company, some fellow-travelers who are excited to have us join them. 

Did you know that is what is behind the idea of “church?”  When we decide to make the journey to God, that is when we have repented (Psalm 120) and determined to follow Christ (Psalm 121), He places us in the body of Christ, the Church (1 Cor. 12:13).  From the very beginning of the Church, recorded in Acts 2, this is what believers did: to gather with each other (Acts 2:41-47).  This is a foundational way that we receive God’s help: through other pilgrims.  The writer to the Hebrews had this in mind when he told us not to give up these gatherings but to make good use of them by stirring each other up to love and good works (Heb. 10:24-25).  And he made it clear that the longer we live the more we need this.  Don’t ever think you can get along without this.  In the New Testament there are no true believers who are not also part of some local church.

Now look at what else the Creator does to help us as we get set to start our journey.  The pilgrim gets a view of Jerusalem, what it will be like when he arrives.  Jerusalem is the place of true worship (where the tribes give thanks to the Lord) and the place of the House of David (where David has his throne). 

That is exactly what we were missing in our home town that was full of lies and anarchy (Psalm 120).  There was no true worship of the Creator.  Rather people worshiped themselves, doing what was right in their own eyes while doing all they could to keep God out of the picture.  How encouraging to know that when we arrive at the destination it will be everything our hearts truly desired.  I say truly because sometimes we think we know what we want only to find that it doesn’t satisfy.  But when we arrive at the place of true worship, the place where Jesus is Lord, then and only then will we find true joy.

This satisfaction is actually described in the closing verses (v6-9).  It is true prosperity, shalom (peace) that speaks of enjoyment without reservation, of fulfillment without need.  In another famous Psalm David would say it this way: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want (23:1).  Thus David prays that all will be well in Jerusalem for it is the destination of all destinations.  In Jerusalem he can meet with God at His house.

To us who live after the cross and resurrection, we are not simply talking about our destination the New Jerusalem.  Sure, all will be well there (Rev. 22:1-5).  We are actually talking about a destination at which we can arrive and where we can abide (be settled down, at rest) day by day, moment by moment.  Jesus said it thus: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:7-8).