During October, we will shift our attention from the books of the Kings to the Psalms. Three of the Psalms we will study are written by King David, and King Solomon wrote one. Today, we begin with Psalm 122 as we look at An Invitation to Worship.
Psalm 122 is the second Psalm of Ascent. This remarkable collection of songs, from 121 to 134, prepares the hearts of God’s people. The songs ready them as they approach the temple mount for worship. They are physically ascending to the mountain of God and spiritually meeting with and honoring God. These are my favorite Psalms. They affirm who God is, what He has done, and a call to worship him.
Psalm 122 is among my favorites. It is An Invitation to Worship.
Read Psalm 122.
While I will explain aspects of this Psalm in detail, I want you to recognize its context, audience, and purpose. You can observe all these in the opening phrase. It says, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”
The context is challenging. The children of Israel navigated rough terrain and faced dangers while walking to the Holy City to worship. Yet, they proclaim, “I was glad.” This is not just an emotion but a reflection of their attitude. How often do we come to God’s house but do not do so from a position of gratitude or joy? We should approach worship with an attitude of joy. I want you to realize again our privilege in worshiping our God.
Next, we see the audience. King David writes, “Let us go.” He is calling those around him to join in this pilgrimage. Our worship experience is communal. Yes, we are thankful that we can worship God alone anytime we want to. However, God created us to be in community. Unsurprisingly, the enemy fights hard to keep believers separated from the body. Busyness of life, misplaced priorities, laziness, and indifference all keep us from receiving the blessing of worshiping together. There is also an evangelistic aspect to this call. May we do everything possible to bring others with us as we worship.
Third, we see the purpose, the House of the Lord. That is our purpose: to come to the place where we meet with God together. Our purpose in worship is in the act of going to God. The House of the Lord refers to the Tabernacle, as the temple was not yet built. I want you to consider this for a moment. They were not in a grand structure but in a tent. But in that tent was the very presence of God.
The presence of God no longer dwells in a tent or a building of any kind. You can go to the grandest cathedral in Europe, which may be devoid of His presence. The Spirit of God is not in a building. He is in us. Therefore, when we join together, His Spirit is strong in the room because He is present in our lives.
As we study this Psalm more closely, I will use Dr. Wiersbe’s brief outline.
• In verses 1-2, we see A Heart for God.
• In verses 3-5, we see A heart for Praise.
• In verses 6-9, we see A heart for Prayer.
These three things, God, Praise, and Prayer, express our greatest purposes as we come into the Lord’s House. Many commentators connect this earthly worship in Jerusalem to our ultimate worship in the New Jerusalem. This Psalm confirms the eternal temple in the eternal city. It highlights the eternal King on His eternal throne. We give Him our eternal adoration.
Dr Wiersbe writes, “A heart for God will surely be a heart filled with praise and prayer.” Why am I glad to come into this house? Because here I meet God, and I can praise Him and place my needs before Him. God’s house is a place of spiritual renewal and peace. Peace is the absence of conflict. Therefore, we must come into the house unified in purpose and expectation.
We must set aside our preferences for the betterment of the body. This is especially important for those who do not yet follow Christ. Worship style is irrelevant. It’s about Jesus. In this place, we pray, worship, and love God as we love, support, fight for, and listen to each other. What we do here weekly should not be from a place of form and ceremony.
Our united worship sets the atmosphere and welcomes the Holy Spirit to come and move among us. It brings in His power and authority. We set the atmosphere to receive salvation, healing, deliverance, and blessing from our Savior. So, let us commit ourselves to meeting with God. Let us praise Him for His infinite goodness. We should bring our needs before Him and expect an answer. Let us bring others with us as we have a standing Invitation to Worship.
Come and Worship!
Through Time 