Psalm 122 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 122 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord!"
Verse 2Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Verse 3Jerusalem-built as a city that is bound firmly together.
Verse 4To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
Verse 5For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David.
Verse 6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you.
Verse 7Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers."
Verse 8For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, "Peace be within you."
Verse 9For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
Devotion
As a child, some of the best news I heard was when mom or dad said that we were going to go to our grandparents' house. No matter what we were doing, when news came that were we going to our grandparents, joyful excitement was a sure thing! Mimi and Grandma’s house was always a place of incredible love and fun. It was where we played games, made cookies, rode bikes and even sang songs together. Many joyful memories were made in that little yellow house.
The Psalmist’s words for Jerusalem today remind me of the joy that was had at my grandparents' house. Excitement is shared with the anticipation of going to the house of the Lord where peace and security dwell. As we live today in the now-not-yet, we wait and live with eager anticipation for the day of sharing joy, hope and love with all the world.
Prayer
Lord, help us to live the excitement of your love and grace in the world today, even as we anticipate the joyful day of your coming again.