Day 5 - The Peace of Jerusalem
Today's lesson starts with looking at Psalm 122
1 I was glad when they said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the Lord."
2 And now we are standing here
inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is a well-built city,
knit together as a single unit.
4 All the people of Israel-the Lord's people-
make their pilgrimage here.
They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord
as the law requires.
5 Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,
the thrones of the dynasty of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
May all who love this city prosper.
7 O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
and prosperity in your palaces.
8 For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
"Peace be with you."
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.
Today's lesson talked about the progression of the Psalms of Ascent so far...
Psalm 120 was at the beginning of the journey. They are still in the foreign land, far away from where they want to be, far away from God.
Psalm 121 was during the long, hard journey. A journey that saw them looking to God for help to protect them on their journey.
Psalm 122 now sees them as they reach their destination - the gates of Jerusalem. They are where they want to be.
Think of the last time you went on a long journey and how it felt when you finally arrived. You are so tired and travel weary, but you suddenly you realize that you are there. That's when you can sit and just take a deep breath and think aaahhhh I am here. That's what coming to God should be like. Every time we come to God, to spend time with Him we are at the end of a journey - a journey away from Him, even if it has only been a few minutes. When we can come to God and feel like that then we will have the peace within ourselves that this Psalm prays for - the peace for Jerusalem.
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