Psalm 122

1. JOYFUL on the Way (Psalm 122:1-2)

Verses 1 -2 reveal a couple things:

• There is gladness and JOY at the invitation.
• There is an invitation!
• This is NOT an individualized experience – it’s “they” “us”…let’s “GO”
• This is NOT a private experience – it is shared with God’s people – at a location – at a time…with a clear purpose.

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him, and we are most satisfied in him in worship.”  -John Piper

APPLICATION:

Do I need to begin to think differently about SUNDAYS?

• Am I GLAD / JOYFUL to get to gather and worship the LORD?
• Am I dreading the process of getting there?  Am I waiting on an excuse NOT to gather?

Our OT worshipers are calling us to join them with JOY on the approach!

Love makes the journey shorter and load lighter.  Love the LORD….love the Church!  Ask the LORD to give you a renewed love for HIM, for worshiping HIM with your church family!

2. FOCUSED When Gathered (Psalm 122:3-5)

Look at that phrase, “to give thanks to the name of the LORD”

Psalm 116:17–19; Psalm 115:1–3; Proverbs 18:10

A praising people will keep the focus on God and His great name!

If the Old Testament pilgrims went up to worship in Jerusalem with GLAD HEARTS,  how much more should we yearn to get to worship with our church family to thank the Lord for giving us his only Son, Jesus; for forgiveness of sins; for making us members of the body of Christ; for his daily provisions.

3. PRAYERFUL as we Scatter (Psalm 122:6-9)

Prayerfully pointing others to the Prince of Peace (while praying for His soon return!)

• there can be no peace in Jerusalem or on earth until the Prince of Peace reigns on David’s throne (Isa. 9:6–7; Luke 1:26–33). 
• So, when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are actually praying, “Thy kingdom come” (Matt. 6:10) and “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). 
• Jesus wept over the city because they were ignorant of the peace God had for them (Luke 19:41–48) and had rejected their own Messiah (John 11:47–48).

SUMMARY:

• We APPROACH with JOY – because we GET to gather together
• We FOCUS on HIM while we’re together – crucifying our own preferences.  Encouraging one another…as we praise the LORD!
• We PRAYERFULLY scatter – with peace and love toward one another and the hope that our city (our neighbors & neighborhoods) will become places of peace!

In our modern culture where Convenience governs our commitments:

• are we anticipating worship like they did?  with gladness and joy?
• what if we normalized PRIORITIZING our worship gatherings, our upcoming community groups…every opportunity we have to be togehter

ACTION: What needs to come OFF of your schedule to make this happen?

ACTION: What needs to come OFF of your bingelist that’s robbing you of joy and making you more biting and cynical.

ACTION: What needs to be put ON your schedule or bingelist in their place…to set you up to WORSHIP LIKE THIS?