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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM CXXII.</FONT>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
This psalm seems to have been penned by David for the use of the people
of Israel, when they came up to Jerusalem to worship at the three
solemn feasts. It was in David's time that Jerusalem was first chosen
to be the city where God would record his name. It being a new thing,
this, among other means, was used to bring the people to be in love
with Jerusalem, as the holy city, though it was but the other day in
the hands of the Jebusites. Observe,
I. The joy with which they were to go up to Jerusalem,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
II. The great esteem they were to have of Jerusalem,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:3-5">ver. 3-5</A>.
III. The great concern they were to have for Jerusalem, and the prayers
they were to put up for its welfare,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:6-9">ver. 6-9</A>.
In singing this psalm we must have an eye to the gospel church, which
is called the "Jerusalem that is from above."</P>
</FONT>
<A NAME="Ps122_1"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps122_2"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps122_3"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps122_4"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps122_5"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Pleasures of Public Worship.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<CENTER>
<P>A song of degrees of David.</P>
</CENTER>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 I was glad when they said
unto me, Let us go into the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
&nbsp; 2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
&nbsp; 3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
&nbsp; 4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, unto the
testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
&nbsp; 5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the
house of David.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Here we have,</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. The pleasure which David and other pious Israelites took in
approaching to and attending upon God in public ordinances,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
1. The invitation to them was very welcome. David was himself glad, and
would have every Israelite to say that he <I>was glad, when</I> he was
called upon to <I>go up to the house of the Lord.</I> Note,
(1.) It is the will of God that we should worship him in concert, that
many should join together to wait upon him in public ordinances. We
ought to worship God in our own houses, but that is not enough; we must
<I>go into the house of the Lord,</I> to pay our homage to him there,
and <I>not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.</I>
(2.) We should not only agree with one another, but excite and stir up
one another, to go to worship God in public. <I>Let us go;</I> not, "Do
you go and pray for us, and we will stay at home;" but, <I>We will go
also,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:21">Zech. viii. 21</A>.
Not, "Do you go before, and we will follow at our leisure;" or, "We
will go first, and you shall come after us;" but, "<I>Let us go</I>
together, for the honour of God and for our mutual edification and
encouragement." We ourselves are slow and backward, and others are so
too, and therefore we should thus quicken and sharpen one another to
that which is good, as iron sharpens iron.
(3.) Those that rejoice in God will rejoice in calls and opportunities
to wait upon him. David himself, though he had as little need of a spur
to his zeal in religious exercises as any, yet was so far from taking
it as an affront that he was glad of it as a kindness when he was
called upon to <I>go</I> up <I>to the house of the Lord</I> with the
meanest of his subjects. We should desire our Christian friends, when
they have any good work in hand, to call for us and take us along with
them.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
2. The prospect of them was very pleasing. They speak it with a holy
triumph
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
<I>Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem!</I> Those that
came out of the country, when they found the journey tedious, comforted
themselves with this, that they should be in Jerusalem shortly, and
that would make amends for all the fatigues of their journey. We shall
stand there as servants; it is desirable to have a place in Jerusalem,
though it be <I>among those that stand by</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+3:7">Zech. iii. 7</A>),
though it be the door keeper's place,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+84:10">Ps. lxxxiv. 10</A>.
We have now got a resting-place for the ark, and where it is there will
we be.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. The praises of Jerusalem, as
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+48:12">Ps. xlviii. 12</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
1. It is the beautiful city, not only for situation, but for building.
It is built into <I>a city,</I> the houses not scattered, but
contiguous, and the streets fair and spacious. It is built uniform,
<I>compact together,</I> the houses strengthening and supporting one
another. Though the city was divided into the higher and lower town,
yet the Jebusites being driven out, and it being entirely in the
possession of God's people, it is said to be compact together. It was a
type of the gospel-church, which is compact together in holy love and
Christian communion, so that it is all as one city.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
2. It is the holy city,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
It is the place where all Israel meet one another: <I>Thither the
tribes go up,</I> from all parts of the country, as one man, under the
character of <I>the tribes of the Lord,</I> in obedience to his
command. It is the place appointed for their general rendezvous; and
they come together,
(1.) To receive instruction from God; they come <I>to the testimony of
Israel,</I> to hear what God has to say to them and to consult his
oracle.
(2.) To ascribe the glory to God, <I>to give thanks to the name of the
Lord,</I> which we have all reason to do, especially those that have
the testimony of Israel among them. If God speak to us by his word, we
have reason to answer him by our thanksgivings. See on what errand we
go to public worship, <I>to give thanks.</I></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
3. It is the royal city
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
<I>There are set thrones of judgment. Therefore</I> the people had
reason to be in love with Jerusalem, because justice was administered
there by a man after God's own heart. The civil interests of the
people were as well secured as their ecclesiastical concerns; and very
happy they were in their courts of judicature, which were erected in
Jerusalem, as with us in Westminster Hall. Observe, What a goodly sight
it was to see <I>the testimony of Israel</I> and the <I>thrones of
judgment</I> such near neighbours, and they are good neighbours, which
may greatly befriend one another. Let the testimony of Israel direct
the thrones of judgment, and the thrones of judgment protect the
testimony of Israel.</P>
<A NAME="Ps122_6"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps122_7"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps122_8"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps122_9"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Prayer for the Church.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love
thee.
&nbsp; 7 Peace be within thy walls, <I>and</I> prosperity within thy
palaces.
&nbsp; 8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace
<I>be</I> within thee.
&nbsp; 9 Because of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God I will seek thy
good.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Here,
I. David calls upon others to which well to Jerusalem,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>.
<I>Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,</I> for the welfare of it, for all
good to it, particularly for the uniting of the inhabitants among
themselves and their preservation from the incursions of enemies. This
we may truly desire, that in the peace thereof we may have peace; and
this we must earnestly pray for, for it is the gift of God, and for it
he will be enquired of. Those that can do nothing else for the peace of
Jerusalem can pray for it, which is something more than showing their
good-will; it is the appointed way of fetching in mercy. The peace and
welfare of the gospel church, particularly in our land, is to be
earnestly desired and prayed for by every one of us. Now,
1. We are here encouraged in our prayers for Jerusalem's peace:
<I>Those shall prosper that love thee.</I> We must pray for Jerusalem,
not out of custom, nor for fashion's sake, but out of a principle of
love to God's government of man and man's worship of God; and, in
seeking the public welfare, we seek our own, for so well does God
<I>love the gates of Zion</I> that he will love all those that do love
them, and therefore they cannot but prosper; at least their souls shall
prosper by the ordinances they so dearly love.
2. We are here directed in our prayers for it and words are put into
our mouths
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
<I>Peace be within thy walls.</I> He teaches us to pray,
(1.) For all the inhabitants in general, all within the walls, from the
least to the greatest. Peace be in thy fortifications; let them never
be attacked, or, if they be, let them never be taken, but be an
effectual security to the city.
(2.) For the princes and rulers especially: Let <I>prosperity</I> be
<I>in the palaces</I> of the great men that sit at the helm and have
the direction of public affairs; for, if they prosper, it will be well
for the public. The poorer sort are apt to envy the prosperity of the
palaces, but they are here taught to pray for it.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. He resolves that whatever others do he will approve himself a
faithful friend to Jerusalem,
1. In his prayers: "<I>I will now say,</I> now I see the tribes so
cheerfully resorting hither to <I>the testimony of Israel,</I> and the
matter settled, that Jerusalem must be the place where God will record
his name, now I will say, <I>Peace be within thee.</I>" He did not say,
"Let others pray for the public peace, the priests and the prophets,
whose business it is, and the people, that have nothing else to do, and
I will fight for it and rule for it." No; "I will pray for it too."
2. In his endeavours, with which he will second his prayers: "<I>I
will,</I> to the utmost of my power, <I>seek thy good.</I>" Whatever
lies within the sphere of our activity to do for the public good we
must do it, else we are not sincere in praying for it. Now it might be
said, No thanks to David to be so solicitous for the welfare of
Jerusalem; it was his own city, and the interests of his family were
lodged in it. This is true; yet he professes that this was not the
reason why he was in such care for the welfare of Jerusalem, but it
proceeded from the warm regard he had,
(1.) To the communion of saints: It is <I>for my brethren and
companions' sakes,</I> that is, for the sake of all true-hearted
Israelites, whom I look upon as my brethren (so he called them,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:2">1 Chron. xxviii. 2</A>)
and who have often been my companions in the worship of God, which has
knit my heart to them.
(2.) To the ordinances of God: He had <I>set his affections to the
house of his God</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+29:3">1 Chron. xxix. 3</A>);
he took a great pleasure in public worship, and for that reason would
pray for the good of Jerusalem. <I>Then</I> our concern for the public
welfare is right when it is the effect of a sincere love to God's
institutions and his faithful worshippers.</P>
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