Psalms 122:1

JOY IN PUBLIC WORSHIP

‘I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.’

Psalms 122:1

I. Glad, because it is the place of rest from the week’s toil and care.—In the sanctuary we lay our burdens down. We cease from the labours which have occupied us through all the week. Body and mind and spirit alike have a happy season of quiet, refreshment, recuperation. Surely we could never dispense with the Sabbath and the Holy House; we need them for the restoring of our nature.

II. Glad, because it is the place of worship.—There we lift our voices in sweet and thankful praise. There we breathe forth the desires of our innermost souls in earnest prayer. There we con and ponder the Word of Life, bending over the revelation which our Lord has given us of Himself and of His grace. And there are no exercises more delightful or more fructifying than these.

III. Glad, because it is the place of communion with the saints.—We meet with kindred spirits. They say unto us, Let us go—‘us’: it is the plural number, it denotes the company of God’s sons and daughters, it introduces us to a large and glorious fellowship. We receive help from these true comrades of our hearts; we can give them encouragement too, and stimulus, and cheer.

IV. And glad most of all, because it is the place where God draws nigh.— The house of the Lord: that is its name. Near us as He is all the week through, He is specially near when His day comes round and when we seek Him in the assembly of His people. The Father and the Son and the Spirit come to us and make their abode with us. We enter into the secret place of the Most High.

Illustration

‘This psalm obviously justifies its title, A song of degrees. It is a psalm of the pilgrims going up to worship at Jerusalem, and its theme is delight in the city of God, and in the Temple that made that city glorious. These pilgrimages three times a year to the capital were a bright feature in the life of the Israelites. “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Neighbours in outlying parts had been visiting each other beforehand, talking about the journey and inviting their friends to join. The little companies come streaming in from a distance until near Jerusalem they become a great multitude full of social joy and religious fervour. It is surely good that people should speak among their friends about going to God’s house.’