Luther Seminary “Moved by the Promise ‘God Pause’” - Tuesday, 26 November 2013 – Psalm 122

Luther Seminary “Moved by the Promise ‘God Pause’” - Tuesday, 26 November 2013 – Psalm 122: Song of Praise and Prayer for Jerusalem

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

1 I was glad when they said to me,

    “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

2 Our feet are standing

    within your gates, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem—built as a city

    that is bound firmly together.

4 To it the tribes go up,

    the tribes of the Lord,

as was decreed for Israel,

    to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

5 For there the thrones for judgment were set up,

    the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

    “May they prosper who love you.

7 Peace be within your walls,

    and security within your towers.”

8 For the sake of my relatives and friends

    I will say, “Peace be within you.”

9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

    I will seek your good.(NRSV)

I admit that I am not always glad to go to the house of the Lord. I sometimes feel distracted, unprepared or anxious—and I'm the pastor! I find myself going through the motions of worship instead of actually worshiping because I have to be there every Sunday, even when my heart and thoughts are wandering.

But God's grace is such that even distracted, anxious, and inattentive worshipers can find joy and gladness. The prayers of the faithful and their voices lifted in song clear my thoughts and focus my heart upon God. The warm welcome of other Christians removes my anxiety. The expectant look upon their faces as they hear the word of God inspires me.

It is entirely possible to worship God alone, but it is only in God's house that we are fully embraced by the communion of saints and invited to join with the psalmist in prayers for the peace of the city, the nation, and our world. That is cause for gladness indeed.

O joy of earth and heaven, touch our hearts and teach us to pray for the peace of our cities, and to praise our Creator and our Lord forever. Amen.

Rebecca Wegner

Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Brunswick, Maine

Master of Divinity , 1992

Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord!"

2 Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together.

4 To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

5 For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you.

7 Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers."

8 For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, "Peace be within you."

9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.(New American Standard Version)

-------