Psalms 122
Big idea: The arrival, and the psalm knows exactly what the first moment feels like: our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem. Then it looks around and reports what the city is for — the tribes come up here, and the courts sit here. And it turns that observation into an instruction with a pun built into it: pray for the peace of Jerusalem — shalom for Yerushalayim. The last two verses give the reason, and it is not patriotism: for my brothers' and companions' sakes.
Psalm 122 arrives at the gates. Psalm 123 lifts its eyes higher than the city.
122:1–9 — Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
A song for arrival rather than for the road. Verse 2 has the pilgrims' feet already inside the gates, and the psalm looks around: a city 'compact together', the tribes coming up, the courts of David's house. Then it turns the visit into an obligation — pray for the PEACE of Jerusalem, which is a pun on the city's own name.
1 A Song of Ascents. By David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!” 2 Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem! 3 Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, 4 where the tribes go up, even Yah’s tribes, according to an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to Yahweh’s name. 5 For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of David’s house. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper. 7 Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces. 8 For my brothers’ and companions’ sakes, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” 9 For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).