We will read two portions of Scripture relating to public worship; the first will be Psalms 122:1 , one of David's «Songs of degrees.» (See Luke 18:1-14 for second portion.)
Psalms 122:1. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
«I was glad for my own sake, for I hungered and thirsted to go into the house of the Lord; I was glad for the sake of those who offered to go with me, for I delight to see in others a longing desire to profit by the means of grace; I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.'»
Psalms 122:2-19. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
So is every true church of God when it is in a healthy state. There are no divisions, no schisms: «Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together.» It is not a long straggling street, a dislocated village; but all the houses are rightly and regularly placed, and surrounded with strong munitions of defense against the adversary. May this church ever be blessed with such unity that it shall be as a city that is compact together!
Psalms 122:4. Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
We should go up to the house of God, then, for two purposes, first, «unto the testimony of Israel;» that is, to hear what God testifies to us, and also publicly to testify our confidence in him; and, next, we should go up «to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.» Especially should we do this when we have been restored from beds of languishing sickness and pain, or when we come up from the house of mourning. But what is there in God's house that should tempt us to go there?
Psalms 122:5. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
The preaching of the gospel is like the setting up of a throne of judgment, «for the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart;» and long before the last great judgment day arrives, and the final assize begins, the ministry of the gospel is God's judgment seat, at which ungodly men may learn what they are in the sight of the Judge of all, what their present state of condemnation is, and what it will be finally unless they repent.
Psalms 122:6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
Ask that she may be free from persecution without, and from anything like disturbance within: «Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.»
Psalms 122:6. They shall prosper that love thee.
Neglect of the means of grace is the death of all soul-prosperity; but an earnest love to the house of God, and all who belong to God, will bring us true spiritual prosperity.
Psalms 122:7-19. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
Now let us read a short passage out of the Gospel according to Luke.
This exposition consisted of readings from Psalms 122:1 and Luke 18:1-14.