“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” so David reminisced in the very first verse of Psalm 122. The house of God was the tabernacle in David’s day. In our day it is the place where believers meet together with each other and with the Lord. It may be in a church building, a home, under a tree, or in a secret place. But it is a place where God’s people meet together. Let us go into the house of the LORD. Let us seek Him together. The very thought of this made David glad.
In the days of David, the tabernacle was in Jerusalem. How David delighted to go to Jerusalem. He said, “Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.” (verses 2-4) The tribes of Israel all went up to Jerusalem to worship together. They all went up there to give thanks unto the LORD’s name. Going to the house of the Lord together was a delightful and special event.
There was one thing that made going to the house of the Lord even more special for David. “For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.” (verse 5) David’s own house and the thrones for judging the children of Israel were also in Jerusalem. They were near to God’s house. David did not feel that his reign and his work for his nation were separate from his service to God. No, it was a joy to think of them together.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.” (verses 6 and 7) David did not assume that everything would always be wonderful and peaceful, so he prayed for peace and prosperity.
Why did David pray for peace and prosperity? He gave two reasons.
1. Because of those who went with him to worship, both the people of the nation and his own companions. “For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.” (verse 8)
2. For the sake of the house of the Lord. “Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.” (verse 9) How could the nation prosper and be blessed; how could right judgment be made for the people of Israel, if the house of God were neglected and forsaken?
The house of God was the place to fellowship together, the place to seek God’s face together, the place to joy together, the place to give thanks to God together. The house of God was necessary for the peace and prosperity of the city and the nation. It was the place where the king could get help to make good judgments for the people.
Oh how desperately we need the house of the Lord! Every time we have a chance to meet together, we should do so with joy and delight and thanks. The joy of meeting together at the house of God is a very special blessing that only God’s people can know and receive. It is a place where godly companions can stand together and worship together, fellowship, and be blessed. Oh, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.”