Psa 122:9 | KingComments | STEP | After the thrones of justice, which emphasizes maintaining justice, there can be peace ( ). Peace is based on justice. While the tribes are there, they ask to pray “for the peace for Jerusalem” (cf. ), for it is not yet the situation of the realm of peace. Peace is more than just the absence of war. It is harmony and prosperity under the government of the Prince of peace. When an Israelite meets another Israelite, they wish peace to each other with the greeting shalom . When an Israelite enters a house, he wishes “God’s peace” to that house. Even as the pilgrims enter the city of Jerusalem, they wish peace to Jerusalem, so that Jerusalem will in truth be ‘the city of peace’ according to the meaning of its name. Then the title of the Lord Jesus will also be King of Salem, that is, the King of peace ( ). True peace is only possible when the Prince of peace is actually King. A wish for blessing is attached to the prayer for peace: “May they prosper who love you.” Those who love Jerusalem, the city of peace, love peace. Therefore, for them the LORD can be asked to make them prosperous (cf. ). Jerusalem means “city of peace”, but since a brief period of peace under the reign of Solomon, there has never been peace in the city. That peace will only become a reality when the city opens its gates to the Prince of peace. There is a great desire for “peace be within your walls” and “prosperity within your palaces” ( ). That there are walls (cf. ) means that although there are enemies, they are no longer a threat ( ). There can be peace and rest when the heart is in fellowship with the LORD. For a local church, a situation of peace and rest can also be a reality (cf. ). This will be the case when believers put themselves personally under the authority of the Lord Jesus. They will then experience “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” ( ). Those who personally have that peace and rest will also wish it for their “brothers” and their “friends” ( ). Paul does the same in the opening words of almost all his letters. The God-fearing has with them a common love for Jerusalem and the temple, that is, for Him Who dwells there. Together they serve and worship Him. This shows that at the deepest level it is not about buildings, but about people. The peace of the city must ultimately result in the peace of the people toward God and among themselves. This aspect is also important for the church. We are called “being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” ( ), for we are with all believers “held together by what every joint supplies” ( ). The ultimate desire for peace has to do with the fact that in the city is “the house of the LORD our God” ( ). This is the motivation of the God-fearing to seek the good for the city. This psalm is emphatically about the house of the LORD. The psalm begins with it in and it ends with it in . That there is mention of the testimony in , connected with the Name of the LORD, makes it clear that this psalm is about the place the LORD has chosen “to establish His name there” ( ). That place the psalmist loves. In the same way, with us it must be about the Lord Jesus. Where He is glorified and worshiped, there is also our place. We know from the New Testament that we have come to the spiritual Mount Zion ( ; cf. ). This drawing near denotes an atmosphere into which we enter. The atmosphere at “Mount Zion” is one of grace and peace, of inviting love, where all fear is absent ( ). This is characteristic of the company of the children of God.

‏ Psalms 122:9

The Prayer of the Pilgrim

After the thrones of justice, which emphasizes maintaining justice, there can be peace (Psa 122:6). Peace is based on justice. While the tribes are there, they ask to pray “for the peace for Jerusalem” (cf. Jer 29:7), for it is not yet the situation of the realm of peace. Peace is more than just the absence of war. It is harmony and prosperity under the government of the Prince of peace.

When an Israelite meets another Israelite, they wish peace to each other with the greeting shalom. When an Israelite enters a house, he wishes “God’s peace” to that house. Even as the pilgrims enter the city of Jerusalem, they wish peace to Jerusalem, so that Jerusalem will in truth be ‘the city of peace’ according to the meaning of its name. Then the title of the Lord Jesus will also be King of Salem, that is, the King of peace (Heb 7:2). True peace is only possible when the Prince of peace is actually King.

A wish for blessing is attached to the prayer for peace: “May they prosper who love you.” Those who love Jerusalem, the city of peace, love peace. Therefore, for them the LORD can be asked to make them prosperous (cf. Mt 10:40-42). Jerusalem means “city of peace”, but since a brief period of peace under the reign of Solomon, there has never been peace in the city. That peace will only become a reality when the city opens its gates to the Prince of peace.

There is a great desire for “peace be within your walls” and “prosperity within your palaces” (Psa 122:7). That there are walls (cf. Psa 48:12-13) means that although there are enemies, they are no longer a threat (Isa 26:1). There can be peace and rest when the heart is in fellowship with the LORD.

For a local church, a situation of peace and rest can also be a reality (cf. Acts 9:31). This will be the case when believers put themselves personally under the authority of the Lord Jesus. They will then experience “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17).

Those who personally have that peace and rest will also wish it for their “brothers” and their “friends” (Psa 122:8). Paul does the same in the opening words of almost all his letters. The God-fearing has with them a common love for Jerusalem and the temple, that is, for Him Who dwells there. Together they serve and worship Him. This shows that at the deepest level it is not about buildings, but about people. The peace of the city must ultimately result in the peace of the people toward God and among themselves.

This aspect is also important for the church. We are called “being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3), for we are with all believers “held together by what every joint supplies” (Eph 4:16).

The ultimate desire for peace has to do with the fact that in the city is “the house of the LORD our God” (Psa 122:9). This is the motivation of the God-fearing to seek the good for the city. This psalm is emphatically about the house of the LORD. The psalm begins with it in Psa 122:1 and it ends with it in Psa 122:9.

That there is mention of the testimony in Psa 122:4, connected with the Name of the LORD, makes it clear that this psalm is about the place the LORD has chosen “to establish His name there” (Deu 12:5). That place the psalmist loves.

In the same way, with us it must be about the Lord Jesus. Where He is glorified and worshiped, there is also our place. We know from the New Testament that we have come to the spiritual Mount Zion (Heb 12:22-23; cf. Gal 4:24). This drawing near denotes an atmosphere into which we enter. The atmosphere at “Mount Zion” is one of grace and peace, of inviting love, where all fear is absent (1Jn 4:18). This is characteristic of the company of the children of God.