A PILGRIM’S JOY, PRAISE, PRAYER, & PROMISE PSALM 122 A PILGRIM’S JOY, PRAISE, PRAYER, & PROMISE PSALM 1 120-135 : A SONG OF ASCENTS; Songs of Pilgrims, followers of God, on a journey to Jerusalem, Zion, to worship during one of the three most important festivals: Passover, Pentecost, Festival of Booths. Psalm 122 is accredited to David First: literally; Second: application for the Christian living today; Third: for the Christian in the future

THE PILGRIM’S JOY 1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” 2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!

THE PILGRIM’S PRAISE 3 Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together, 4 to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. 5 There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.

THE PILGRIM’S PRAYER 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! 7 Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”

THE PILGRIM’S PROMISE 8 For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” 9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.

Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” David 1000BC; Return 538-425 BC Jerusalem and it’s people sang Psalm 122, but missed God’s messengers and God Himself!

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. The earthly church often sings songs, but misses God.

2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. Often people in the church sing songs they have no commitment to.

2 Peter 3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. “How then shall we live?” Live your legacy now! Be ready! Be a leader! Be fully committed! Grow in you faith! Live what you sing!

John 17:15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. Jesus’ prayer for His followers.

Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. “How then shall we live?”

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Heaven is real! The resurrection is true! God’s Word is infallible, inerrant, absolute, objective universal truth! The perfected holy city of God with God and His people.

PRINCIPLES The normal believer: -has joy in worshiping God -has praise for God & His people -prays for Israel, the local church & the universal church -is committed to live for God now in a fallen world and an imperfect local church

APPLICATIONS Are you a follower of The Lord Jesus Christ? If you are a follower of the Lord, where do you need the Lord to teach, rebuke, correct and train you? Joy? Praise? Prayer? Commitment? Do you just sing the songs or do you ask the Lord to enable you to live them?