The House of the Lord

God's Creative Word
The Word Is Here and Now
Cleansing the Temple

Psalm 122

The Message

A Pilgrim Song of David

 ^1-2 When they said, "Let's go to the house of God," my heart leaped for joy.
   And now we're here, O Jerusalem,
      inside Jerusalem's walls!

 ^3-5 Jerusalem, well-built city,
      built as a place for worship!
   The city to which the tribes ascend,
      all God's tribes go up to worship,
   To give thanks to the name of God—
      this is what it means to be Israel.
   Thrones for righteous judgment
      are set there, famous David-thrones.

 ^6-9 Pray for Jerusalem's peace!
      Prosperity to all you Jerusalem-lovers!
   Friendly insiders, get along!
      Hostile outsiders, keep your distance!
   For the sake of my family and friends,
      I say it again: live in peace!
   For the sake of the house of our God, God,
      I'll do my very best for you

For Reflection

Even as they approach middle age my children when they come home behave as they were children living in the sanctuary of the family.  In short, they act as though our house was their house.  Our grandchildren do the same.  It is wonderful that they feel that comfortable.  They each have a sense of belonging.

Our churches are like that.  Most all of us transients who have moved into an area have searched for a church home.  Some feel strange.  Some feel OK.  Some feel like home.  We are not all the same.  We each have different expectations for a church home.  Thank God each church has a distinct family personality so that all will find comfort in the fellowship of God.  Our strength lies not entirely in how we are the same, but rather, in how we are different from each other.  One body in Christ but, each with a unique gift.

Pray

for all the Christian churches.  Pray that they will find unique ways to fulfill the promise of God's salvation.  Pray for all Christian churches to achieve unity by working in love toward the realization of God's sanctuary for all.