John the Baptist

Matthew 3:1-12

If someone came from living years out in the wilderness by himself, and came to town dressed very unconventionally, and preaching a message that we were all sinners that needed to repent, would you listen?  Or would you think that this fellow was crazy, perhaps even dangerous?  Today’s Gospel message is of just such a fellow.  Let’s take a look at this very unique person and his very important message.

As Chapter 3 begins, the Apostle Matthew introduces us to John the Baptist.  From other Gospels, we know that John was a relative of Jesus, most likely a cousin, as his mother and Jesus’ mother were relatives.  John’s father, Zacharias, was a priest at the Temple in Jerusalem, and he would have been raised in a comfortable household.  However, he felt the Lord’s calling upon him, and sometime prior to our Scripture, he left his home in Jerusalem to pray and fast in the wilderness of Judea, likely west of the capital.  Now the Lord had directed him back to the area around the Jordan River, several miles west of Jerusalem, and he had a message for the people (vs. 1-2).  That message was that people needed to repent, for God’s Kingdom was coming.

People don’t like the words “repent” or “sin”.  Repent means to make a radical change in one’s life, to turn and go in the opposite direction from sin, and towards God.  It also involves an element of grief over the way we have lived apart from God, and a decision to run towards the Father. Repentance is not optional if one is to have a relationship with God.  Today, far too many preachers never mention the words “repentance” or “sin”.  For those preachers their messages are all about self-esteem or worldly comfort.  That was not what John the Baptist had to say.  His message was urgent because the King, the Messiah, was about to be revealed.

Matthew continues by identifying John the Baptist as the one that Isaiah the prophet had foretold (vs. 3).  In Isaiah 40:3, the prophet foretold of one preaching in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord, which was exactly what John’s ministry was about - preparing the way for Jesus by urging the people to repent and turn away from their sins.  God’s Word is always fulfilled.  We can trust His promises about Jesus’ second coming just as His first coming was fulfilled.

Next we have a description of John the Baptist (vs. 4).  He was not dressed in the standard robes and tunics that men wore in those days.  Instead he wore a garment made from camel’s hair, with a leather belt around it, reminiscent of the prophet Elijah (II Kings 1:8).  Nor did he eat the usual food of that day.  His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.  Jesus later bore witness that John the Baptist also fulfilled the prophecy in Malachi that Elijah would return before the Day of the Lord (Malachi 3:1, 4:5; Matthew 11:14).  John’s clothing and diet choices showed that he made a separation in his life from worldly luxury.  Though the Lord doesn’t call each of us to show such extremes in our clothing and diet, our lives should reflect humility and holiness, not worldly indulgence.  Our lives should point others to Jesus, not ourselves.

Crowds were eager to hear John’s message, as they came from Jerusalem, Judea, and the areas around the Jordan River.  They were baptized as they repented of their sins (vs. 5-6).  This baptism here was a public confession of repentance, preparing their hearts for the coming Messiah.  Two groups of people that also showed up to hear John preach were the Pharisees and the Sadducees (vs. 7-10).  John did not soften his message for that audience.  He was not afraid to speak the truth, the specific message that the Lord gave him.  Too many preachers today, especially in some megachurches, tip-toe around, making sure their message won’t offend anyone, and they never speak of sin or the need for repentance.  Everything is sugar-coated, soft, and fluffy, a “feel-good” message to please everyone.  Not John!  He rebuked them, and reminded them that mere religious heritage does not save.  That is true then and now.  Salvation requires personal repentance, not who one's parents or grandparents were.  True faith will also produce fruit.

John also told the people that his baptism was with water, but the coming Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (vs. 11-12).  The Holy Spirit brings regeneration to those He comes upon at salvation, and also indwells all believers.  The fire that the Lord brings is judgment upon those who are unrepentant.  Jesus will separate the wheat, those who are true believers, from the chaff, which are the unsaved.  John’s baptism was preparatory, but Christ’s work is eternal.

As we close this Gospel message, finishing out this second week of Advent, we should examine our life, seeing if we have genuine repentance of our sins, and then fruit that shows that repentance.  Don’t strive for a life of luxury, but instead live a life where we are pointing others to the Lord Jesus.  And then, as John the Baptist did, urgently share the Gospel with others, as judgment is coming, and only Jesus can save.

The God of Hope

Romans 15:4-13

Have you ever heard a Christian say that they felt that the Old Testament was obsolete, that it wasn’t necessary anymore?  Perhaps you have even felt that way.  Perhaps you felt that it was just way too long and way too old.  That it was just a lot of dusty, ancient history, and dry words from long-dead prophets.  Perhaps keep one or two beautiful psalms, but you felt the rest could be stashed away on a bookshelf somewhere.  There are even a few denominations that feel that way, and do not ever use or read from the Old Testament.  Thankfully, those are few.  In our Scripture today from the New Testament book of Romans, God, through the words of St. Paul, tells us something about the books of the Old Testament.

When Paul wrote his letter to the church in Rome, the Old Testament was already many hundreds of years old.   The last book written was Malachi, which was written around 430 BC, which was close to 500 years earlier than when Paul wrote this epistle.  Our Scripture is near to the end of the epistle, and in our opening verse, the Apostle reminds the believers that the Old Testament is still very important to them, and to us today, as well.  Those books, from Genesis to Malachi, are not outdated (vs. 4).  They were written for our instruction, not just for the people who lived before Christ, but for those believers in Paul’s day, and for us today.  As we read in II Timothy 3:16, all Scripture is inspired by God, which includes the Old Testament.  As God’s inspired Word, it is not something that we can just lay aside.  It is sufficient for teaching and encouragement.  We do not need human philosophy, as the Bible provides true hope.

As Paul continues in this passage, he encourages these believers to be likeminded with each other, of one mind and one voice (vs. 5-6).  When Christians are united in Christ, their worship will glorify God with one voice.  However, being likeminded does not mean that we compromise with doctrine or truth.  Different churches can have different opinions about minor issues, like how many hymns are sung each Sunday and at what point in the service, or when the offering is taken, or even if a box should be put in the back for people to drop their offering into.  However, with doctrinal truth, we should never compromise.  True unity is doctrinal unity, agreement in the truth of God’s Word, not in joining with those who reject the truth and inspiration of the Bible just so that they get along.

We are called to receive other believers, just as Jesus received us (vs. 7).  We are to welcome them, regardless of background, because salvation is by grace alone, not by works, or race, economic or social standing.  This leads into his teaching that Jesus came both for the Jews and also for the Gentiles, which he backs up with several quotes from the Old Testament (vs. 8-12).  Jesus came as a minister to the Jews to confirm God’s promises to them.  However, contrary to what some were teaching then in opposition to Paul’s teaching, the Gentiles were also included in God’s plan.

Paul gives us several references from the Old Testament where God told His people quite plainly that the Gentiles were included in His plan for salvation.  He gives us quotations from Psalm 18:49; Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 117:1; and Isaiah 11:1, 10.  God’s promises all throughout the Bible are literal and they are trustworthy.  We see that the Gentile people are invited to share with Israel in God’s mercy.  The church is made up of all nations, united in Christ, fulfilling God’s eternal plan.

Our Scripture passage ends with a blessing of hope, joy, and peace (vs. 13).  God Himself is the God of hope.  We have the power through Him to shake off the chains of despair.  Joy and peace come only through faith in Jesus, not through worldly pursuits.  Christian hope is not a vague wish.  Christian hope is a sure confidence that we will receive what God has promised us.  Because God keeps His promises, we can live with joyful hope.

As Christians, we can be strengthened with the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. This world is filled with godlessness and evil. It is easy for Christians to be discouraged and fearful.  Instead, we needed to be like a sunflower, whose bright face follows the sun.  We need to keep looking to the Son of God, looking to Him day and night.  No matter how difficult our circumstances, no matter how hopeless our situation, divine hope can fill our hearts, knowing that one day God will wipe away every tear and take away all pain.

The Just and Righteous King

Psalm 72

Our psalm this week, for the Second Week of Advent, continues the theme of looking forward to the Second Coming, and the Messianic reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is almost a companion Scripture to our previous study earlier this week.  Let’s see what we can learn from this portion of God’s Word.

This psalm has a superscription which attributes it to King Solomon, in which case the king would have written it for his son and heir, Rehoboam.  Some scholars believe that the psalm may have been written by King David, for his son Solomon.  The psalm is a prayer, either for Solomon’s son Rehoboam, or David’s son Solomon, to be a good and ideal king, who will rule the country in righteousness.  Neither one, though, would really live up to the thoughts of this psalm.  In some senses, Solomon was the greatest king, in that he expanded the kingdom to its greatest size, and enriched the kingdom to its greatest point.  However, spiritually King Solomon was the ruler who led the country into idolatry, reintroducing the people into worshiping pagan idols.  Solomon’s son Rehoboam certainly did not live up to this psalm’s ideal, as it was during his reign that the kingdom split into two, the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.  Reading through, we see that this psalm is Messianic, as it points forward to the reign of Jesus Christ in His coming Millennial Kingdom.

Whether this psalm was written by or for Solomon, the psalmist prayed that the king would have God’s wisdom to rule his people and nation justly (vs. 1-4).  They prayed that the king would judge with justice, especially for the poor, implying they would not be blinded by bribes from the wealthy.  The king should also deliver the poor and needy from those who would oppress them.  This reflects God’s character and His desire for leaders to uphold these values.

Throughout this psalm we see that it foreshadows the Lord Jesus, the King of kings, who will rule with perfect righteousness.  He will bring impartial judgment.  He will defend the weak and defeat all evil.  As Christians, we should pray for our leaders, whether they are presidents, prime ministers, or kings, that they would seek God’s wisdom, justice, and compassion for the poor.

The psalmist continues by praying that the king’s reign would bring prosperity and peace (vs. 5-7).  They also pray that the king’s reign would extend to the ends of the earth (vs. 8-11).  Whether written by David or Solomon, it’s not likely that they really believed their realm would truly cover the whole world, so this was likely just a figure of speech to them.  However, as being a Messianic prophecy, it is literal and genuine as it foreshadows Christ’s universal reign.  In the Millennial Kingdom Jesus will rule over all nations.  His dominion will be from sea to sea, to the ends of the earth, and His enemies will bow and lick the dust.  Kings will bring Jesus tribute, and all nations will serve Him, recognizing His authority.

The king is called to have compassion for the poor and needy, delivering them from oppression and violence (vs. 12-14).  God has a heart for the marginalized and vulnerable.  Jesus is the defender of the weak, unlike some earthly rulers who often exploit them.  In His Millennial reign, He will show perfect justice, mercy, and deliverance.  Our rulers, and ourselves as well, should reflect His compassion in caring for the poor and oppressed.

As our psalm continues we see a prayer for the king’s name and legacy to endure forever (vs. 15-17).  Earthly kings or presidents’ rule will come to an end, but Jesus’ reign is eternal.  This clearly points to the eternal rule and kingship of Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11).  Our hope should not be in any temporary government or leader, but in the everlasting kingdom of Jesus.

The psalmist concluded the psalm with praise to God, acknowledging Him as the source of all blessings, and that His Name will be blessed forever (vs. 18-20).  As believers, we have hope in Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of this psalm.  He alone will bring true justice, peace, and prosperity.

The Root of Jesse

Isaiah 11:1-10

A quick look at a calendar will show us that we are beginning the second week in December.  On the Church calendar we see that this is the Second Week of Advent, as well.  In anticipation of the coming Christmas holiday, many people have already set up their Christmas decorations.  Our Old Testament Scripture for this Second Sunday of Advent is a beautiful Messianic prophecy from the prophet Isaiah, which points directly to the coming Messiah, along with His future reign.  Let’s see what the Lord tells us through His prophet Isaiah.

Have you ever seen a stump from a tree that was recently cut down, and coming back a little while later you observe that the sprout of a new tree is beginning to grow out of the stump?  That is because the root system underground was not destroyed, and still has life in it.  This doesn’t happen all the time, but occasionally it does, especially with deciduous trees.  We often speak of “family trees”, where a common ancestor is the root, and then various branches of the family are filled in.  Isaiah spoke here about the root of Jesse, the father of King David (vs. 1).  His descendants were sitting upon the throne of the Kingdom of Judah.  Not that far in the future, though, that tree would be cut down, and there would be no more rulers in Judah.  By the time shortly before Jesus’ birth, the royal line of David was as dead as a stump. Though there were many descendants of David (Joseph was one), none were in any position whatsoever to reign.  However, Isaiah prophesied that a root would come forth from that stump, the Lord Jesus Christ, and He would reign forever.  God preserved that root.

As Isaiah continued, he spoke of this root out of Jesse, which is the Lord Jesus, and how God’s Spirit would rest upon Him.  His ministry was a Spirit-filled one (Luke 4:18), including such gifts of the Spirit as wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord.  As Christians today, we are also called to walk in the Spirit, and reflect Jesus’ character in our life.

The next several verses speak more directly to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus, still yet to be fulfilled, when He returns to judge the world (vs. 3-5).  Jesus will rule with perfect justice.  He will not judge by outward appearance, but instead with righteousness.  All too often we pass judgement by outward appearances, even in the justice system.  However, circumstances and situations aren’t always as they might appear.  When relevant information is missing or overlooked, we make assumptions.  How often do we jump to the wrong conclusions because we failed to get all of the facts?  How often have our thoughts of others been judgmental?  Instead, the judgment that Jesus gives will be righteous.  He will defend the poor and slay the wicked with His Word.  Believers should reflect His discernment and fairness with our judgment, as well.

As we continue with our Scripture, we come to verses that are familiar to many people, which speak of the peaceable kingdom that Jesus will bring when He returns (vs. 6-9).  Ever since the Fall of Adam and his expulsion from the Garden of Eden, many animals have become dangerous, both to humans and to other animals.  Wolves are natural enemies to sheep.  Lions, leopards, and bears will attack and eat cattle.  Little children are not safe around any of them.  Yet in the Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus these, and all animals, will live peacefully with each other.  The curse that came upon the earth back in Genesis 3 will be reversed, and the earth will be restored to the glory it had in the Garden.  The harmony that creation once had will be restored.

As Isaiah closed this portion of Scripture, he proclaimed that this Root of Jesse, the Lord Jesus Christ, stands as a banner to His people, and to all of the Gentile world, which will seek Him (vs. 10).  Jesus is not only Israel’s Messiah, but also the Savior of all nations of the world (Romans 15:12).  As we read throughout the Book of Acts, the Gospel’s spread to the Gentiles fulfilled this prophecy, and it continues to be fulfilled to this day, as God’s message spreads to all corners of the world.  The ultimate fulfillment, though, awaits Christ’s reign when all nations will submit to Him.

As we close we see things that we can look forward to, just as we look forward to Christmas now.  We can look forward to the day when Jesus will bring His righteous judgment.  We can look forward to when all of creation will be in peace and harmony with each other.  Won’t it be nice to go up to a lion and hug him around the neck, putting your face into his wonderful mane, and roll around playing with the bears?  And most of all, it will be a glorious day when all nations will bow and worship the Lord Jesus Christ! 

Just as in the Days of Noah

Matthew 24:37-44

The date is August 24th, and the year is 79 AD.  We are in a village about 15 miles south of Naples, Italy.  The day started just as every other day had.  People woke up, they ate breakfast, and started their usual routine.  Some went off to their jobs, others headed to the marketplace, and then some might have headed off to school.  As the day progressed, life was just as it had always been.  If someone had paid attention, the mountain just a few miles away was occasionally giving off some small puffs.  If they had noticed, they didn’t pay much attention to it, and that was a fatal mistake.  If they had, they might have warned the community, people would have quickly gotten out of town, and lives saved.  That afternoon that mountain, which was Mt. Vesuvius blew in a thunderous volcano, and several thousand people in that village of Pompeii died.  The suddenness of their destruction is forever immortalized in the archeological remains of that village.  Jesus warns us in our Scripture today of another day which will suddenly come, and which will forever change lives.  Will we be prepared?  Let’s take a look at God’s Word.

Today’s Scripture passage is from the Gospel of Matthew, and it continues on with Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, a series of teachings He gave just days before the crucifixion.  Jesus warned His followers of the need to be ready when He will return at His Second Coming.  The Savior spoke about another time in history, during the days of Noah, when people’s lives were going on like usual.  Then suddenly something happened that they weren’t prepared for, specifically the Flood, and sudden destruction came upon them (vs. 37-39).  It took Noah several years to build the Ark, and during that time he was witnessing to the people, and telling them about the coming Flood.  However, everyone ignored him, even mocking him.  They were oblivious to their impending judgment.  Then the flood came suddenly, sweeping away the unprepared.

Jesus warned that things will be similar when He returns.  The world today mirrors the complacency of the people at the time of Noah and the Flood.  Most people today ignore or mock God’s warnings.  They pursue their own pleasures and routines, but are blind to eternal realities.

As He describes, when Jesus returns there will be a division between people - those who are prepared for Him, and those who are not (vs. 40-41).  Salvation is personal.  Who we are related to doesn’t matter for anyone.  One could be the child of one of the greatest preachers who ever lived, but if they are not saved themselves, it won’t matter.  They will be left.  Nor does it matter what job you have or how many Christians you know.  Only personal faith in Jesus matters.  One will be taken, and the other won’t.

As Jesus continues His message, He warns His followers to be constantly alert and ready for His return (vs. 42-44).  He compares His return to that of a thief coming in the middle of the night.  We never know when that happens.  So it will be when Jesus returns.  It will be unexpected, disruptive to one’s daily life, and it will be unavoidable.  The fate of everyone will then be determined.  Because of this, we need to live holy and alert lives, not being lulled into spiritual slumber.  Readiness means walking in obedience, telling others about the Savior, and keeping eternity in view.

There are no signs that pinpoint the exact day or hour when Jesus’ return will occur.  It could be at any moment.  Thus, each individual person should be prepared.  No one can rely on another’s faith.  Outside of faith in Jesus Christ, final destruction is sure to everyone.  No rank, possession, or character will be enough to save a single soul who has not believed in Jesus.  All were safe on the Ark from the lowliest critter to the most powerful.  All are safe who come to Jesus in faith.

God provided one solitary way of escape from the flood waters, and that was the Ark.  Only Noah and his family got on, and only they were spared.  Because they rejected God’s way to be spared, everyone else was doomed to die in the Flood.  God has provided one solitary way of salvation to escape from eternal destruction today, and that is through the Name of Jesus (Acts 4:12).  The only true safety and security in these days is by resting securely in the hands of the Savior.

A Debt That We Owe

Romans 13:8-14

Many people have debts that they owe - a mortgage on a house, a car loan, a balance on a credit card, student loan debt, or high medical bills.  Sometimes, with careful budgeting and financial planning, people can get these paid off, and then they are debt free.  Or are they?  In our Scripture for today, from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, we read about one debt that we always owe.  Let’s look into our Scripture and see what that is.

As we open our Bible passage, Paul urges his readers to not owe anything to anyone (vs. 8).  I don’t believe that Paul is saying one shouldn’t buy a house and have a mortgage, or anything like that, and for some people, medical bills can be a big debt.  However, we shouldn’t live our life with the habit of continually buying, and accumulating an unnecessary, substantial debt.  Believers should not be burdened by unpaid debts or obligations.  There is one debt, though, that the Bible said we all will have, and that is the ongoing debt of loving one another. That is a debt that is always owed.  We never come to a day when we can say that we’ve paid off our debt to love this or that person, and we don’t need to love them anymore!

Love is the fulfillment of the moral law (vs. 9).  As we read through the Ten Commandments, we see that by obeying these laws we show love, not only to God, but to our neighbor, as well.  If we love others, we are restrained from doing them any harm, as love seeks the good of other people.  If we genuinely love our family and our neighbor, we won’t lie to them, steal from them, and certainly not commit adultery, or murder them.  We seek their good, their welfare.

Love is not just some warm, fuzzy feeling that makes you giddy like a schoolgirl infatuation.  Love is active.  It does no harm, but actively does good for others (vs. 10).  This is not sentimental love, but Biblical, Spirit-enabled love.  It is rooted in obedience to God’s Word.  Our daily conduct should be measured by whether we bless or harm others.  To love as Jesus did means that we incorporate God’s self-sacrificing love into our hearts.  In Jesus, God showed us not only perfect obedience to the Law, but perfect love, as well.

As we continue in our passage, we are urged to live a life showing love because as each day passes, we are closer to the day when Jesus will return (vs. 11).  Knowing this, we need to live with vigilance, not in a spiritual slumber. We are exhorted to spiritual alertness.  The word “salvation” here in the context of this verse refers not to one’s initial justification when one turns to Jesus as is saved.  Rather, it refers to our final deliverance when Jesus returns.

Frequently throughout the Bible the words “light” and “darkness”, along with “day” and “night” have a spiritual context with either righteousness or sin and evil.  As believers, we must reject sinful practices, the “works of darkness”, and instead arm ourselves with Christ’s righteousness, His light (vs. 12).  This is a call to separate ourselves from the world’s philosophies and sinfulness, and to actively live holy lives.

Paul continues by listing some sins which were common in pagan society then, and which are still very common in today’s society, some two thousand years later, and that is immorality, drunkenness, and strife (vs. 13).  Such behavior is incompatible with living a life as a child of God, of one who seeks to pattern their life after Jesus.  Our life should be lived in uprightness and pureness.  Our testimony must be clean, avoiding both outward sins, such as immorality and drunkenness, and inward sins, such as envy and strife.

As Christians, our life is to be clothed with Jesus Himself (vs. 14).  To “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” means to live in conscious submission to Him, reflecting His character in our own life.  We must make an effort to not feed our sinful desires, but instead walk in a way that Jesus would.  When we choose to follow Jesus as our Lord, He begins the process of making us more like Himself each day.  It is not a matter of pretending to be what we are not, but rather of becoming more and more of what we are in Christ.

As we close, let us remember that every day brings us one day closer to that great day when we shall reach the end of our journey, and we shall see our Savior's face.  That’s the thought that can keep us going.  Now, at this time, we see Jesus in the Bible, but someday we shall see Him face to face!

Let Us Go to the House of the Lord

Psalm 122

How do you feel about getting up on a Sunday morning to attend church?  Would you rather roll back over in bed to sleep some more, as perhaps that is the only day that you might be able to sleep a little later?  Some denominations also frequently offer an additional church service later on a Saturday afternoon.  But would that also elicit complaints of inconvenience, as it messes up Saturday plans?  Are you glad to be able to attend church, or is it something that you do out of habit, something instilled in you from childhood?  In our psalm today, King David speaks of his feelings about going to worship.  Let’s see what he has to say.

It is probably safe to assume that as king, David led a rather busy life.  There are all sorts of things that need to be done by a king in order to keep the country running smoothly.  Kings, even if they are not the absolute ruler, have rather tight schedules.  King David, though, as busy as he might have been on any given day, was glad when any one of his friends invited him to go along together to God’s house to worship (vs. 1).

At this time the Temple in Jerusalem had not yet been built.  That would be built later by David’s son, Solomon.  Worship, particularly on holy days, along with all animal sacrifices, were done at the Tabernacle, which was an enclosure made by heavy curtains on poles.  The Tabernacle contained the altar for sacrifices, along with the Ark of the Covenant.  David rejoiced at the invitation to worship in God’s house.  Even if it meant having to delay reviewing important papers, sending out dispatches, keeping track of military strategies, or postponing an important state meeting, David was always willing to attend worship services.  David was a man after God’s heart, and as a true believer, he delighted in gathering to worship with God’s people.  This wasn’t entertainment for him, but was obedience to God’s command.

David loved the city of Jerusalem.  One of the city’s titles is “The City of David”.  He had made it his capital city.   The previous king, King Saul, had ruled out of Gibeah, which is about five or so miles north of Jerusalem.  During his reign, David tried to keep Jerusalem stable and unified (vs. 3-5).  He described it as “compact together”, a city unified and orderly.  It is the place of God’s throne, where judgment and authority are exercised.

The Church today should also reflect unity in truth, built firmly on the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:20-22).  The unity that we have as believers must be grounded in sound doctrine, not in giving in to compromising Biblical truths just to keep the peace.  Though we should always strive for unity in our churches, that should never be at the expense of doctrinal purity.  Always stand firm on God’s Word, the Bible.

As our psalm continues, we are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (vs. 6-9).  The name “Jerusalem” in Hebrew means city of peace, or foundation of peace.  The Hebrew root word yru means both foundation and city.  And the Hebrew word shalem, or more commonly shalom, means peace and wholeness.  Shalom is more than just an absence of conflict.  It means that things are as they should be.  Our relationship with God, one another, and the world is as it was designed to be.  David knew that peace in the city meant stability for worship and national life.

As we have seen in previous studies, Jerusalem is not merely historical, it is central to God’s future kingdom plan, pointing to Jesus’ future reign in the Millennial Kingdom.  Praying for peace in Jerusalem and Israel isn’t just something that was for back in David’s day.  It is still a command from God’s Word.  Today Christians should still be praying for Israel and anticipating Christ’s return when true peace will reign.

Looking back over Psalm 122, though it is a relatively short psalm, it still has practical lessons for us today.  As Christians, we should have a love for gathering with other believers.  Jesus promised that whenever two or more are gathered in His Name, He is there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20).  We should have joy at that privilege.  The joy of worship here foreshadows the eternal gladness we will experience in the New Jerusalem.  We also need to remember to strive for unity, but never compromise what we know is taught in God’s Word.  And finally, we should always be interceding for God’s people and God’s City.