August 31 — Psalm 122

“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.” For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.”

“Peace be within you.”

The Psalmist again offers a prayer for peace. For Psalm 120 I wrote these words: “Peace does not come without a lot of hard work — compromise — and compassion.”

The joy of this psalm, Psalm 122, is its concern for the peace of Jerusalem. Jesus lamented about the state of Jerusalem — “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37)

And again in Luke 19:42: “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”

As we pray for peace in our world, in our community, in our nation, and in our church, have we recognized the things that make for peace? Do we know how to find peace?

Every day we should be people of peace — not people who argue to get our way, not people who shout down those we disagree with, not people who need to always be right. Let us live the words of the Psalmist, who says “Let Peace be within you.”

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, give us the peace of the new Jerusalem. Bring all nations under your rule, that they may render thanks and come with joy to your eternal city, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Amen.

August 30 — Psalm 121

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.”

“My help comes from the LORD,” is set up as a theme for this Psalm — which is further developed by a series of assurances that “the LORD is your keeper.”

Psalm 121 is one of my favorites — it is one of several I have committed to memory for my own devotional purposes. What is interesting about this psalm is that, though it begins with a personal ascent of a relationship with the Lord (MY help comes from the Lord), it soon turns into a communal profession of faith The Lord is YOUR keeper. He will keep YOU from all evil).

Again we can see the power of the Psalms to give us both words of comfort and words of devotion. The Psalm is good for communal worship — the Psalm is important to be included in our daily devotions.

The Heidelberg Catechism, used in the Reformed church teachings, makes the following statement about trust in the providence of G-d that provides a nice confessional commentary on Psalm 121: “To believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, is, the catechism teaches, to “trust in him so completely that I have no doubt that he will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul. Moreover, whatever evil he sends upon me in this troubled life he will turn to my good, for he is able to do it, being almighty God, and is determined to do it, being a faithful Father… . We are to be patient in adversity, grateful in the midst of blessing, and to trust our faithful God and Father for the future”

Everyday, may we too be patient in adversity, grateful for our blessings, and trusting of our faithful G-d.

Let us pray:

O God, maker of heaven and earth, you help us in times of distress and watch over us day and night. Hold us securely in your mercy, that in the midst of fear and danger we may depend on you, our sure deliverer; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.