Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Psalms » Chapter 122 » Verse 8

Psalms 122:8 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

8 For my brethren H251 and companions' H7453 sakes, I will now say, H1696 Peace H7965 be within thee.

Cross Reference

Ephesians 4:4-6 STRONG

There is one G1520 body, G4983 and G2532 one G1520 Spirit, G4151 even as G2531 G2532 ye are called G2564 in G1722 one G3391 hope G1680 of your G5216 calling; G2821 One G1520 Lord, G2962 one G1520 faith, G4102 one G3391 baptism, G908 One G1520 God G2316 and G2532 Father G3962 of all, G3956 who G3588 is above G1909 all, G3956 and G2532 through G1223 all, G3956 and G2532 in G1722 you G5213 all. G3956

Philippians 2:2-5 STRONG

Fulfil ye G4137 my G3450 joy, G5479 that G2443 ye be likeminded, G846 G5426 having G2192 the same G846 love, G26 being of one accord, G4861 of one G1520 mind. G5426 Let nothing G3367 be done through G2596 strife G2052 or G2228 vainglory; G2754 but G235 in lowliness of mind G5012 let G2233 each G240 esteem G2233 other G240 better than G5242 themselves. G1438 Look G4648 not G3361 every man G1538 on his own things, G1438 but G235 every man G1538 also G2532 on the things G3588 of others. G2087 G1063 Let G5426 this G5124 mind be G5426 in G1722 you, G5213 which G3739 was also G2532 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus: G2424

James 3:13-18 STRONG

Who G5101 is a wise man G4680 and G2532 endued with knowledge G1990 among G1722 you? G5213 let him shew G1166 out of G1537 a good G2570 conversation G391 his G846 works G2041 with G1722 meekness G4240 of wisdom. G4678 But G1161 if G1487 ye have G2192 bitter G4089 envying G2205 and G2532 strife G2052 in G1722 your G5216 hearts, G2588 glory G2620 not, G3361 and G2532 lie not G5574 against G2596 the truth. G225 This G3778 wisdom G4678 descendeth G2076 G2718 not G3756 from above, G509 but G235 is earthly, G1919 sensual, G5591 devilish. G1141 For G1063 where G3699 envying G2205 and G2532 strife G2052 is, there G1563 is confusion G181 and G2532 every G3956 evil G5337 work. G4229 But G1161 the wisdom G4678 that is from above G509 is G2076 first G4412 pure, G3303 G53 then G1899 peaceable, G1516 gentle, G1933 and easy to be intreated, G2138 full G3324 of mercy G1656 and G2532 good G18 fruits, G2590 without partiality, G87 and G2532 without hypocrisy. G505 And G1161 the fruit G2590 of righteousness G1343 is sown G4687 in G1722 peace G1515 of them that make G4160 peace. G1515

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 122

Commentary on Psalms 122 Matthew Henry Commentary


Psalm 122

This psalm seems to have been penned by David for the use of the people of Israel, when they came up to Jerusalem to worship at the three solemn feasts. It was in David's time that Jerusalem was first chosen to be the city where God would record his name. It being a new thing, this, among other means, was used to bring the people to be in love with Jerusalem, as the holy city, though it was but the other day in the hands of the Jebusites. Observe,

  • I. The joy with which they were to go up to Jerusalem (v. 1, 2).
  • II. The great esteem they were to have of Jerusalem (v. 3-5).
  • III. The great concern they were to have for Jerusalem, and the prayers they were to put up for its welfare (v. 6-9).

In singing this psalm we must have an eye to the gospel church, which is called the "Jerusalem that is from above.'

A song of degrees of David.

Psa 122:1-5

Here we have,

  • I. The pleasure which David and other pious Israelites took in approaching to and attending upon God in public ordinances, v. 1, 2.
    • 1. The invitation to them was very welcome. David was himself glad, and would have every Israelite to say that he was glad, when he was called upon to go up to the house of the Lord. Note,
      • (1.) It is the will of God that we should worship him in concert, that many should join together to wait upon him in public ordinances. We ought to worship God in our own houses, but that is not enough; we must go into the house of the Lord, to pay our homage to him there, and not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.
      • (2.) We should not only agree with one another, but excite and stir up one another, to go to worship God in public. Let us go; not, "Do you go and pray for us, and we will stay at home;' but, We will go also, Zec. 8:21. Not, "Do you go before, and we will follow at our leisure;' or, "We will go first, and you shall come after us;' but, "Let us go together, for the honour of God and for our mutual edification and encouragement.' We ourselves are slow and backward, and others are so too, and therefore we should thus quicken and sharpen one another to that which is good, as iron sharpens iron.
      • (3.) Those that rejoice in God will rejoice in calls and opportunities to wait upon him. David himself, though he had as little need of a spur to his zeal in religious exercises as any, yet was so far from taking it as an affront that he was glad of it as a kindness when he was called upon to go up to the house of the Lord with the meanest of his subjects. We should desire our Christian friends, when they have any good work in hand, to call for us and take us along with them.
    • 2. The prospect of them was very pleasing. They speak it with a holy triumph (v. 2): Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem! Those that came out of the country, when they found the journey tedious, comforted themselves with this, that they should be in Jerusalem shortly, and that would make amends for all the fatigues of their journey. We shall stand there as servants; it is desirable to have a place in Jerusalem, though it be among those that stand by (Zec. 3:7), though it be the door keeper's place, Ps. 84:10. We have now got a resting-place for the ark, and where it is there will we be.
  • II. The praises of Jerusalem, as Ps. 48:12.
    • 1. It is the beautiful city, not only for situation, but for building. It is built into a city, the houses not scattered, but contiguous, and the streets fair and spacious. It is built uniform, compact together, the houses strengthening and supporting one another. Though the city was divided into the higher and lower town, yet the Jebusites being driven out, and it being entirely in the possession of God's people, it is said to be compact together. It was a type of the gospel-church, which is compact together in holy love and Christian communion, so that it is all as one city.
    • 2. It is the holy city, v. 4. It is the place where all Israel meet one another: Thither the tribes go up, from all parts of the country, as one man, under the character of the tribes of the Lord, in obedience to his command. It is the place appointed for their general rendezvous; and they come together,
      • (1.) To receive instruction from God; they come to the testimony of Israel, to hear what God has to say to them and to consult his oracle.
      • (2.) To ascribe the glory to God, to give thanks to the name of the Lord, which we have all reason to do, especially those that have the testimony of Israel among them. If God speak to us by his word, we have reason to answer him by our thanksgivings. See on what errand we go to public worship, to give thanks.
    • 3. It is the royal city (v. 5): There are set thrones of judgment. Therefore the people had reason to be in love with Jerusalem, because justice was administered there by a man after God's own heart. The civil interests of the people were as well secured as their ecclesiastical concerns; and very happy they were in their courts of judicature, which were erected in Jerusalem, as with us in Westminster Hall. Observe, What a goodly sight it was to see the testimony of Israel and the thrones of judgment such near neighbours, and they are good neighbours, which may greatly befriend one another. Let the testimony of Israel direct the thrones of judgment, and the thrones of judgment protect the testimony of Israel.

Psa 122:6-9

Here,

  • I. David calls upon others to which well to Jerusalem, v. 6, 7. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for the welfare of it, for all good to it, particularly for the uniting of the inhabitants among themselves and their preservation from the incursions of enemies. This we may truly desire, that in the peace thereof we may have peace; and this we must earnestly pray for, for it is the gift of God, and for it he will be enquired of. Those that can do nothing else for the peace of Jerusalem can pray for it, which is something more than showing their good-will; it is the appointed way of fetching in mercy. The peace and welfare of the gospel church, particularly in our land, is to be earnestly desired and prayed for by every one of us. Now,
    • 1. We are here encouraged in our prayers for Jerusalem's peace: Those shall prosper that love thee. We must pray for Jerusalem, not out of custom, nor for fashion's sake, but out of a principle of love to God's government of man and man's worship of God; and, in seeking the public welfare, we seek our own, for so well does God love the gates of Zion that he will love all those that do love them, and therefore they cannot but prosper; at least their souls shall prosper by the ordinances they so dearly love.
    • 2. We are here directed in our prayers for it and words are put into our mouths (v. 7): Peace be within thy walls. He teaches us to pray,
      • (1.) For all the inhabitants in general, all within the walls, from the least to the greatest. Peace be in thy fortifications; let them never be attacked, or, if they be, let them never be taken, but be an effectual security to the city.
      • (2.) For the princes and rulers especially: Let prosperity be in the palaces of the great men that sit at the helm and have the direction of public affairs; for, if they prosper, it will be well for the public. The poorer sort are apt to envy the prosperity of the palaces, but they are here taught to pray for it.
  • II. He resolves that whatever others do he will approve himself a faithful friend to Jerusalem,
    • 1. In his prayers: "I will now say, now I see the tribes so cheerfully resorting hither to the testimony of Israel, and the matter settled, that Jerusalem must be the place where God will record his name, now I will say, Peace be within thee.' He did not say, "Let others pray for the public peace, the priests and the prophets, whose business it is, and the people, that have nothing else to do, and I will fight for it and rule for it.' No; "I will pray for it too.'
    • 2. In his endeavours, with which he will second his prayers: "I will, to the utmost of my power, seek thy good.' Whatever lies within the sphere of our activity to do for the public good we must do it, else we are not sincere in praying for it. Now it might be said, No thanks to David to be so solicitous for the welfare of Jerusalem; it was his own city, and the interests of his family were lodged in it. This is true; yet he professes that this was not the reason why he was in such care for the welfare of Jerusalem, but it proceeded from the warm regard he had,
      • (1.) To the communion of saints: It is for my brethren and companions' sakes, that is, for the sake of all true-hearted Israelites, whom I look upon as my brethren (so he called them, 1 Chr. 28:2) and who have often been my companions in the worship of God, which has knit my heart to them.
      • (2.) To the ordinances of God: He had set his affections to the house of his God (1 Chr. 29:3); he took a great pleasure in public worship, and for that reason would pray for the good of Jerusalem. Then our concern for the public welfare is right when it is the effect of a sincere love to God's institutions and his faithful worshippers.