In Psalm 122 we find the end of the journey set before us. It is the house of the Lord in Jerusalem—the city that the Lord had chosen to place His name there, where was His sanctuary (Psalm 78:67-69).
There is companionship too in this journey. When we were led in true exercise by the Spirit of God, we found others exercised by the Spirit desirous also to go on in the same path of faith.
(vs. 1) “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Then faith looks off to the time when one’s feet will stand in Jerusalem.
(vs. 2) “Our feet shall stand within Thy gates, O Jerusalem.” This is followed by meditation as to what is to be found there.
(vs 3) “Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together.”
(vs 4) “Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.”
When building the wall, Nehemiah said, “The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall” (Neh. 4:19) Those were remnant days-the beginning of a recovery from what carelessness and disobedience had brought in. See 2 Chron. 36:14.
Faith sees Jerusalem “compact together,” when in reality it lay in ruins at the time when the journey began; but the energy of faith could change all this. “Compact together” makes one think of what we have in the New Testament, “gathered together” and “fitly joined together and compacted” (Eph. 4:16), the result of the unity and operation of the Spirit of God in producing the unity (Eph. 4:3), which is far beyond anything that man can bring about.
Another thing: it is not simply where the feeble remnant was going, but “whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord”! Faith takes in the whole of Israel, though the greater part were long since lost among the nations. Faith embraces the whole, and so now the Lord would not have us stop short of the whole body of Christ, the Church. Our faith must realize that anything short of this is sectarian and stops short of what is outlined for us in the path of faith according to the scripture (Eph. 4:4; 1 Cor. 12:13).
“Unto the testimony of Israel.” This brings before us the Ark of God which contained the tables of the law, which was spoken of as the dwelling place of the Lord God. It was also the true gathering center for all Israel (1 Chron. 13:6; 23:25). This should bring before us the One who is now the true Center of the Church – the One of whom it could truly be said, “Thy law have I hid in my heart.” In such a place one is in the position where thanks can be given unto the Lord-”To give thanks unto the name of the LORD.” This is what He desires, as we shall see as we proceed with these Songs of Degrees.
(vs 5) “For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.” The thrones of the house of David was the place where justice was administered. Absalom sought craftily to usurp the throne on the plea that justice was not being done. He declared that failure had come in; but, though there was failure present, yet it was not as extensive as he sought to make out. This world has yet to wait for the “King” to “reign in righteousness” (Isa. 32:1). He was here once, but was rejected (Luke 19:41-44). The setting aside of David was not allowed, and Absalom lost his life in attempting to do so.
Is it not striking that the Lord, when speaking of the Church which was yet to be established, gives it this character – the place of justice, because He is in the midst (Matt. 18:15-20)? How many times the enemy has sought to set this truth aside on some such plea as Absalom’s!
The true effect of the unity that is of the Spirit is the exercise that peace might be there. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Should not the need of collective peace exercise our hearts now? How often has individual responsibility been unduly pressed with sad results. The same one that could speak of conferring “not with flesh and blood,” afterward speaks of going to see Peter and abiding with him fifteen days, and again going up and communicating privately to them of reputation, lest by any means he had run or should run in vain (Gal. 1-2).
(vs. 8) “For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.” The one who has been voicing these godly exercises has now learned to speak of those whom he has found to have like precious faith as himself, as his brethren. A relationship has been formed by the Spirit of God with these and God’s chosen center, and its peace is their one consuming thought and objective.