Psalm-122
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Remember the following two
truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם -
the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Tehillim - Psalm 122 in context:
This Psalm is one of the ‘Songs of Ascents’, a brief pilgrimage hymn
traditionally sung by worshipers travelling to Jerusalem. It celebrates the joy
of communal worship, the ordered unity of the city, and the link between sacred
worship and just governance. It is read as a personal testimony and a civic
prayer, the Psalm invites readers to move from glad anticipation of the house
of יְהוָה - the LORD to an active commitment to the
welfare of the city that houses אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’s presence.
How to use
this Psalm:
Approach it first as a song of arrival, feel the shift from invitation to
presence, then as a call to intercession for the peace and prosperity of the
community. Let its images of compactness, thrones of judgment, and walls and
palaces shape prayers for unity, righteous leadership, and the common good.
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Let us read Tehillim - Psalm 122. (JPS-1917 version).
1. A Song of Ascents; of David. I rejoiced when they said unto me: ‘Let us go unto the house of יְהוָה - the LORD’.
2. Our feet are standing within thy gates, O Jerusalem;
3. Jerusalem, that art builded as a city that is compact together;
4. Whither the tribes went up, even the tribes of יְהוָה - the LORD, as a testimony unto Israel, to give thanks unto the name of יְהוָה - the LORD.
5. For there were set thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they prosper that love thee.
7. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
8. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say: ‘Peace be within thee’.
9. For the sake of the house of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - the LORD our Eloheynu I will seek thy good.
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Let us commence with a ‘Literal Paraphrase:
Verses 1-2: The psalmist expresses joy at the invitation to go to יְהוָה - the LORD’s house and celebrates already standing within
Jerusalem’s gates.
Verses 3-5: Jerusalem is pictured as a tightly built, unified city where
Israel’s tribes ascend to give thanks; the city also houses the Davidic thrones
of judgment.
Verses 6-8: The psalmist urges prayer for Jerusalem’s peace, blessing those who
love the city, and pronounces peace for its walls and prosperity for its
palaces.
Verse 9: For the sake of אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’s house and forאֱלֹהֵינוּ
יְהוָה - Elohim our LORD, the Psalmist commits to seeking Jerusalem’s
welfare.
Let us now cover a verse by verse commentary:
Verse
1.
“I rejoiced when they said unto me: ‘Let us go
unto the house of יְהוָה -
the LORD’.”
Joy here is communal and anticipatory: the speaker’s gladness springs from the
prospect of pilgrimage and corporate worship. The invitation itself is a cause
for celebration.
Verse
2.
“Our feet are standing within thy gates, O
Jerusalem;”
This line shifts from anticipation to presence. The psalmist imagines or
affirms arrival, standing within the gates signals belonging and access to the
sacred centre.
Verse
3.
“Jerusalem, that art builded
as a city that is compact together;”
Jerusalem’s compactness suggests unity, security, and order. The city’s
structure reflects social and religious cohesion.
Verse
4.
“Whither the tribes went up, even the tribes
of יְהוָה - the LORD, as a
testimony unto Israel, to give thanks unto the name of יְהוָה - the LORD.”
Pilgrimage is both religious duty and public testimony. The tribes ascend to
offer thanks, making worship a national, covenantal act.
Verse
5.
“For there were set thrones for judgment, the
thrones of the house of David.”
The presence of Davidic thrones ties worship to just governance. The temple and
the royal court are linked: religious life and righteous judgment belong
together.
Verse
6.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they
prosper that love thee”.
A direct exhortation: ‘pray’. Peace (shalom) is comprehensive safety, wellbeing,
and wholeness. Those who love Jerusalem are promised prosperity, implying
mutual care between city and people.
Verse
7.
“Peace be within thy
walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.”
The blessing is spatially specific, walls and palaces, covering both common
life and leadership. The Psalmist envisions peace that permeates every level of
the city.
Verse
8.
“For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will
now say: ‘Peace be within thee’”.
The speaker’s blessing is motivated by relationships. Because of kin and
companions, the psalmist speaks peace, showing how communal bonds shape
intercessory speech.
Verse
9.
“For the sake of the house of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵינוּ -
the LORD our Eloheynu I will seek thy good.”
The ultimate motive is devotion to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s house. Seeking
the city’s welfare is an act of fidelity to אֱלֹהִים; civic concern is framed
as religious responsibility.
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Here is a new look at ‘Themes and Practical Applications’:
Communal Worship and Joy:
The Psalm links personal joy to communal invitation; spiritual life is enacted together.
Application: Prioritize shared worship and celebrate invitations to gather.
Presence and Pilgrimage:
Moving toward the sacred and arriving are both important.
Application: Treat spiritual milestones, journeys, rites, gatherings as meaningful transitions.
Unity and Order:
Jerusalem’s compactness symbolizes social cohesion.
Application: Work for unity in communities and institutions that serve the common good.
Justice and Worship Connected:
Thrones of judgment beside the temple remind us that faith and justice belong together.
Application: Advocate for fair leadership and ethical governance as part of religious commitment.
Intercessory
Concern:
Praying for the peace and prosperity of one’s country is an expression of love and responsibility.
Application: Pray for and act toward the welfare of your local community, its safety, economy, and institutions.
Relational Motivation:
Blessing others often arises from ties of kinship and friendship.
Application: Let relationships motivate public prayers and civic engagement.
In Closing:
A short
reflective blessing.
May the joy that drew us to the house of יְהוָה remain with us; may our
feet stand firm in the gates of peace, and may our lives seek the welfare of
the place where אֱלֹהִים is honoured!
In worship, this Psalm works well as an opening hymn, a responsive reading, or a short meditation before prayers for civic life.
Closing
prayer:
Oh אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim in our pilgrimage, keep our hearts turned toward Your love; grant peace
within our walls, justice with our leaders, and steadfast love among our
companions. Empower us to seek the good of our country for the sake of Your blessed Name. Amen!
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following, via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheychem; walk in My statutes,
and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall
be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheychem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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follows;
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More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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