"i Was Glad When They Said Unto Me, "let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord."

Title: “I Was Glad When They Said Let Us Go to the House of the Lord. Script: Psalm 122

Type: Expos./Event Where: 5-17-20

Intro: What brings you joy? This is a personal question and I am sure there are a variety of answers. For some it is a relationship or upcoming wedding. For some, it will be the birth of a child or grandchild. For some, it will be having the family together for Thanksgiving or Christmas. For others, it will be a dream house or fishing boat or brand new pick up truck or Harley Davidson. Some might say that winning the lottery will give them joy. Some might say seeing major league baseball start back up again. Some might say, just going back to my job. How you answer this question says a lot about you. In the text this morning, we will see that going to the Lord’s House to worship brought King David joy. I dare say that after our last several weeks of Covid-inspired isolation, many of you are simply glad today that we too, like the Psalmist of old, can go to the “Lord’s House” to worship.

Prop: Exam. Psalm 122 we’ll notice 3 Items Associated with Worship

BG: 1. This is a Psalm of David. Most scholars agree David wrote at least half of the Psalms.

2. This is a “Psalm of Ascent”. In fact, Psalms 120-134 are all labeled “Psalms of Ascent” they were sung by worshippers as they would ascend towards Jerusalem during the annual Feasts for the Jews.

Prop: Let’s look at Ps. 122 this am as we notice 3 items Associated with Worship.

I. David Delighted in a Specific Worship Environment vv. 1-2

A. There was an Invitation Given.

1. David offered an Invitation to Other Worshippers: “Let us go” This is a song about moving toward the love of God in worship, which speaks to the core truth in all of us that we’re made for worship. “The chief end of man is to worship God and enjoy Him forever.” But the focus here is not on personal worship only. This song celebrates the beauty of the rhythm of worshiping God alongside others in an ongoing way… as they walk towards God and enter the Holy City. The Temple did not exist in the days of David it would be built by his son, Solomon. Instead, the Ark of the Testimony was placed in a tent (The tent of Meeting).

2. Illust: Earlier this week you received an invitation to “Let us go”.. to Good News Bible Church to worship this Sunday! For the past 8 weeks we have been separated from one another in worshipping the Lord. There is a beauty in being together with the people of God and we are grateful that we can begin to come back together to worship. It is a privilege to worship and serve Christ. God is honored when the church gathers to worship Him in spirit and in truth. We are renewed and encouraged in doing so! One lesson the last 8 weeks has taught me personally, “Don’t ever take going to church for granted.”

B. There is an Impact in Going: Gladness.

1. These Psalms (120-134) were always sung as a joyful procession as the people were going up to Jerusalem for one of the annual Feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Booths. It was usually sung as the people entered one of the 12 main gates that allowed people into the Holy City. The Psalmist declared that “he was glad”. He was happy. He was grateful. He saw it as a pleasure to go to the Lord’s House. You may remember after the terrible fiasco when David disobediently attempted to have the Ark brought in an ox cart and Uzziah was struck dead, the Ark remained outside the city for some time. However, in time, the Ark was properly carried into the city by the Levites, and who was there, dancing with joy making his processional: King David.

2. Illust: I hope you “were glad” when the invitation went out to go to church this Sunday. Notice here the “us.” The worship of God was not just about my own personal experience. “Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.” The LORD is not Lord of one, but of a people. It is a time of joy when God’s people come together into the house of the LORD for worship. We are a redeemed people. We are a holy people. We are a chosen people. We are a people to declare God’s praise. Our faith is a faith about more than just ourselves. Illust: Over the past several weeks I have heard many people gratefully express appreciation for the hard work that Pastor Richard and others have gone to in making our services available online. Many today and for weeks to come. However, many of same people expressed a deep desire and longing to be able to meet in person again.