I Was Glad, Sort Of

Psalm 122:1-5

A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

1I was glad when they said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

2And now we are standing here

inside your gates, O Jerusalem.

3Jerusalem is a well-built city,

knit together as a single unit.

4All the people of Israel—the LORD’s people—

make their pilgrimage here.

They come to give thanks to the name of the LORD

as the law requires.

5Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,

the thrones of the dynasty of David.

Can you imagine the Israelite families’ excitement as they close in upon Jerusalem around the time of the festivals—some from Galilee to the north, some from Egypt in the south, some from Cyprus or even Greece across the Mediterranean. As they draw nearer, they join other pilgrims, and the crowd grows noisier as the excitement becomes almost feverish.

“Aw, Mom, can’t we wait five minutes more before going to Sunday school? This is my favorite cartoon on TV.”

As the throngs make their way to the brow of the last hill, they see Jerusalem and its famous Temple, and they let out shrieks of joy in anticipation.

“I’m not sure we need to go to church today. I don’t think the pastor is preaching on anything important.”

And through the gates of the city the pilgrims come at a faster pace, and into the Temple courts they rush. Some fall on their faces and kiss the marble floors. At last, at last—“Hallelujah, Shalom Jerusalem!”

“Well, maybe we’d better go anyway. Someone might get the wrong idea if we don’t.”

Come, we that love the Lord

And let your joys be known,

Join in a song with sweet accord,

And thus surround the throne.

ISAAC WATTS

A Word on Words

The Hebrew word translated “knit together” in verse 3 can also refer to people joining forces or finding fellowship together.

Bible Networking

For more on Jerusalem’s gates, see 2 Chronicles 8:14; 31:2; Nehemiah 1:3; 12:30; Psalms 24:7; 100:4; Proverbs 8:1-5; Lamentations 2:9; and Revelation 21:21.