Psalm 122
Opening Reflections.
Where have you seen God at work in your life this week?
Share any brief examples and encouragements.
Was there anything from Sunday’s message (from Izwe Nkosi) which resonated with you or that you felt resistance to? Anything else you particularly noticed?
I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
That is where the tribes go up—
the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
according to the statute given to Israel.
There stand the thrones for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your prosperity.
Psalm 122
Read Psalm 122.
1. Did anything immediately strike you, either hearing the message on Sunday or on reading this passage just now?
2. Psalm 122 is a song to celebrate the people of God coming to ‘the house of the LORD’ to worship. But what do we do when we can no longer come together as freely as we had always been used to? Psalm 42 (see verses 3-5 especially) gives voice to the longing of one who remembers the good old days when big gatherings for worship used to happen.
- Where does this psalmist find hope for the future?
- What have you learned about worship now that we can’t all gather together as before?
- What are you missing?
- What are you discovering?
3. Psalm 137 gives voice to the experience of Israel’s exile in Babylon. The temple has been destroyed – there is no ‘house of the LORD’ in Jerusalem to return to. They are living in a strange land where singing ‘the LORD’s song’ seems impossible, and they have hung up their guitars.
- How do we worship well in this strange new land in which we are living?
- What does worship look like now? (Paul and Silas in prison, perhaps, waiting for an earthquake to release a miracle of midnight deliverance? Or good friends around a table?)
4. In John 4:21-24 Jesus explains to a Samaritan woman that where you worship doesn’t matter anymore because ‘the hour is… now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.’ Romans 12:1 reminds us that worship is not about the songs we sing, but about the lives we present to God.
- In a practical way, what do you think that means for us?
Closing Reflections.
Is there anything you will take away from this study and discussion?What has stood out that you can take into your week ahead?
Pray together (in pairs or small groups) for each other, in response to your answers.
