Hints to Preachers

Whole Psalm. - Observe,

I. The joy with which they were to go up to Jerusalem, Psalm 122:1, 19 122:2.

II. The great esteem they were to have of Jerusalem: Psalm 122:3-5.

III. The great concern they were to have for Jerusalem, and the prayers they were to put up for its welfare. - M. Henry.

Psalm 122:1. -

I. David was glad to go to the house of the Lord. It was the house of the Lord, therefore he desired to go. He preferred it to his own house.

II. He was glad when others said to him, "Let us go." The distance may be great, the weather may be rough, still, "Let us go."

III. He was glad to say it to others, "Let us go," and to persuade others to accompany him. - G. R.

Psalm 122:1. -

I. Joy in prospect of religious worship.

1. Because of the instruction we receive.

2. Because of the exercises in which we engage.

3. Because of thy society in which we mingle.

4. Because of the sacred interests we promote.

II. Joy in the invitation to religious worship.

1. Because it shows others are interested in the service of God.

2. Because it shows their interest in us.

3. Because it furthers the interests of Zion. - F. J. B.

Psalm 122:1. - Gladness of God's house. Are you "glad when," etc.? Why glad?

I. That I have a house of the Lord to which I may go.

II. That any feel enough interest in me to say, "Let us go," etc.

III. That I am able to go to God's house.

IV. That I am disposed to go. - J. G. Butler, in "The Preacher's Monthly," 1882.

Psalm 122:1. - "I was glad," etc. So says,

I. The devout worshipper, who is glad to be invited to God's earthly house. It is his home, his school, his hospital, his bank.

II. The adhesive Christian, who is glad to be invited to God's spiritual house. Church is builded together, etc. There would he find a settled rest. Has no sympathies with religious gipsies, or no-church people.

III. The dying saint, who is glad to be invited to God's heavenly house. Simeon - Stephen - Peter - Paul. - W. J.

Psalm 122:1. -

I. The duty of attending the services of God's house.

II. The duty of exciting one another to go.

III. The benefit of being thus excited. - F. J. B.

Psalm 122:2. - Here is,

I. Personal attendance - "My feet shall stand," etc.

II. Personal security, "My feet shall stand."

III. Personal fellowship, "O Jerusalem." - G. R.

Psalm 122:2. - The inside of the church. The honour, privilege, joy, and fellowship of standing there.

Psalm 122:3. -

I. A type of the New Jerusalem.

1. As chosen by God.

2. As founded upon a rock.

3. As taken from an enemy.

II. A type of its prosperity, "Builded as a city."

III. A type of its perfection, "Compact together." - G. R.

Psalm 122:3. - The unity of the church.

I. Implied in all covenant dealings.

II. Suggested by all Scriptural metaphors.

III. Prayed for by our Lord.

IV. Promoted by the gifts of the Spirit.

V. To be maintained by us all.

Psalm 122:3, Psalm 122:4. - The united church the growing church.

Psalm 122:4. -

I. The duty of public worship.

1. In one place, "Whither the tribes go up."

2. In one company, though of many tribes, "Whither the tribes go up."

II. The design.

1. For instruction, "Unto the testimony of Israel."

2. For praise, "To give thanks unto the name of the Lord." - G. R.

Psalm 122:5. -

I. There are thrones of judgment in the sanctuary. Men are judged there.

1. By the law.

2. By their own consciences.

3. By the gospel.

II. There are thrones of grace, "Of the house of David."

1. Of David's Son in the hearts of his people.

2. Of his people in David's Son. - G. R.

Psalm 122:6. -

I. The prayer.

1. "For Jerusalem-" not for ourselves merely, or for the world; but for the church. For the babes in grace; for the young men, and for the fathers. For the pastors, with the deacons and elders.

2. For the "peace" of Jerusalem. Inward peace and outward peace.

II. The promise.

1. To whom given, "They that love thee."

2. The promise itself, "They shall prosper" - individually and collectively.

Or,

I. Love to Jerusalem is the effect of true piety.

II. Prayer for Jerusalem is the effect of that love.

III. The peace of Jerusalem is the effect of that prayer; and,

IV. The prosperity of Jerusalem is the effect of that peace. - G. R.

Psalm 122:6. - God has connected giving and receiving, scattering and increasing, sowing and reaping, praying and prospering.

I. What we must do if we would prosper - "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem."

1. Comprehensively, "Peace" - spiritual, social, ecclesiastical, national.

2.:Supremely: "Prefer Jerusalem above," etc.

3. Practically - "Let peace rule in your hearts." "Seek peace and pursue it."

II. What we shall gain if we pray thus - "Prosperity."

1. Temporal prosperity may thus come. God turned again the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends.

2. Spiritual prosperity shall thus come. Affairs of soul - holy exercises and services.

3. Numerical prosperity will thus come. "Increased with men as a flock." - W. J.

Psalm 122:6-9. -

I. The blessings desired for the church.

1Peace.

2. Prosperity. Notice the order and connection of these two.

II. The way to secure them.

1.:Prayer: "Prays for the peace of Jerusalem."

2. Delight in the service of God: "I was glad," etc.

3. Practical effort: "I will seek thy good."

III. Reasons for seeking them.

1. For our own sake, "They shall prosper," etc.

2. For our "companions'" sake.

3. For the sake of the "house of the Lord." - F. J. B.

Psalm 122:7. -

I. Where peace is most desirable: "Within thy walls." Within town walls, within house walls, but principally within temple walls.

II. Where prosperity is most desirable.

1. In the closet.

2. In the church. These are the palaces of the Great King; "The ivory palaces whereby they have made thee glad." - G. R.

Psalm 122:1

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." Good children are pleased to go home, and glad to hear their brothers and sisters call them thither. David's heart was in the worship of God, and he was delighted when he found others inviting him to go where his desires had already gone: it helps the ardour of the most ardent to hear others inviting them to a holy duty. The word was not "go," but "let us go"; hence the ear of the Psalmist found a double joy in it. He was glad for the sake of others' glad that they wished to go themselves, glad that they had the courage and liberality to invite others. He knew that it would do them good; nothing better can happen to men and their friends than to love the place where God's honour dwelleth. What a glorious day shall that be when many people shall go and say, "Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths." But David was glad for his own sake: he loved the invitation to the holy place, he delighted in being called to go to worship in company, and, moreover, he rejoiced that good people thought enough of him to extend their invitation to him. Some men would have been offended, and would have said, "Mind your own business. Let my religion alone;" but not so King David, though he had more dignity than any of us, and less need to be reminded of his duty. He was not teased but pleased by being pressed to attend holy services. He was glad to go into the house of the Lord, glad to go in holy company, glad to find good men and women willing to have him in their society. He may have been sad before, but this happy suggestion cheered him up: he pricked up his ears, as the proverb puts it, at the very mention of his Father's house. Is it so with us? Are we glad when others invite us to public worship, or to church fellowship? Then we shall be glad when the spirits above shall call us to the house of the Lord not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

"Hark! they whisper: angels say,

Sister spirit, come away."

If we are glad to be called by others to our Father's house, how much more glad shall we be actually to go there. We love our Lord, and therefore we love his house, and pangs of strong desire are upon us that we may soon reach the eternal abode of his glory. An aged saint, when dying, cheered herself with this evidence of grace, for she cried, "I have loved the habitation of thine house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth," and therefore she begged that she might join the holy congregation of those who for ever behold the King in his beauty. Our gladness at the bare thought of being in God's house is detective as to our character, and prophetic of our being one day happy in the Father's house on high. What a sweet Sabbath Psalm is this! In prospect of the Lord's day, and all its hallowed associations, our soul rejoices. How well, also, may it refer to the church! We are happy when we see numerous bands ready to unite themselves with the people of God. The pastor is specially glad when many come forward and ask of him assistance in entering into fellowship with the church. No language is more cheering to him than the humble request, "Let us go into the house of the Lord."

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