Psalms 122

juniper. They shall bo so far from turning to thy advantage, that they shall provo thy undoing: for the mighty Lord (whom none can resist) shall tako a sharp and a swift vengeance on thee; which shall never cease, till it hath utterly consumed thee. A Song of Degrees of David. The title satisfies us that David was the author of this Psalm: who, having settled the ark (which before had no certain place) at Jerusalem, and being at this time, upon some occasion, in the country, heard the good people there speak one to another, as some of them did to him, of going to worship God, at some of the three solemn feasts: which devotion of theirs, as it rejoiced his heart, so it moved him, I conjecture, to compose this Psalm for their use, at such times. If the Talmudists may, be believed, they were wont to sing the first verse of this Psalm as they went out of the country towards Jerusalem, carrying their first-fruits to the house of the Lord; as the law (Deut. xxvi. 2.) directed them: and when they entered wdthin the gates of the city, they sang the second verse. There they wcro met by some of the citizens, who, if this be true, sang the rest of the Psalm, it is likely, together with them, as they went towards the temple. Of this custom Mr. Sclden treats, lib. iii. de Synedr. cap. 13. Of a Song of Degrees, see Psal. cxx.

Psalms 122:1

JL WAS glad ivhen they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. I was exceedingly pleased with the cheerful devotion of those who came unto me, before the approaching feast, and said, Let us go and pay our thankful acknowledgments to the Lord in the place where he dwells, and makes himself present among us.

Psalms 122:2

Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem,. Which motion ought to be the more readily embraced, because now h* hath fixed his habitation: and we need not travel farther than Jerusalem, to inquire after the ark of his presence'.

Psalms 122:3

Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together. To Jerusalem, I say, that fair and beautiful city, whose buildings do not now lie scattered and divided: but are all compacted, and united together (as we ought to be) in a goodly order, (1 Sam. v. 9. 1 Chron. xi. 8.)

Psalms 122:4

Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the esiimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. Thither all the twelve tribes of Israel, who owu the great Lord for their God, go up from all the parts of the country, by his special commandment, (Exod. xxiii. 17.) to acknowledge, before the ark of his testimony, (xxv. 21,22.) all the benefits they have received from his almighty goodness; and this above the rest, that he thereby testifies his singular care and providence over them.

Psalms 122:5

Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents ofKedar!. For it is but fit thou shouldest smaTt for the mischief thou hast done^under which I groan most sadly; not only in a tedious banishment from my own country, but iu that I am forced to seek for shelter among the barbarous Arabs. Ver. (i. My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.’] Where my mind cannot but perpetually reflect upon the implacable spirit of my enemies: whose bitter hatred will not suffer them to como to any terms of agreement. For there are set thrones of judgment: the thrones of the house of David.] Thither also they repair for justice; for the supreme judicatory of the kingdom sits here, (2 Chron. xix. 8.) and there is the seat of the royal family, (where David and his sons have their residence, and govcm the people, 2 Sam. viii. 15. 18.) Ver. G. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper tJiat love thee.] O let this be part of your devout prayers, when you come there; that God would preserve Jerusalem in peace: happy shall they be, who, out of love to the religion and justice which are administered in thee (O beloved city), contribute their endeavours, as well as their prayers, for thy safety and prosperity.

Psalms 122:7

I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war. As I never gave them the least offence, so there is nothing that I more vehemently desire than peace and reconciliation; but when I make a motion of it, they are the more exasperated; and, as if 1 distrusted my cause, or craftily sought advantage by a treaty, betake themselves more fiercely and resolutely to their arms. Peace be loithin thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.] Let no enemy (this shall be my constant prayer) approach so much as to thy outworks to disturb thee: and let plenty of all good things abound within thy palaces.

Psalms 122:8

For my brethren and companions 9 sakes, I will now say’, Peace be within thee. The kindness I have for my kindred, and my neighbours and friends, whether in the city or the country, will not let me cease my earnest prayers to God, that he will confeT his blessings on thee.

Psalms 122:9

Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good. But above all, the love I have to the Lord our God, whose house is here (whither all his devout servants resort to worship him, and celebrate his name), shall excite not only my prayers, but my study, to promote thy, welfare.