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Psalms 122

9 verses

TL;DR

A joyful invitation to Jerusalem, followed by a prayer for peace and prosperity for the city and its people.

Summary

The psalm opens with the author expressing gladness at the invitation to go to Jerusalem, the house of the LORD. He describes Jerusalem as a well‑ordered, compact city where the tribes of the LORD gather to give thanks. The psalm highlights the city’s judicial authority, referring to the thrones of judgment and connecting them with the house of David. It concludes with a heartfelt prayer for peace within Jerusalem’s walls, prosperity in its palaces, and a wish for the good of the LORD’s house to be sought by all.

Outline
  1. Joyful invitation to Jerusalem
  2. Description of Jerusalem and its royal court
  3. Prayer for peace and prosperity
Themes
Divine worship in JerusalemRoyal and judicial authorityPrayer for communal peace
Keywords
Jerusalemhouse of the LORDpeaceprospéritéthrones of judgment
People
David
Places
Jerusalem
Things
house of the LORDthrones of judgmentpalaces
Key Verses
  • Psalms 122:1: Sets the joyful tone of the journey to Jerusalem.
  • Psalms 122:5: Connects Jerusalem’s authority to the house of David and its judicial role.
  • Psalms 122:6: Expresses the central prayer for peace and prosperity.
Questions
  • Why does the psalmist emphasize the compactness of Jerusalem?
  • How does the reference to the thrones of judgment shape the psalm’s view of Jerusalem’s authority?
  • What does the repeated call for peace reveal about the psalmist’s concerns for the community?
  • In what ways does the psalm link personal joy to communal prayer?
Sentiment

positive
Joyful invitation and hopeful prayers for peace and prosperity.