A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 122
PSALME CXXII.
THe Arke of God had for a long time moved from place to place, at length the Lord revealeth unto David the place wherof Moses had spoken, to be Sion where the Arke should rest, and there David set up the A…ke, having revealed unto the people the Oracle: whereupon the people did heartily embrace the will of God, and came to that place appointed for publick worship, and did invite one another to go up to worship▪ In this Psalme, we have first Davids joy for the peoples willingnesse to assemble unto the Lords house, v. 1, 2. In the next place, he praises Ierusalem, v. 3, 4, 5. In the third place, he exhorteth all to pray for the peace of Ierusalem, representing the universal Church, and useth some reasons to set them forward on the duty, v. 6, 7, 8, 9.
Ver. 1. I Was glad when they said unto me: Let us go into the house of the LORD.
2. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Ierusalem.
From the joy which David had in the peoples willingnesse, to joyne together in the publick worship of the Lord; Learn, 1. Sometime the message of the Lords servants is well taken at their hand, and the fruit of their labour is …eturned upon them, to their no small joy, as here David professeth in his experience: I was glad, when they said unto me, Let us go. 2. As people lawfully may, yea, and should not only stirre up one another, by their example and mutual private exhortation, unto the service of God, but also stirre up their teachers, and Rulers: so teachers and Rulers should think it no incroachment upon their office, nor disparagement to their person or gifts, or place, to be stirred up to their duties by the people, but rather should cherish and foster the peoples holy zeal, as here we are taught by Davids practice: I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. 3. As it is no small benefit to have a setled place for publick Assemblies unto Gods worship, so should it be thankfully acknowledged when it is bestowed and resolutely made use of, as here we see the people did: Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Ierusalem.
Ver. 3. Ierusalem is builded as a city, that is compact together.
4. Whither the tribes go up▪ the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the LORD.
5. For there are set the thrones of judgement the thrones of the house of David.
He commendeth Ierusalem, the figure of the Church of God and of the corporation of his people. First, as a City for a community. Secondly, as the place of Gods publick Assemblies for religious worship. Thirdly, as the place of publick judicatories, for governing the Lords people under David, the type of Christ. Whence learn, 1. The Church of God is not without cause compared to a City, and especially to Ierusalem, because of the union, concord, community of lawes, mutual commodities, and conjunction of strength, which should be among Gods people: Ierusalem is builded as a city that is compact together. 2. That which commendeth a place most of any thing, is the erecting of the Lords banner of love in it, and making it a place for his people, to meet together for his worship; Ierusalem is a city whither the tribes go up. 3. Whatsoever civil distinction Gods children have among themselves, and howsoever they dwell scattered in several places of the earth, yet as they are the Lords people, they should entertain a communion and conjunction among themselves as members of one universal Church, as the signification of the peoples meeting thrice in the year at Ierusalem, did teach: Whither the tribes did go up, the tribes of the Lord, 4. As the tribes, so all particular Churches, how farre soever scattered, have one Lord, one Covenant, one Law and Scripture, signified by the tribes going up to the testimony of Israel, or to the Ark of the Covenant or testimony, where the whole ordinances of God were to be exercised 5. The end of the ordinances of God, of holy covenanting and communion, and joyning in publick worship, is to acknowledge the grace and goodnesse of God, and to glorifie him: for the tribes did go up to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord. 6. The Church of God wanteth not the one Government and Governours, Courts and Judicatories, belonging to Christ and his Church, as the erecting of Ecclesiastick Judicatories in Ierusalem did signifie and teach: for there are set thrones of judgement. 7. The civil Governours in their civil power, should contribute what their power can, to the furtherance of the Church-Government, and the Courts thereof: as the thrones of the house of David, joyning their assistance in Ierusalem unto the Ecclesiastick Courts, did signifie and teach: There are set the thrones of the house of David.
Vers. 6. Pray for the peace of Ierusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
7. Peace be within thy walls: and prosperity within thy palaces.
8. For my brethren and companions sake, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9. Because of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek thy good.
In the last place he exhorteth all to pray for the peace of Ierusalem, or of the Church signified by it, and joyneth four motives unto it. One because as it was a proof of love to the Church, so it had a promise of a blessing, v. 6. Another motive is, from his own example, praying for it. v. 7. A third, because so did love to the brethren require, v. 8. A fourth motive, because so did respect and love to the Church or house of God require, v. 9. Whence learn, 1. The Universal Church militant, should be dear to every member thereof, and prayed for, that it may prosper: Pray for the peace of Ierusalem. 2. As none can pray for the welfare of the Church heartily, except they love her: so none shall love her and seek her welfare, but shall fare the better for it; for it is promised here, They shall prosper that love thee. 3. The Church is a warre-town, and a walled town which is situated among enemies, and may not trust them who are without, but must be upon its keeping, as the type thereof, Ieru…alem, with her walls and towers did shadow forth: Peace be within thy walls. 4. Peace within the Church is no lesse needfull, then prosperity within it; and if peace be within the Church, it matters the lesse what enemies she have without: Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces, doth import or insinuate so much. 5. All the members of the Church militant, should be affected one to another, as brethren, as fellow-partners in losse and gaine; for the relation which they have to one Father the Lord, and one Mother the Universal Church: For my brethren, and companions sake, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 6. Seeing the Church is the Lords dwelling house in this world, whosoever loveth the Lord must not onelyonly inwardly affect, but also effectually by all means endeavour to promote the good of the Church, that is to say, every true member of the Church must do what in him lieth, and as his calling will suffer, to have Religion established, Gods ordinances obeyed, publick worship erected, the Word truly preached, Sacraments rightly administred, and Church-Government according to the Word of God exercised: for so teacheth this example; Because of the house of the Lord my God, I will seek thy good.