I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is bound firmly together...Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your towers." For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you." For the sake of the House of the LORD our God, I will seek your good. (Psalm 122:1-3; 6-9)
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There comes a point in our faith - a dramatic turn in our development - where we no longer focus on our personal need for deliverance.
In fact, as our faith grows, so should our empathy and true care for others.
This is the focus of today's Psalm. And what a refreshing Psalm it is.
David is speaking of a brotherhood that he is rejoicing with; traveling with; living with. Unlike previous passages where he requests and begs the Lord for personal assistance and relief, here, he is doing Kingdom work with and for the Kingdom.
He realizes that Jerusalem - or for today's purposes; the church - is bound firmly together. Unlike anything else in all of creation, God's church is unified; compacted together like a strong, healthy, and mighty organism.
The church is not some life-less and forgotten structure, decaying from age and overgrown from a lack of productivity. Instead, the church is powerful, alive, always working, moving in both seen and unseen ways, and will always be remembered throughout history as a source of hope, security, and community.
This is the truth of the Kingdom.
And with this understanding - the understanding that he was a part of something grand - David directs his (and our) attention towards a new request and beg; a grand request and beg.
If you want to pray grand prayers and see grand things happen, then focus your attention on God's grand Kingdom.
In doing so, David prays - for the sake of his brothers; his family - for two main things: Peace and Security.
[PEACE] - prosperity; redemption; success; completeness; safety; health
Literally, David is calling us to pray that our church would have success. That our friends' burdens would be lifted; strongholds broken; and hardships demolished. That your brother's and sister's would feel and experience a since of completeness in their day. That the Kingdom around you would prosper.
[SECURITY] - ease; rest; protection; relief; satisfaction
We are to pray the grand prayers that God's people would experience ease. That our friends who are constantly working, our parents who are never stopping, and our leaders who are always bombarded with responsibilities...that they would have real rest. That the church would be protected. That those who hurt would experience relief and satisfaction.
If you want to see God do some crazy big things, then open your eyes and see your call to pray some crazy big things into the life and work of God's people.
Seek the good of the Kingdom.
When you enter the doors of your work, what would it be like to pray success for the believers that labor alongside of you. When you step onto that field, what would it be like to pray prosperity and protection for your brothers and sisters. When you enter into your house, what would it be to pray peace for your family?
You see, this is the grand work that God has for us today.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your towers." For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you." For the sake of the House of the LORD our God, I will seek your good."
I challenge you to do just that. Who do you need to pray for? Perhaps share today's devotion with them. And let us know your thoughts by commenting on today's Instagram post! (Find it at Instagram.com/declareglory)
Blessings,
Greg from Declare Glory
