Thursday of Lent 4

Thursday of Lent 4, March 30, 2017 Psalm 122:1-2
         

Psalm 122:1-2 English Standard Version (ESV)
Let Us Go to the House of the LORD
A Song of Ascents. Of David.

122 I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
2 Our feet have been standing
    within your gates, O Jerusalem!

From the time of David on, Jerusalem served as the center of worship and justice. Peace with God and peace between the people of Israel are both found in Jerusalem.

The word “glad” means, “to cause to rejoice.” David found overwhelming joy in going to the house of the Lord. The same should be true of us! We don’t worship at the tabernacle. We don’t gather at the temple. We gather at church. When we gather, it should make us glad.  David says they are also going there to “give thanks unto the name of the Lord.” The ancient Jews made their way to the tabernacle and the temple at great personal cost and difficulty to offer their praises to the Lord. They believed He was worthy to be praised for His grace in their lives, so they paid the price, stood before His prescribed place and they praised His name. 

David reminds us, “they said…Let us go” – The Jews saw their time at the tabernacle as a time when they could come together on common ground, for a common purpose. Petty disputes and family disagreements were put aside so they would worship the Lord together.

We could learn a lot from those ancient worshipers.  Look around. Realize that we are all different. We come from different families, with different points of view, different backgrounds and even somewhat different belief systems. Yet we are reminded to gather together, to worship the Lord. Consider what unites us in our worship. What is our purpose for gathering? For what reason am I here?

Almighty and most merciful God, drive from us all weakness of body, mind and spirit; that, being restored to wholeness, we may with free hearts become what you intend us to be and accomplish what you want us to do; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen 1

[1] Collect for Thursday of Lent 4, http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/LentenCollects.htm

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