Songs from the Heart Day 8

Read the Psalm

A Prayer for Jerusalem

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,

“Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”

2 Our feet were standing

within your gates, Jerusalem—

3 Jerusalem, built as a city should be,

solidly united,

4 where the tribes, the Lord’s tribes, go up

to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

(This is an ordinance for Israel.)

5 There, thrones for judgment are placed,

thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem:

“May those who love you be secure;

7 may there be peace within your walls,

security within your fortresses.”

8 Because of my brothers and friends,

I will say, “May peace be in you.”

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God,

I will pursue your prosperity.

—Christian Standard Bible

Consider what you’ve read, using the following questions as a guide:

What does this psalm teach you about God’s character? About the psalmist’s posture toward or relationship with God?
Consider verse 1. In general, does this describe your attitude toward worship or being among the people of God? Why or why not?
If not, what actions or steps may you need to take to deal with any issues that could be causing you to not want to be among fellow believers?
For the Jews, Jerusalem was a symbol of God’s presence with his people as well as a symbol of security and safety. How has God shown himself to be a place of safety for you?
Read over verse 4 again. “To give thanks” refers here to the act of presenting an offering to God at the Temple, something the Jewish law instructed the Jewish worshipers to do. Today, what is your offering to God? How will you praise him or give thanks to him?
Verses 6-9 invite the people to pray for peace in Jerusalem. The peace pictured here is not simply the absence of conflict, but rather a sense of wholeness and completeness, health and protection. It describes a place of justice and prosperity that we know cannot ultimately be found here on earth. Instead, it’s found in God. How have you experienced your relationship with Jesus bringing peace into your life?
Who in your life needs to experience peace with God or the peace that only he can provide in their lives? Pray for those people by name, asking that they would come to a saving or deeper knowledge of God.