Psalm 122 is a Psalm of David. In these scriptures he writes about the joy of going to the House of the Lord. Verse 1 reads, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” He continues in verse 6 with this admonition, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.’”
Why does the Bible encourage us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem?” Jerusalem was the one place among the twelve tribes of Israel that God chose to place His name. Deuteronomy 12:5 reads, “But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.”
The Lord promises blessing to those who are a blessing to His covenant people. God spoke these words to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
The name Jerusalem means, “City of Peace.” Its history has proven that it is anything but a city of peace. It has been the scene of numerous battles, brutal attacks, and occupation by foreign enemies. Yet the Bible instructs us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
The city of Jerusalem is referred to as the holy city. The Bible always speaks of going “up to Jerusalem.” Even today it is embroiled in controversy. There are three different religions that lay claim to the city.
Islam claims it as the location where the Prophet Mohammed ascended into heaven. Judaism recognizes from Old Testament Scripture that it is the place that God appointed for Solomon to build the temple. The Christian considers the city to be holy because it was the place where Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead.
In the New Testament Jesus lamented over the city in Matthew 23:37-39. Listen to His words from verse 37, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”
The word “peace” used in Psalms 122:6 is translated from the Hebrew word, “Shalom.” It is a comprehensive word that includes health, welfare, prosperity, and happiness.[i] When you pray for the peace of Jerusalem you are blessing the seed of Abraham. You are praying for the welfare of the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people.
In the verses that follow the Psalmist David gives instructions on how to pray:
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.' For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, 'Peace be within you.' Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.”
When you pray, remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I believe that there is a specific blessing for those who obey these scriptures that encourage us to pray for this city to become a city of peace.
[i] Word Wealth, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN. Page 8
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