Prayers for Peace (Psalm 122)

As the pilgrim excitedly enters Jerusalem, he prepares for worship by recalling God's glory in Jerusalem and the Temple. He recognizes what a holy people would look like and prays for peace for this holiness to be realized among them.

This is also our journey.

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We are on a journey of faith leading towards our destination with God. We know what his kingdom ideals of peace are, so we pray for peace for those ideals to be fulfilled among us.

Sermon notes:

Move 1: We are on a journey with a destination (1-2).

• the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a season of transition...busyness...PEACE is stated and sung about but not lived during this time.
• this psalm is a psalm of peace. It teaches us peace; how to transcend our current experience to find real and lasting peace.
• there is a journey undertaken by a pilgrim in vs. 1-2. This journey corresponds to our journey--out of darkness into light; from old life to new life; in our conversions.

Move 2: We know the ideal... (3-5)

• After describing his journey of faith, the writer of the psalm describes the glory of God in Jerusalem and in the Temple. This is the ideal that all Israel has been working towards. It is seen in:
• • a strong city (3)
  • unified tribes (4)
  • obedience to the law (4)
  • proper and just conduct (5)
• We know this ideal as well. For us, we see God's glory in his church and kingdom, especially in these ways:
• • a strong, unified church (united in God; fellowship with each other)
  • obedient and just living for all (proper focus on relationships in the church; care for and outreach to our neighbors, and to strangers)

Move 3: So we work for this ideal...through prayer (6-9).

• the work is prayer, and the prayers are for peace, for God's peace, in our lives, in his church, and for his mission. We pray in these ways:
• • a blessing on those who participate in this peace (6)
  • strength for the church (7)
  • a blessing on families who are striving for God's peace (8)
  • a blessing upon the church for continued growth (9)
• the vision of vs. 3-5 is anticipated in our prayers for peace; it is sustained and worked for by prayer, together
• Let us work and pray for peace, for God's vision and will to be done. Let this season of year be one in which we focus less on gifts, stress, and what is ours, and more on our relationships with God, family, neighbors, and strangers. Let this period of thanksgiving be not just a holiday but a time in which we allow the Lord's peace to transcend our un-peace and allow a new dawning, through his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.