Psalm 122

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 122

This psalm seems to have been penned by David for the use of the people of Israel, when they came up to Jerusalem to worship at the three solemn feasts. It was in David's time that Jerusalem was first chosen to be the city where God would record his name. It being a new thing, this, among other means, was used to bring the people to be in love with Jerusalem, as the holy city, though it was but the other day in the hands of the Jebusites. Observe, I. The joy with which they were to go up to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 122:1-5

Here we have, I. The pleasure which David and other pious Israelites took in approaching to and attending upon God in public ordinances, Ps. 122:1, 2. 1. The invitation to them was very welcome. David was himself glad, and would have every Israelite to say that he was glad, when he was called upon to go up to the house of the Lord. Note, (1.) It is the will of God that we should worship him in concert, that many should join together to wait upon him in public ordinances. We ought to worship... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 122:6-9

Here, I. David calls upon others to which well to Jerusalem, Ps. 122:6, 7. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for the welfare of it, for all good to it, particularly for the uniting of the inhabitants among themselves and their preservation from the incursions of enemies. This we may truly desire, that in the peace thereof we may have peace; and this we must earnestly pray for, for it is the gift of God, and for it he will be enquired of. Those that can do nothing else for the peace of Jerusalem... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 122

INTRODUCTION TO Psalm 122 A Song of degrees of David . This is the first of the songs of degrees that bears the name of David: and Kimchi thinks they only were written by him which have his name to them; though he, Abendana, and others, are of opinion that this psalm was composed with a view to the captives in Babylon; who are here represented, and are represented as rejoicing at their going up to Jerusalem, to the solemn feasts there. The inscription in the Syriac version is, "a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 122:1

I was glad when they said unto me ,.... Or, "I rejoiced in", or "because of, those that said unto me" F2 באמרים לי "in dicentibus mihi", Montanus; so Ainsworth, Vatablus, Cocceius; "in his quae dicta sunt mihi", V. L. so Junius & Tremellius. ; or, "in what was said unto me". For it may regard not only the time when he had this pleasure of mind, but the persons who gave it, as well as the ground and reason of the things said unto him, as follows: let us go into the house of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 122:2

Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Which is to be understood not merely literally of the city of Jerusalem, and of continuance in the possession of it, it being lately taken out of the hands of the Jebusites; but spiritually of the church of God, which is often called by this name; the gates of which are the same as the gates of Zion, and the gates of wisdom, the word and ordinances; attendance on which is signified by "standing": and which also denotes continuance therein:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 122:3

Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together. In David's time the upper and lower city were joined together, the streets regularly built, the houses contiguous, not straggling about, here and there one F3 Hecataeus, an Heathen writer, describes Jerusalem as a strong fortified city, fifty furlongs in circumference; and inhabited by twelve myriads, or a hundred and twenty thousand men. Vid. Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 4. . So the church of God, like that, is built in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 122:4

Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord ,.... The twelve tribes of Israel; the males of them went up three times a year to Jerusalem to worship, at the feasts of passover, pentecost, and tabernacles; and was typical of the church of Christ, where the worship of God is carried on, his word preached, and ordinances administered; and whither saints go and attend for their own profit and the glory of God; this is the city of our solemnities, Isaiah 33:20 ; unto the testimony of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 122:5

For there are set thrones of judgment ,.... In Jerusalem as the Targum; here were courts of judicature, and thrones for the judges to sit upon, to execute judgment and justice to the people; the thrones of the house of David ; the Targum is, "thrones in the house of the sanctuary, for the kings of the house of David;' who might sit there, as the Jews say, when others might not. In the church of Christ, the heavenly Jerusalem, every saint is a king, as well as a priest, and all have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 122:6

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem ,.... This is said to the persons that solicited the psalmist to go into the house of the Lord; to the truly godly among the tribes that went thither to worship; to his brethren and companions, for whose sake he wished well to Zion; to praying souls, who should not be singular and selfish; not only pray for themselves, but for others; for all saints, and for the church of God in general; for Jerusalem, not merely literally considered; though as that was the... read more

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