Notes
The Hebrew people back in the Old Testament understood that worshiping together in the house of the Lord made them better. Today, we will talk about what worship does in our lives and hearts.
Psalm 122 was a song the Hebrews would sing as they were going to worship in Jerusalem. These songs are known as the Songs of Ascent; Psalm 122 is the third in a sequence of 15 songs they would sing together as they were making that journey.
1) Worship Gives us a Framework to Operate by
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a well-built city; its seamless walls cannot be breached. All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people— make their pilgrimage here. They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord, as the law requires of Israel.
Psalm 122:1-4
Jerusalem was where they would go to recalibrate their broken lives; to get the foundational realities of how God creates, redeems, and provides; to unify their hearts around the goodness of God. Worship changes us when we understand what it is, and worshiping together is vital.
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.
Ephesians 4:3-7
Many of us stay fragmented because we don’t understand the framework. They are all over the place, lacking a single mission and vision instead of letting their lives revolve around the main thing. The Church is where we can bring our gifts together and rally around the same cause. Jesus is the framework to wrap our hearts and lives around, and worship helps us to remain focused on Him.
2) Worship Nurtures our Need to be in Relationship with God
All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people— make their pilgrimage here. They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord, as the law requires of Israel.
Psalm 122:4
When we discipline ourselves to come to the house of God to worship, our lives are better for it. When worship is a priority, it will become non-negotiable in our lives whether we feel like it or not.
3) Worship Centers us on God’s Decisions of Goodness
Here stand the thrones where judgment is given, the thrones of the dynasty of David.
Psalm 122:5
God is good despite our bad decisions. He is good even when evil shows up. God is good in spite of the sin in this world. When you come into the house of the Lord, you begin to hear of the things of God.
God’s judgment straightens things out and makes them right. His house is where we announce that there is a God who is good in the midst of all the evil in our world. It is where we talk about God’s goodness and how through Jesus there is forgiveness from sin.
Throughout your days or your weeks, does your heart sing the message of Psalm 122, “Let us go to the house of the Lord”? God’s house is where His diverse people circle up around Jesus as the center of everything we do.
4) Worship Reestablishes Peace and Prosperity in our Hearts
Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “May you have peace.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.
Psalm 122:6-9
Gathering together and getting filled up with the things of God is a privilege. We can’t live in this world by ourselves. We need God, and we need His family. Fill up every week so you can go into the world and meet the challenges you will face.
Group Questions
- What is worship?
- What framework does worship give to us?
- How does worship align us with God’s goodness?
- When has worship changed your mindset or your heart?
Prayer
We are so thankful for the privilege of coming together to worship you. Help us to have the discipline to make worship a priority in our lives every day.