PSALMS OF ASCENT!

PSALM 122:3-4

Compacted
JERUSALEM IS BUILT LIKE A CITY THAT IS CLOSELY COMPACTED TOGETHER. THAT IS WHERE THE TRIBES GO UP, THE TRIBES OF THE LORD, TO PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD ACCORDING TO THE STATUTE GIVEN TO ISRAEL. (PSALMS 122:34 NIV)
FRAMEWORK
All Jews went to Jerusalem at least three times a year for the major festivals. There they were reminded of who they were, and celebrated their calling from God. The story of Gods provision was recalled, and the people reminded that they t in this world, in life and together only under God. They were reassured that God p rov i d e d t h e m w i t h t h e framework for their lives. impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written i n t h e L a m b s b o o k o f life. (Revelation 21:2227) We will have a united, secure place of worship with all the peoples of God. We are looking forward to this - as the pilgrim of this Psalm looks forward to Jerusalem. education and status recede as we worship gathered into a single whole. Petty arguments pale into insignicance as God builds a deeper unity through our worship.

COMMAND
Worship is a command, and not dependent on our feelings. This obedience helps nurture our relationship with God. We cannot be forced to worship, but feelings are great liars. We should pay attention to feelings, but not be ruled by them - especially when it comes to worship. Not feeling like worshipping does not take away the authenticity in actually worshipping. Worship helps us develop feelings for God.

UNITY
The compacted-ness of Jerusalem symbolises the unity in worship that is Gods vision for His people. There were many different tribes, but they worshipped together as one people in harmony. In worship, though we come from different places and experiences we are singing the same songs. The tribes are very different in character (see Gen 49, Deut 33), but they are bound together by the Lord, and Jerusalem was where they went to meet Him - together. Our differences in intelligence, money, languages,

COMPACTED
The Hebrew verb for compacted together is the same as found in instructions for the tabernacle, Ex 26.11. This old covenant blueprint will become the ultimate new covenant reality, see Rev 21:10ff, which ends, The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing

PURPOSE
The purpose of the gathering was praise - not unity or prosperity. Such things were a by-product. If we want to be unied and as a church family then our priority must be to worship together.

Malcolm Cox, email: malcolm.cox@iccmissions.org | ICC Missions on facebook | www.nwlcc.org