PSALMS OF ASCENT!

PSALM 122:8-9

Prosperity
FOR THE SAKE OF MY BROTHERS AND FRIENDS, I WILL SAY, PEACE BE WITHIN YOU. FOR THE SAKE OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD OUR GOD, I WILL SEEK YOUR PROSPERITY. (PSALMS 122:89 NIV)
OTHERS
A feature of this Psalm is the focus the writer has on benetting other people. He is excited to worship together with others - all the tribes in fact. He urges prayers for Jerusalem and hopes for peace and security for those living in and visiting the city. Here in verse 8 he directly prays for his brothers and friends. He wants peace within Jerusalem for their sake. He knows that the unity of the tribes is critical to the peace of Gods people. If there is no peace within Jerusalem there will be no peace for any individual there or elsewhere. wholeness. That wholeness carried with it a signicance reaching far beyond the physical healing alone. It symbolised the wholeness that God was now making available to all who would recognise Jesus as Messiah.

SHALVAH
The word prosperity is the Hebrew word Shalvah. The word conveys the image of the relaxed position of one at peace with God and condent of His provision and protection. Seeking the good of something that honours God is more important than personal fulllment. Are we seeking the prosperity of others in church more than ourselves? The inspiration of what we have received in Hebrews 12:22-24 is followed by very practical instructions, Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. (Hebrews 13:13 NIV) Seeking the kingdom's prosperity is on the heart of the Psalmist - is it on ours?

VISION
The Psalmist is not satised with a technical peace (a state of war not existing between people). He has a far more inspiring dream. He prays for the wholeness of the people of God. No division, no competitiveness, seeking the good of others not oneself, a lack of selshness, generosity towards one another, open hospitality - the spirit expressed in Philippians, Do nothing out of selsh ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:35 NIV) That is the kind of family group I want to be part of !

SHALOM
What kind of peace is the Psalmist praying for? The word translated Peace here is the Hebrew word Shalom. It is a tremendously rich word to which we cannot do justice in a short article. In summary it is not about things being quiet, or e a s y. I t i s m o r e a b o u t wholeness. When Jesus healed p e o p l e h e g av e t h e m a

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