A song of ascents, by David.
Psalms 120-134 are called “the psalms of ascents.” A better name would be “the songs of the pilgrim caravans.” These pilgrimage songs were sung when Israel families traveled upwards to Jerusalem (usually in caravans) during the Jewish feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Four of these songs were attributed to David. Solomon wrote one of these songs. The other ten songs are anonymous. The author of Psalm 122 was David.
122:1 I was glad because they said to me, “We will go to the Lord’s temple.”
The Hebrew for “temple” is בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֣ה (bayt Jehovah), meaning the “house of Jehovah.” The temple was not built in David’s day, so the “house of Jehovah” was the tabernacle. David is glad, because he is going up to the Tabernacle.
122:2 Our feet are standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
David and his company were standing inside of the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem had recently been taken from the Jebusites. The tabernacle was taken into the new capital city of David’s kingdom.
122:3 Jerusalem is a city designed to accommodate an assembly.
Jerusalem was built to worship Jehovah by a large assembly of Jews who would be called from all over Israel. David planned to build a temple there, but God would not allow him to do so because his hands were “too bloody.” David made all of the plans and gathered the supplies, but his son Solomon built the temple.
122:4 The tribes go up there, the tribes of the Lord, where it is required that Israel give thanks to the name of the Lord.
The Jewish males were required by the Mosaic Law to attend festivals in Jerusalem three times per year. These three annual festivals were Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacle. They would usually attend with their families by caravan. It would be a large family reunion and a vacation which focused on Jehovah. The sacrifices to Jehovah were large family barbecues with God at the head of each family table. Songs, intense Bible studies, family fellowship, and old friendships would accompany these pilgrimages to and from Jerusalem.
122:5 Indeed, the leaders sit there on thrones and make legal decisions, on the thrones of the house of David.
During these festivals, the judges make legal decisions for the people.
122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love her prosper!
The caravan people would pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is one of the bloodiest cities in the history of the world.
122:7 May there be peace inside your defenses, and prosperity inside your fortresses!
Jerusalem will not receive peace until the Lord Jesus Christ returns and establishes His Messianic Kingdom.
122:8 For the sake of my brothers and my neighbors I will say, “May there be peace in you!”
There will be no peace in the world, until Jerusalem receives peace. Jerusalem will not receive peace until the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Jesus said that He would not return to Jerusalem until they cry out, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” This is the precondition of the Second Coming of Christ. There are no pre-conditions for the Rapture of the Church. It is imminent. The Rapture can occur at any time in history. Therefore, the Second Coming and Rapture must be different prophetic events,
122:9 For the sake of the temple of the Lord our God I will pray for you to prosper.
Once again, the Hebrew for “temple” is בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֣ה (bayt Jehovah), meaning “house of Jehovah.” The temple was not built in David’s day, so the “house of Jehovah” was the tabernacle. At these festivals, the Jewish people prayed for prosperity.