¹I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” … ⁶Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”

Life for the ancient Israelites centered around Jerusalem and the temple, which was called “the house of the Lord.” When King Solomon dedicated the newly built structure, his prayer was clear about its symbolic nature:

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! … Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.” (1 Kings 8:27–30)

The imagery of the temple in Jerusalem was powerful, inspiring the Jewish people through centuries of exile and oppression. This psalm speaks to the unifying nature of the temple for the twelve Israelite tribes (v. 4), descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, who was in the lineage of Abraham and Isaac and who was later re-named ‘Israel’ by God.

The psalmist speaks as one invited to join the company of pilgrims for a trek up to Jerusalem. (Note: all travel to the city from any direction was considered “going up”.) He writes from inside the city gates (vs. 2). In the ancient feudal world, physical walls were built as defensive barriers around the cities for protection against invaders.

In addition to housing the temple of the Lord, Jerusalem was also a place of monarchial rule, beginning with King David and continuing through his dynastic downline. It included his son Solomon and the kings who followed in the Judaic kingdom (vs. 5). Their rule was symbolized by thrones, and it continued until the invasion of the Babylonians, ca. 605 B.C.

The psalm builds from the joy of marching up to and entering Jerusalem to a call to pray for its peace. To be sure, the Jewish people exerted tremendous efforts to defend the city and to rebuild the temple after repeated damage and destruction. However, history has proven that their efforts were severely limited because they repeatedly fell away from faith and disobeyed the Lord. The city’s fate has always depended on the Lord’s protection.

Today, this psalm still challenges believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of the dynastic line of King David. We ought regularly to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (vs. 6a). Such prayer arises out of the desire for its prosperity and is offered by those who have a sincere affection for the city (vs. 6b). Peace and prosperity go hand in hand, allowing life to be lived to the fullest. Jesus promised this when He said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

This psalm is not a prayer made from a cloistered ivory tower to make us feel good, nor is it an evocative monastic chant. No, the prayer’s intent is that individuals whom the psalmist calls “my brothers and my friends” (vs. 8) would not just think or feel but would do something. The genuineness of this level of prayer finds its way into the actions of the one praying with earnest integrity, the one who desires to “seek your good.” Praying to God for the benefit of others is a partnership, not an abdication of personal responsibility. We ask for God’s help so that we can be, at least in part, the answer to our prayer.

Lord, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem—and for my family and friends to know Your peace that passes all understanding.