Psalm 122 opens with a familiar and beloved verse for many: “I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of YHWH”. This Psalm is one of 15 Psalms called “Songs of Ascent” which were sung by those who were going up to the Lord’s house for worship in the Old Testament. This verse and the ones following it teach us some important things about worship. Take for example :4, “The tribes go up, even the tribes of The Lord – an ordinance for Israel – to give thanks to the name of the Lord.” Look at what this 4th verse teaches us about worship then and now:

–WHO is to go up to the Lord’s house to worship? :4 says “the tribes of the Lord”. Those who belong to God, who have been redeemed by Him, and who are in a covenant relationship with Him are the ones who go up to His house! Do not be surprised that those who do not know God, do not go up to worship. They have no reason to! But those who are the Lord’s people are very desirous of going. In fact, whether or not you really desire to go to worship is one of the best indicators of whether or not you are genuinely saved. Like David, are you “glad” to go to the house of The Lord? Then you have reason to believe that you are of “the tribes of the Lord.”

–WHY do they go up? :4 continues: “An ordinance for Israel”. Although there are many good reasons to want to go to worship, a primary one is that God commands it. Hebrews 10:25 takes up this theme in the New Testament and instructs us not to forsake the assembly for worship as is the habit of some. Going to worship is STILL an ordinance for the people of God.

–WHAT do they do when they go up? :4 says, “to give thanks to the name of YHWH”. We don’t go to church just to be “seen” or to please others — or even to “feel good” ourselves. Rather we go to give God the thanks that He deserves for all He has done for us: most importantly the gift of Jesus’ death on the cross which bought our salvation, and His resurrection from the dead, which proves that He has the power to grant us eternal life.

In God’s providence I read this Psalm after an extended illness, but on a Sunday morning in which I felt well enough to get up and go to Bible Study for the first time in months. My heart leaped for joy when I read the opening words of the Psalm: “I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord.” Yes, indeed! If you belong to the Lord, then don’t take this precious privilege for granted. Let Psalm 122 be your joyful “Song of Ascent” as you go to the Lord’s house of worship today! Say to your own soul: “I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord!