Psalm 122:1-9 “A Song of Ascents. By David. I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let’s go to the LORD’s house!’ Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, even the LORD’s tribes, according to an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to the LORD’s name. For there are set thrones for judgement, the thrones of David’s house. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper. Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces. For my brothers’ and companions’ sakes, I will now say, ‘Peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.”

Jerusalem is where the Israelites would go to offer sacrifices and to give thanks to God. Of course God’s people would pray for the peace of the city. The temple was there!

The Israelites have been oppressed and lied about for generation after generation. It certainly makes sense that we should pray for the Jewish people today. But we don’t have to worry about where we worship God. Anywhere we bow the knee to God is where we worship. Anywhere we gather to pray, praise, and study is where we engage in corporate worship!

John 4:21-24 “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship that which you don’t know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ ”

Since we understand the difference that Jesus brings to our worship, these verses should also encourage us to pray for other believers (since they are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit), pray for our local church (which is where we go to meet God corporately), pray for the persecuted and suffering church (because they desperately need peace), and long for and pray for the return of Jesus and the advent of the heavenly Jerusalem where we will all dwell!

Revelation 21:9-14 “One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls which were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, ‘Come here. I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; having a great and high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.”

For additional worship: Revelation Song