It was a privilege to attend Loch Broom and Coigach Free Church in Ullapool last Sunday morning. At the end of the service we enjoyed a short conversation with one of the local Christians. My wife, Liz, asked how things were going in the church and the gentleman responded positively. He then said that when believers thrive in their faith, the church thrives and the community in turn will be blessed. I’ve mulled that thought over in my mind all week.
➤ Am I thriving in my walk with God?
➤ Indeed, what does a growing and flourishing faith in the Lord Jesus look like?
➤ And how will the corporate life of the church be enriched if we are, to quote the apostle Paul, rooted and built up in Christ, strengthened in the faith, and overflowing with thankfulness (Colossians 2:6,7)?
The next step on our pilgrimage (Psalm 122) offers some answers to those questions.
However, before we get there, I found it helpful to note the huge contrast in the spiritual life of the psalmist in Psalm 120 and David in Psalm 122 (It will only take a couple of minutes to read both psalms).
Psalm 120 finds the psalmist living in “the tents of Kebar” among those who were opposed to God.
Psalm 122 introduces us to King David as he joins the crowds of God’s people as they worship together “in the house of the Lord” (120:5).
From this I must learn that a believer who is thriving in their faith recognises that who they choose to keep company with will go a long way in determining the health of their relationship with God.
At an even more fundamental level Psalm 122 revolves around David’s appreciation of the Lord. The house of the Lord and the praise of the Lord occupy his attention.
David is thriving on:
➡️ Fellowship that is centred on God
He is walking in step with those who share his aspiration to meet in Jerusalem for one of the great annual festivals. The Lord had set out his instructions for this purpose, “according to the statute given to Israel” (verse 4), and now they are united in a fellowship that has the Lord and his commands at the centre.
A later “song of ascents” will say, “how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity” (133:1). Jesus prayed for this reality and therefore Christians today must work with eagerness to make it happen (see John 17:20-26).
He is secondly, thriving on…
➡️ Worship that is focused on God
The unity of purpose which exudes from this psalm finds it ultimate focus in the Lord himself. All of God’s people meet in Jerusalem to “praise the name of the Lord” (verse 4). When the Lord is the focus of our worship then a sense of harmony exists between his people.
And finally, David is thriving on…
➡️ Prayer that is directed to God
The final four verses come with added poignancy given the unfolding tragedy in the region in which this psalm is set. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (verse 6). Our prayers for peace must include a request for justice for those who have perpetrated so much suffering. After all, David reminds us that “the thrones of judgment stand” in Jerusalem (verse 5).
God’s honour is the highest motivation in all our prayers (verse 9).
I am sure that God’s purpose for his people is that their fellowship, worship and prayer prayer life would find its ultimate fulfilment in him. In other words, that we grow, develop and flourish into the people God created us to be.
(Picture - Handa Island)
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