Prayers for the City

Psalm 122 appears within a broader collection of psalms referred to as the “songs of ascent.” These are a collection of shorter psalms Jewish people sang as they journeyed to Jerusalem for the major annual festivals. These psalms were intended to reorient people’s hearts toward God and his work in their lives and community. This psalm encouraged God’s people to pray for Jerusalem, which was at the heart of God’s work among them. Jerusalem served as home to the temple, making it the hot spot of God’s presence. The spiritual prosperity of the nation was linked closely with the well-being and peace of Jerusalem...