Psalm 122:1-5

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” vs. 1

The Hebrew scriptures describe three annual pilgrimage festivals during which the faithful walked or rode to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the temple. As these crowds of pilgrims ascended to the city, singing psalms of praise to the Lord, their hearts would be light and full of joy. They were fulfilling the demands of the law and they were thrilled by the experience. The practice of traveling to Jerusalem for the festivals came to an end with the destruction of the temple, but early Christians continued to come together weekly for singing, prayers, and teaching, a tradition that has persisted to the present. For many the communal worship experience is a highlight of the week. People take delight in seeing one another and offering praise and thanksgiving to God…and sometimes they’re even happy to hear the sermons! This is a time to confess sins, feast together at the table of the Lord, and hear once again the glorious good news of forgiveness. For followers of Jesus worship is a glad and reverent occasion, and we come, not to be entertained, but to give public testimony to our faith…and to be spiritually recharged for our full-time ministry in the world. It truly is the central feature of our life together.

Thought for the Day: How glad am I when I hear the words, “Let’s go to church!”?