Psalm 122

My name is Daniel Oyedapo. I have attended Fellowship since 2003, with the exception of time spent away at college and the two years I lived in Tucson. I am a member of the Young Adults Leadership Team, a Table Leader for STEPS, and a participant in a men’s life group.

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Psalm 122 is a psalm by David and one of the so-called “Songs of Ascents,” which were sung by the Israelites as they made the trek up the mountains to enter Jerusalem on their way to the Tabernacle (and eventually the Temple in Solomon’s time). From the beginning, it is clear that this psalm is meant to hype one another up in preparation for worshipping the Lord together: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1, ESV).

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David, the “man after God’s own heart,” is clearly expressing eagerness to draw as close as possible to God’s presence and to worship Him alongside the congregation. At the same time, David shows a lack of pretense. As king, it is amusing to imagine him looking forward to being invited by a random worshipper. But to David, in the presence of the Lord, nothing matters except giving God glory—no matter who the invitation comes from.

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We can also see David’s heart for fellow believers in the exhortations and prayers he offers for Jerusalem in verses 6–9, “for the sake of the house of the Lord our God.” Taking time to consider how worship was conducted when this psalm was written helps us better appreciate both the tremendous blessing and responsibility we have today. The people of Israel would gather either to participate in one of three annual festivals (Passover, the Feast of Weeks/First Harvest, or the Feast of Tabernacles), or to bring offerings to the Lord, often for forgiveness. Everyone gathered around the Most Holy Place, which represented God’s presence, yet they relied on priests to communicate with God on their behalf.

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Now, thanks to the work of Jesus on the cross, we can commune with our Father directly and know that He hears us. However, something that has not changed is our accountability to one another. After all, we are created in God’s image—so is it not reasonable that we would reflect the eternal community of the Trinity and look after one another’s good? Jesus gave us the ultimate example by laying down His life to save His family: all who believe in Him as Lord and as sufficient to pay the price for our sins.

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When I was very young, I have fond memories of Bible stories, songs, and memory verses from attending the African church my family went to before coming to Fellowship. At the same time, I remember the drama that often surrounded going to and coming from church, and there were seasons when church felt more like a chore—or even a burden—depending on my mood. It is no coincidence that I also failed to appreciate the importance and power of Christian fellowship well into adulthood. My family often had little interaction with fellow churchgoers outside of Sunday services, largely due to fear of gossip or judgment.

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It took time, but I eventually learned—through difficult experience—that the fellowship of believers is not merely a bonus, but essential to the spiritual life of a follower of Christ. After hitting rock bottom following years of isolating myself out of shame, I lived out the warning of Ecclesiastes 4:10: “…woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Thankfully, God led me into community again, which eventually brought me back to Fellowship and into renewed growth in the Lord. The Spirit-filled young adult community here has helped me appreciate both the Lord and the gift of worshipping and communing with Him. In turn, growing in the Lord has helped me better appreciate and care for the church community.

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Fellowship has walked with me through truly difficult seasons—even through loss—reminding me of the goodness and hope we have in the Lord. By God’s grace, I have also had opportunities to do the same for others. I am grateful that you would take time to reflect with me on the joy of worshipping in community. Let us continue to glorify the Lord together—and I would be happy to say all of this to you in person on Sunday.