Psalm 122

Many Christians are very into praying for the safety of Jerusalem, and it's because of passages like Psalm 122. 

This is a song of ascents.  Now, I haven't studied this in detail; but my understanding is that the songs of ascents were sung during a Jew's annual pilgrimage to the Temple (which, by the time of Christ, was usually happening around Passover time, but could theoretically be at the time of one of the other festivals, or even when there was no particular festival). 

In verse 1 we get that intriguing line: "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'"

Okay, we'll stop there for a moment.  I envy the psalmist (David in this case) for his evident joy  at visiting the House of the Lord (which at this time would have been the Tabernacle, the portable temple the Jews had carried through the wilderness). 

As a leader in the Church, I seldom have that joy when it's time for church[1] (though thankfully, being a member of a really strong and really close-knit church, I'm always glad that I've been there).  My mind is often elsewhere - conversations I have to make, equipment I have to set up, sermons I have to preach, that sort of thing.  All good things, but things which can detract from your ability to be present. 

David had no such drama. He knew exactly why he was there.  It's a good lesson for us - we need to remember what we're there for when we gather together to worship!  My Sunday sermon spoke of the Gruen transfer, when we forget the reason for our visit (typically to a shopping centre).  Don't let things we do FOR Church blind us to the reasons we are involved in a Church!

A second thought: This passage after that is largely a love poem to Jerusalem.  Many Christians are really into Jerusalem.  There is almost an idea that whatever Jerusalem does, it's okay -they're the Chosen people, right?

I'm not so sure.  I definitely pray for the peace of Jerusalem, but . .

. . . Well, what if the leadership of Jerusalem decide to do something that is wrong?

A Christian should support righteousness and oppose evil in all its forms.  And that includes if the people we love - the Jews, the original Holy people of God - have chosen to do what is wrong.

[1] And yes, I'm well aware that the experience of visiting the Jerusalem Temple was not the same as going to Church each week.  But in the above scenario, the way we think about each is most likely similar.