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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
JFB: Psa 122:1-2 - -- This Psalm might well express the sacred joy of the pilgrims on entering the holy city, where praise, as the religious as well as civil metropolis, is...
This Psalm might well express the sacred joy of the pilgrims on entering the holy city, where praise, as the religious as well as civil metropolis, is celebrated, and for whose prosperity, as representing the Church, prayer is offered. (Psa 122:1-9)
Clarke: Psa 122:1 - -- I was glad when they said - When Cyrus published an edict for their return, the very first object of their thanksgiving was the kindness of God in p...
I was glad when they said - When Cyrus published an edict for their return, the very first object of their thanksgiving was the kindness of God in permitting them to return to his ordinances.

Clarke: Psa 122:2 - -- Our feet shad stand - For seventy years we have been exiled from our own land; our heart was in Jerusalem, but our feet were in Chaldea. Now God has...
Our feet shad stand - For seventy years we have been exiled from our own land; our heart was in Jerusalem, but our feet were in Chaldea. Now God has turned our captivity, and our feet shall shortly stand within the gates of Jerusalem. What a transition from misery to happiness! and what a subject for rejoicing!
Calvin: Psa 122:1 - -- 1.I was glad when they said to me God had often told Moses, that his Sanctuary would one day have a certain and fixed place of abode; yet from the ti...
1.I was glad when they said to me God had often told Moses, that his Sanctuary would one day have a certain and fixed place of abode; yet from the time of Moses, for the space of more than a thousand years, the Ark of the Covenant had been carried about from place to place, as if it had been in a state of pilgrimage. At length it was revealed to David, that mount Zion was the spot where God would have his ark to be settled, and his temple built. Now, as David himself received this revelation with exceeding great joy, so he affirms that he was glad to find the whole people with one consent agreeing thereto. This circumstance has not been duly considered, and the consequence is, that interpreters have given the unhappy translation— I was glad with those that said to me. Such a rendering, however, only renders the sense a little obscure; but the translation of the Septuagint and the Vulgate, which puts upon the second verb of the verse a neuter signification, entirely vitiates the meaning, I was glad in the things which, were said to me. I indeed admit that literally the reading is— I was glad in those who said to me; but it is no uncommon thing for the letter

Calvin: Psa 122:2 - -- 2.Our feet shall be standing within thy gates, O Jerusalem! In the Hebrew text the verb is indeed in the past tense, which it would not be unsuitable...
2.Our feet shall be standing within thy gates, O Jerusalem! In the Hebrew text the verb is indeed in the past tense, which it would not be unsuitable to retain; but as it makes little difference as to the meaning whether the one reading or the other is adopted, I have no difficulty in leaving my readers to their own choice. David rehearses the language in which all the godly in common expressed themselves — that they should at length stand with sure footing in Jerusalem, because it was the will of God there to establish his Sanctuary, which hitherto had often changed its lodgings, and had been carried from place to place. By such a pilgrimage state of the ark, God reminded the people that he had not without cause spoken by Moses what I have a little ago adverted to. Thus, whenever the ark of the covenant was conveyed from one place to another, God thereby stirred up the hearts of his servants to desire and pray that a certain settled place might be appointed to it. Moreover, this fixing of its seat was not a matter of small moment. As while it was frequently changing its abode, the faith of the people hung in suspense, so after God had chosen for it a permanent residence, he by this testified more unequivocally that he would be the ever, lasting and unchangeable protector of his people. It is, therefore, not surprising to find the faithful gratefully acknowledging that their feet, which had hitherto been wont to run from place to place, should henceforth stand steadfast within the gates of Jerusalem. The ark, it is true, dwelt a long time in Shiloh, (1Sa 1:3,) but God having made no promise concerning that place, it could not be the permanent abode of that symbol of the divine presence. On the contrary, since, as we shall see on Psa 132:14, it was said of mount Zion — “This is my rest for ever,” the faithful, depending upon that promise, confidently boast that their feet shall hereafter be at rest and stand firm. Farther, as Christ,
“in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” (Col 2:9,)
and who is our true Immanuel, (Isa 7:14,) now resides amongst us, he has furnished us with matter of more abundant joy. We are, therefore, ungrateful and stupid, if that promise —
“Lo, I am wit you always, even unto the end of the world,”
(Mat 28:20,)
does not ravish us with exceeding joy, and especially if we see it in any place received publicly and with common consent. What I have just now quoted concerning the rest or repose of the Lord, has been at length accomplished in the person of Christ, as is evident from Isa 11:10 — “His rest shall be glorious;” where the Prophet does not speak of the burial of Christ, as some interpreters erroneously suppose, but of the future distinction of the Church.
TSK: Psa 122:1 - -- was glad : Psa 42:4, Psa 55:14, Psa 63:1-3, Psa 84:1, Psa 84:2, Psa 84:10, Psa 119:111
Let us go : Isa 2:3; Jer 31:6, Jer 50:4, Jer 50:5; Mic 4:2; Zec...
was glad : Psa 42:4, Psa 55:14, Psa 63:1-3, Psa 84:1, Psa 84:2, Psa 84:10, Psa 119:111
Let us go : Isa 2:3; Jer 31:6, Jer 50:4, Jer 50:5; Mic 4:2; Zec 8:21-23

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes: Psa 122:1 - -- I was glad - It was a subject; of joy to me. The return of the happy season when we were to go up to worship filled me with joy. The language i...
I was glad - It was a subject; of joy to me. The return of the happy season when we were to go up to worship filled me with joy. The language is expressive of the, happiness which is felt by those who love God and his sanctuary, when the stated season of worship returns. The heart is drawn to the house of prayer; the soul is filled with peace at the prospect of being again permitted to worship God. Who the speaker here is, is not known. It may have been David himself; more probably, however, it was designed by him to be used by those who should go up to worship, as expressive of their individual joy.
When they said unto me - When it was said unto me. When the time arrived. When I was invited by others to go. The announcement was joyful; the invitation was welcome. It met the desires of my heart, and I embraced the invitation cheerfully and joyfully.
Let us go into the house of the Lord - Up to the place where God dwells; the house which he has made his abode. If the psalm was composed in the time of David, this would refer to the tabernacle as fixed by him on Mount Zion; if at a later period, to the temple. The language will admit of either interpretation. Compare the notes at Isa 2:3.

Barnes: Psa 122:2 - -- Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem - We shall enter the sacred city. It appears now in full view before us - its walls, its pal...
Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem - We shall enter the sacred city. It appears now in full view before us - its walls, its palaces, its sacred places. We shall not stand and gaze upon it at a distance; we shall not merely be charmed with its beauty as we approach it; we shall accomplish the object of our desire, and enter within its walls and gates. So the believer approaches heaven - the New Jerusalem above. he will not merely admire its exterior, and look upon it at a distance; but he will enter in. He draws nearer and nearer to it, and as he approaches it when he is dying, its beauty becomes the more charming to his view, and the joy of his heart increases as he now feels the assurance that he will "stand within its gates:"that he will enter there, and dwell there forever. So said Dr. Payson, when approaching the end of life: "The celestial city is full in my view. Its glories beam upon me, its breezes fan me, its odors are wafted to me, its sounds strike upon my ears, and its spirit is breathed into my heart. Nothing separates me from it but the river of death, which now appears but as an insignificant rill, that may be crossed at a single step, whenever God shall give permission. The Sun of Righteousness has been gradually drawing nearer and nearer, appearing larger and brighter as he approached, and now he fills the whole hemisphere - pouring forth a flood of glory, in which I seem to float like an insect in the beams of the sun; exulting, yet almost trembling, while I gaze on this excessive brightness, and wondering with unutterable wonder why God should deign thus to shine upon a sinful worm."Works, i. 407. See also the exquisite description of the glories of heaven, familiar to all, as described by Bunyan, as the Christian pilgrims were about to cross the river of death.
Poole -> Psa 122:2
Poole: Psa 122:2 - -- Our feet shall stand thither we shall come, and there we shall make our abode during the times of solemn worship.
Within thy gates, O Jerusalem in ...
Our feet shall stand thither we shall come, and there we shall make our abode during the times of solemn worship.
Within thy gates, O Jerusalem in that city where the ark is now fixed. We shall wander no more from place to place, as the ark was removed.
A prayer in affliction, with confidence in God.

Haydock: Psa 122:1 - -- Canticle. Hebrew adds, "of David." (Haydock) ---
Syriac also attributes to him, though Zorobabel, &c., might recite it at their return. It may al...
Canticle. Hebrew adds, "of David." (Haydock) ---
Syriac also attributes to him, though Zorobabel, &c., might recite it at their return. It may also refer to the captives groaning under oppression, (Calmet) and to every Christian, who must live in expectation of a better country. (St. Augustine) (Berthier, T. viii.)

Haydock: Psa 122:2 - -- Masters. Expecting liberty, or rather food; though it may also imply that they are ready to run at the first sign, which they observe with attention...
Masters. Expecting liberty, or rather food; though it may also imply that they are ready to run at the first sign, which they observe with attention. Thus Menelaus had his eyes on Agamemnon. (Homer) (Calmet) ---
As servants, and particularly handmaids, are very attentive, and hope to receive sustenance, so we ought to pray with all earnestness to God for what is necessary. (Worthington) ---
All must come from Him. ---
Until. Or "waiting for his having mercy on us." We shall not cease to look up to Him afterwards. (Berthier) ---
"Take care not to turn thine eyes away from mine." (Terent. Adelph. ii. 1.)
Gill: Psa 122:1 - -- I was glad when they said unto me,.... Or, "I rejoiced in", or "because of, those that said unto me" b; or, "in what was said unto me". For it may reg...
I was glad when they said unto me,.... Or, "I rejoiced in", or "because of, those that said unto me" b; or, "in what was said unto me". For it may regard not only the time when he had this pleasure of mind, but the persons who gave it, as well as the ground and reason of the things said unto him, as follows:
let us go into the house of the Lord; the house of the sanctuary, as the Targum; the tabernacle, the place of divine worship, typical of the church of God; which is an house of his building, beautifying, and repairing, and where he dwells: it has all the essentiality of a house; its materials are lively stones; its foundation Christ; its pillars ministers of the word; the beams of it stable believers; its windows the ordinances; and the door into it faith in Christ, and a profession of it. Now it is both the duty and privilege of believers to go into it; here they find spiritual pleasure, enjoy abundance of peace and comfort, and have their spiritual strength renewed, as well as it is to their honour and glory: and it becomes them to stir up one another to go thither; some are slothful and backward; some are lukewarm and indifferent; some are worldly and carnally minded; and others are conceited of their knowledge, and think themselves wiser than their teachers, and therefore need to be excited to their duty; and truly gracious souls are glad when they are stirred up to it, both on their own account, and on the account of others, and because of the glory of God.

Gill: Psa 122:2 - -- Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Which is to be understood not merely literally of the city of Jerusalem, and of continuance in the...
Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Which is to be understood not merely literally of the city of Jerusalem, and of continuance in the possession of it, it being lately taken out of the hands of the Jebusites; but spiritually of the church of God, which is often called by this name; the gates of which are the same as the gates of Zion, and the gates of wisdom, the word and ordinances; attendance on which is signified by "standing": and which also denotes continuance therein: and happy are those that are within these gates, and have a comfortable assurance of their abiding there; and still more happy will they be who will be admitted within the gates of the New Jerusalem, which are said to be twelve, and every, one of them of one pearl; and through which none shall enter into the city but pure and holy persons, Rev 21:2.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Psa 122:1 Heb “in the ones saying to me.” After the verb שָׂמַח (samakh), the preposition בְּ ...

Geneva Bible: Psa 122:1 "A Song of degrees of David." I ( a ) was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
( a ) He rejoices that God had appointed...

Geneva Bible: Psa 122:2 Our ( b ) feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
( b ) Which were wont to wander to and fro, as the ark moved.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Psa 122:1-9
TSK Synopsis: Psa 122:1-9 - --1 David professes his joy for the church;6 and prays for the peace thereof.
MHCC -> Psa 122:1-5
MHCC: Psa 122:1-5 - --The pleasure and profit from means of grace, should make us disregard trouble and fatigue in going to them; and we should quicken one another to what ...
Matthew Henry -> Psa 122:1-5
Matthew Henry: Psa 122:1-5 - -- Here we have, I. The pleasure which David and other pious Israelites took in approaching to and attending upon God in public ordinances, Psa 122:1, ...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Psa 122:1-3
Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 122:1-3 - --
The preterite שׂמחתי may signify: I rejoice ( 1Sa 2:1), just as much as: I rejoiced. Here in comparison with Psa 122:2 it is a retrospect; fo...
Constable: Psa 107:1--150:6 - --V. Book 5: chs. 107--150
There are 44 psalms in this section of the Psalter. David composed 15 of these (108-110...

Constable: Psa 122:1-9 - --Psalm 122
David spoke of his delight in going up to the temple to worship God in this short psalm. He ex...
