Daily Lesson for July 2, 2019

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Psalm 122

1 I was glad when they said to me, *

"Let us go to the house of the Lord."

2 Now our feet are standing *

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is built as a city *

that is at unity with itself;

4 To which the tribes go up,

the tribes of the Lord, *

the assembly of Israel,

to praise the Name of the Lord.

5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *

the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *

"May they prosper who love you.

7 Peace be within your walls *

and quietness within your towers.

8 For my brethren and companions' sake, *

I pray for your prosperity.

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, *

I will seek to do you good."

Today’s Lesson is a word about our cities and our need to pray for them. 

We know so many of our cities are so plagued by violence and crime. They are plagued by generational poverty, lack of quality education, insufficient resources, systemic injustice, and deep mistrust. The summertime sees tensions rise. 

The Psalmist this morning prays for his city. He inspires us all to pray for our own cities also— to pray for peace, for prosperity, for unity, for justice, for all neighborhoods, and all residents. 

I pray this morning for my own City of Fort Worth. I ask that you pray for you own city.  And this July 4 week I ask that we all pray for the National City, Washington, DC. 

“Jerusalem is built as a city that is at unity with itself,” the Psalmist wrote. So, too, may our cities be built and rebuilt also.