A woman walks into the bedroom and says, “It’s time to wake up and get ready for church, Johnny!” Johnny rolls over in bed and says, “I’m not going to church today!” The woman was surprised to hear that, so she asked what was wrong. Johnny starts to list reasons: “No one there likes me. All the old people glare at me whenever I say anything. The kids all laugh at me and make fun of me. I don’t feel good when I am there. So I’m not going to go today!” The woman sat on the edge of the bed quietly for a minute thinking, and then she replied, “I’m sorry you feel that way, Johnny, but you have to go to church today. After all, you are the pastor.”

When I came across that terribly old joke recently, I was reminded of the words of Psalm 122.

Psalm 122 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel. There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.

This is one of the “Songs of Ascents” which are understood to be songs that would be used by those making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This one is also a hymn of joy over Jerusalem, a prayer for the welfare of that city.

As I child, I memorized the first verse of that Psalm from the King James Version: “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” The NIV uses “rejoiced” instead of “was glad.” Both emphasize the positive nature of being in God’s house, the place where God dwells, where man comes to God and God comes to man. It is a place dedicated to praising God.

I would hope that first verse is still descriptive of God’s people today. There should be rejoicing as we come to God’s house. There is joy as we hear His Word. There is joy in knowing our sins were washed away in the sacrament of Baptism. There is joy in receiving with our family the body and blood of Christ to remind us that His death was for our sins. There is joy in being with our brothers and sisters in Christ for mutual support and edification. We remind one another that we are the ones for whom Christ died!  All of us.

May that rejoicing be yours today!