Psalm 122
Text: Psalm 122 Anthem: Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918)
I was glad when they said unto me : We will go into the house of the Lord.
· Our feet shall stand in thy gates : O Jerusalem.
· Jerusalem is built as a city : that is at unity in itself.
· For thither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord : to testify unto Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord.
· For there is the seat of judgement : even the seat of the house of David.
· O pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper that love thee.
· Peace be within thy walls : and plenteousness within thy palaces.
· For my brethren and companions' sakes : I will wish thee prosperity.
· Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God : I will seek to do thee good.
Tr. KJV 1611
MEDITATION
(Time for some Anglican pomp and circumstance. Especially now since such services cannot be held, unfortunately.)
Psalm 122 has been used forever when people have gone to worship. It is a phrase people use when they talk about having gone or being invited to worship. I was glad….
The psalm is for the Israelites going to the temple to pray for peace, the peace of Jerusalem. This psalm has been central to the coronations of the English royals for centuries. It has been used ever since Charles I was crowned in 1625. He would later be beheaded by the government of Oliver Cromwell in 1649 for his highhandedness with the Parliament—his espousal of the theory of the divine right of kings did not win him much support from the people, nor did his Catholic sympathies. But the tradition of the psalm being sung has continued from then on.
In the videos below we get to see the most lavish, gorgeous settings of the Psalm in Westminster Abbey with everyone dressed to the nines. There was a time when people dressed up for church because it was special and they had been wearing work clothes all week. During my childhood we had to wear our Sunday clothes all day, until supper.
Whether or not we will dress up to go to church when the churches finally open fully, the point will not be what we are wearing on the outside, but how we are dressed on the inside. Because of Jesus we are clothed in his righteousness and can be with him and his father anytime. And no matter where we enter, and with what kind of outer preparation, I am sure that that day will fill us with joy. We will be glad, all of us, to step into the church building, no matter how simple, and hear in our inmost hearts, the majestic sounds of this piece and feel like royalty because we are the children of a king. Christ has made every preparation for us to feel at home, even giving us a royal robe to wear. Let the trumpets sound!
HYMN INFO
When the monarchy was restored and Charles II was crowned king in 1660 this psalm was used but with different music. It has been set by many of the greatest English composers. Hubert Parry, whose "Jerusalem" is probably more well known, wrote the anthem that has been used since the coronation of Edward VII.
It took a couple of coronations for Parry to get it right. He was Professor of Music at Oxford and many regret that his administrative work took him away from his composing. To see more on Parry read HYMN 173 "Jerusalem" and see that hymn sung at the royal weddings as well.
LINKS
60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's reign
The Royal Wedding of William and Catherine
The coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth/ go to 14:00
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in b/w then color