I Was Glad When They Said, Let Us Go

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1. Observe

   What three functions does Jerusalem serve (vv. 4-5)?

   • Trade, defense, agriculture
   • Gathering point for the tribes; place where they give thanks to Yahweh's name; seat of David's thrones of judgment — unity, worship, and justice
   • Only worship
   • Only judgment

2. Observe

   What motivations are given for seeking Jerusalem's peace (vv. 8-9)?

   • Personal benefit only
   • For my brothers' and companions' sakes; for the sake of the house of Yahweh our God — others' wellbeing and God's honor
   • Political advantage
   • None

3. Interpret

   What does anticipated worship as joy reveal?

   • That worship is dreaded
   • That worship is irrelevant
   • That worship-readiness includes affection — the believer who is glad when invited to worship has already begun to receive what worship offers; this gladness is the fruit of an already-living relationship with God and his people, not a feeling to be manufactured at the door; honest examination may reveal whether one experiences this gladness or merely religious duty in the prospect of corporate worship
   • That worship should be avoided

4. Interpret

   What does it say about prayer that its motivation is others' wellbeing and God's honor?

   • That self-interest should rule prayer
   • That such motivations are wrong
   • That mature prayer transcends private interest, including the wellbeing of others and the honor of God among its motivations; this expands the prayer-life from "what I want" to "what's good for them and what honors God"; it also dignifies prayer as participation in God's larger purposes, not mere personal request; the praying soul becomes aligned with God's heart for others and his honor
   • That motivations don't matter

5. Apply

   How does v. 1's gladness apply to engagement with the local church?

   • The church is irrelevant
   • Gladness has no place in church
   • The local church is the new covenant gathering of God's people around Christ, and the same anticipation that drew the pilgrim to Jerusalem belongs to the believer's preparation for corporate worship; honest examination may reveal that one approaches church as obligation rather than joy; cultivating gladness involves remembering what is actually happening (God meeting his people), inviting others (the verse begins "when they said to me"), and arriving expectant rather than dutiful
   • Anticipation is impossible

6. Apply

   What does it mean to love and seek the good of one's local church beyond attendance?

   • Mere attendance is sufficient
   • Loving is unimportant
   • Active investment in the church's flourishing — serving in roles that may be unseen, praying specifically for fellow members and leaders, contributing financially, welcoming newcomers, addressing tensions for reconciliation, supporting the church's mission beyond personal preference; attendance is presence, but love is investment in the community's good; the verse promises that those who love (not just attend) will prosper
   • Criticism is loving

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