Psalm 122:3-4:
3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city that is compacted together -- 4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed and as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the Name of the LORD.
The first time I read verse 3, I thought it was referring to the closeness of everything within the Old City of Jerusalem. Even the new part of the city is not expanding, but being built from the outside in! They have set the outer limits of the city, and homes are being built from there inward towards the Old City. But that it NOT what this word means! The phrase "that is compacted" is the Hebrew word "chabar", which means: to join, to couple together, to unite, to bind together, to be joined, to be in league, to have fellowship with, to make an ally of, to make an alliance, to join forces. Under the Old Covenant, Jerusalem was to be the capitol city where the Temple was located and where the tribes would gather together, united in the worship of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God! Under our New Covenant, we are to join together with the nation of Israel in worship of the One, True God; in prayer for the protection, provision and safety of the people, the city and the nation; in standing against all of the works and workers of darkness who would seek to steal, kill and destroy what belongs to God alone! Jerusalem should NEVER be divided! There should NOT be a mosque in the middle of the Temple Mount, and it will NOT be there much longer! God will not allow the enemy to roam this city forever! The Messiah WILL return and set His feet on the Mount of Olives. He will then walk right through the Beautiful Gate as the King and Ruler of Jerusalem, of Israel and of the entire world! Come quickly, LORD Jesus! What do we do in the meantime? Verses 6-7:
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]! 7 May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces!
I also love the Message Bible for these verses:
6 Pray for Jerusalem's peace!
Prosperity to all you Jerusalem-lovers!
7 Friendly insiders, get along!
Hostile outsiders, keep your distance!
In your study of 1 Corinthians 11, I will first refer you to Galatians 3:28:
28 There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Temper everything you read in this chapter with the verse from Galatians and you will see that the traditional interpretations are seriously lacking in Truth! One key word here is found in verse 2:
2 I appreciate and commend you because you always remember me in everything and keep firm possession of the traditions, just as I have [verbally] passed them on to you.
The word "traditions" here and "ordinances" in the KJV is the Greek word "paradosis", which means: transmission, a precept, tradition, specifically the Jewish traditionary law. This is exactly the same word that Jesus used in Matthew 15:6b when He said this:
6b Thus have you made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
Do not let the "traditions" of men rob YOU of the effect of the genuine Truth found in the Word of God! Allow the Holy Spirit to teach YOU what the Word is saying about your own life! Live the life God intended you to live, free from the burden of anyone's tradition! Preach the Word is the commandment given to EVERY believer! AMEN!
In Joshua 17-18 we see Joshua exhorting the tribes to go up and take the land that God had promised them! Some of them had not yet taken their land and he said this to them in Joshua 18:3:
3 Joshua said to the Israelites, How long will you be slack to go in and possess the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?
It was THEIR job to POSSESS what God had already provided! They had to have faith that when they moved, God would act on their behalf! He never failed to, WHEN they did things His way! Now THIS is one of many things that the Word of God says about US in 1 Peter 2:9:
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Shalom in Him!
