Praying for the Peace of Jerusalem: Psalm 122 as a Prayer
Learn how Psalm 122 calls God's people to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and how Christians today can pray it honestly and humbly.
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Psalm 122 is a pilgrim song. It was sung by Israelites traveling up to Jerusalem for worship. At its heart is a simple command: pray for the peace of Jerusalem. That command still stands for Christians today. But what does it mean? How do we pray it well? This article walks through Psalm 122 as a prayer, shows what the Bible says about Jerusalem, and helps you pray for its peace in a way that honors God and loves all people.
If you are grieving because of violence in Jerusalem or anywhere in the region — if you have lost someone, or you are afraid for someone you love — you are welcome here. You are welcome to come to Christ with your sorrow. He knows what it is to weep. This article is written for you too, gently.
What does Psalm 122 actually say?
Psalm 122 begins with joy:
A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” — Psalm 122:1 (BSB)
The pilgrim is glad to be going to worship. Then the psalm describes Jerusalem as a city where the tribes of Israel gather, where thrones of judgment sit, where God’s house stands. And in the middle of it, verse 6:
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you prosper.” — Psalm 122:6 (BSB)
The Hebrew word for peace here is shalom. It means more than the absence of war. It means wholeness, safety, flourishing, right relationships. To pray for Jerusalem’s peace is to pray that the city and its people would know God’s wholeness.
The psalm ends with a personal commitment:
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. — Psalm 122:8-9 (BSB)
The prayer is not passive. It is a vow to seek the good of the city.
Who is Jerusalem in this psalm for Christians today?
This is where faithful Christians differ, and it is worth being honest about that.
Some Christians read Psalm 122 as a prayer for the literal city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people. They point to passages like Genesis 17 and Romans 11, where God’s promises to Israel are described as lasting. For them, praying for Jerusalem’s peace means praying for the safety and flourishing of the modern city and its inhabitants, Jewish and Arab alike. They see this as a way of honoring God’s covenant faithfulness.
Other Christians read Jerusalem as a picture of the church. They point to passages like Galatians 4:26, where Paul speaks of “the Jerusalem above,” and Hebrews 12:22, which calls believers to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. In this reading, Psalm 122 becomes a prayer for the peace and unity of God’s people across the world. The command to pray for Jerusalem’s peace becomes a command to pray for the church’s unity and for the spread of the gospel.
Still others hold both together. They pray for the literal city and its people, and they also pray for the church, seeing the earthly Jerusalem as a shadow of the heavenly one.
What all sides agree on is this: Psalm 122 commands God’s people to pray for peace, not for victory of one group over another. The prayer is for shalom — wholeness, safety, flourishing — for all who live in that city and for all who belong to God’s people. No Christian tradition reads this psalm as a call to pray for harm to anyone.
How can you pray Psalm 122 without taking sides?
When you pray for Jerusalem, you are praying for a city where multiple faiths live side by side. You are praying for Jewish people, Arab people, Christians, Muslims, and others. The psalm calls you to ask God for peace for all of them.
Here is a simple way to pray through the psalm:
- Give thanks for the house of the Lord. Thank God for the places where His people gather to worship Him. Ask Him to make your own church a place of peace.
- Pray for the peace of the city. Ask God to protect the innocent, to comfort the grieving, to provide for the poor, and to bring justice where there is oppression. Pray for leaders to act with wisdom and mercy.
- Pray for the peace of the church. Ask God to unite believers in love, to heal divisions, and to make His people a light to the nations.
- Commit yourself to seek good. The psalm ends with a vow: “I will seek your prosperity.” Ask God to show you how to seek the good of others, even those you find hard to love.
You can pray this in your own words, or use the words of the psalm itself. The point is not to have perfect words. The point is to bring your heart before God and ask Him to do what only He can do: bring peace.
What does the rest of the Bible say about praying for peace?
The Bible speaks often about peace. Psalm 120, the song right before Psalm 122, says:
I am in favor of peace; but when I speak, they want war. — Psalm 120:7 (BSB)
The psalmist knows what it is to live among people who hate peace. Yet he still chooses peace.
Psalm 72 prays for a king who will bring justice and peace:
May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness. — Psalm 72:3 (BSB)
That prayer points forward to Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Jesus Himself said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9). And He wept over Jerusalem, longing for its peace even as He knew the city would reject Him (Luke 19:41-42).
Paul wrote that believers should live at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on them (Romans 12:18). Praying for peace is not just a feeling. It is a commitment to live peaceably, to speak peaceably, and to ask God for peace.
How does this psalm point us to Christ?
Psalm 122 is about a city, a temple, and a throne. All three point to Jesus. He is the true temple (John 2:19-21). He is the true King from David’s line (Luke 1:32-33). And He is the one who makes peace between God and people: “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14).
When you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, you are praying for the peace that only Christ can give. That peace is not a political treaty. It is a person. And one day, He will return and establish a kingdom of perfect peace. Until then, we pray, we seek good, and we trust Him.
A prayer for the peace of Jerusalem
Lord, I come to You with the words of Psalm 122. I am glad for the places where Your people gather to worship You. I ask for the peace of Jerusalem — true peace, Your shalom, for all who live there. Protect the innocent. Comfort those who mourn. Bring justice where there is wrong. Give wisdom to those in authority. Unite Your church in love. And help me to seek the good of others, not just my own. I pray this in the name of Jesus, who is our peace. Amen.
Questions to sit with
- When you pray for Jerusalem, what do you picture? Does that picture include all the people who live there?
- How can you seek the good of your own city this week, in a small, practical way?
- What would change in your prayers if you asked God for shalom — wholeness — rather than just the absence of conflict?
God, I want to pray for peace. Not just for people I agree with, but for all. Teach me to pray Psalm 122 honestly. Give me a heart that seeks the good of others. Help me to trust You with the things I cannot fix. And let Your peace rule in my heart, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Common questions
Does Psalm 122 mean I should pray for the modern state of Israel?
Christians differ on this. Some read Psalm 122 as a prayer for the literal city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people, pointing to passages like Romans 11. Others read Jerusalem as a picture of the church, pointing to Hebrews 12:22. Many hold both views together. What all agree on is that the psalm calls us to pray for peace for all who live there, not for one side to win.
How do I pray for the peace of Jerusalem when the situation is so complicated?
You can start by praying through the psalm itself. Ask God for shalom — wholeness, safety, and flourishing — for all people in the city. Pray for the innocent, the grieving, and the poor. Pray for leaders to act with wisdom. You do not need to understand every political detail to pray honestly.
Is it wrong to pray for one side in a conflict?
Psalm 122 does not tell us to pray for one group to defeat another. It tells us to pray for peace. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). Praying for peace means asking God to bring His wholeness to everyone involved, and asking Him to show you how to be a peacemaker where you are.