Isa 122:1-9 “In My Father’s House are Many Mansions”

Psa 122:1  A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
Psa 122:2  Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
Psa 122:3  Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
Psa 122:4  Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
Psa 122:5  For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
Psa 122:6  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Psa 122:7  Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
Psa 122:8  For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
Psa 122:9  Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

In this nine-verse study entitled “In my Father’s house are many mansions”, we will look at why “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” of the first verse and consider that God’s word says that it is “Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good”.

Verse 9 explains where our joy is found in this life (1Th 2:19-20), our reward (Rev 3:11), our inheritance (Col 1:12, Eph 1:14) found in Christ and His body, “In my Father’s house” where there “are many mansions”, and it is because of the desire that God has given us that we “seek thy good” (what we do when we “seek thy good”: Joh 6:44, Php 2:13-14) and have gladness of heart in His house (Jer 29:13-14, Heb 11:6, Mat 6:33).

1Th 2:19  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
1Th 2:20  For ye are our glory and joy.

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. [2Ki 18:6-7]

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Joh 6:43  Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jer 29:14  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The “house of the LORD our God” is you and I and everyone who believes that Jesus Christ is LORD over that house and are blessed to hear the words of our Lord (Act 2:36, 1Jn 4:6, Luk 6:46), in a house that Christ identifies as “my Father’s house” where there are “many mansions” and where the true worshippers of God are worshipping him in spirit and in truth (Joh 4:24).

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

This Psalm 122 is really an exposé of what is in that house of God and how that temple is being built without hands to witness His greatness in the earth.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Act 7:48  Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

1Ki 6:7  And the house, when it was in building [Solomon’s temple], was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron [Zec 4:6] heard in the house, while it was in building. [We are a peculiar people hidden in the Lord where this work of God is taking place (1Pe 2:9, Col 3:3).]

The remainder of this section of chapter 6 of the book of Kings talks about the building of Solomon’s temple, and you will notice the number 5 and multiples of 5 which are represented by the gold that covers practically every section of this temple. The gold is symbolic of the trial of our faith that is precious to God (1Pe 1:7) and comes by way of God’s favor and mercy which is connected to grace and faith that we know is represented by the number five (1Ki 6:8-38).

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

This temple of Solomon and all the temples built over time in Jerusalem are symbolic of the body of Christ and the process of our being built up by the Lord and becoming a new creation together as one temple that worships God in spirit and truth (Joh 4:24). There are many members or many mansions, but there is only one body (1Co 10:17). Our lives in the Lord are fitly framed to His glory and honor and are being built together to one day be revealed to all the world (Isa 66:8, 1Co 15:52, Oba 1:21) as a unified body of believers who have love toward one another and understand that that love is manifested in an obedience to God’s commandments in which He has given us the power to obey and abide.

1Co 10:17  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Hab 1:5  Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Psa 122:1  A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

It’s important to note that when we “go into the house of the LORD” the relationship that we are learning of with Christ and His body is one that is understood in “degrees”^H4609. Those “degrees” of growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord are expressed in many ways through the body of Christ that has many diverse gifts which are given for the express purpose of bringing each of us into this mature sonship of God through Jesus Christ, in degrees, “To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

1Co 12:4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit^G4851 withal. [Gal 6:2]

Profit: G4851 sumpherō soom-fer’-o

From G4862 and G5342 (including its alternate); to bear together (contribute), that is, (literally) to collect, or (figuratively) to conduce; especially (neuter participle as noun) advantage: – be better for, bring together, be expedient (for), be good, (be) profit (-able for).

2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. [“but God that giveth the increase”]

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Co 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

We are glad when we go into the household of God because it is only in his house that we can truly grow and change (Heb 13:10), and so we are commanded for our good to come together often so that we can mature with the blessed communion that we have with the body of Christ.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Psa 122:2  Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

The “diversities of gifts” and the “differences of administrations” along with the “diversities of operations” in the church we mentioned earlier in 1Corinthians 12:4-7 are being used of God to help clothe us with His righteousness day by day as we die daily and overcome the powers and principalities we are constantly wrestling against. It is with that spiritual suit of armour that having done all we can then stand. “Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem” is granted to those who were called to overcome together in this age through Jesus Christ where we are seated with Him in heavenly places, able to overcome because of our Lord who gives us the power to do so (Eph 2:6, Rom 8:37).

Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Eph 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Psa 122:3  Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

When every joint supplies “according to the effectual working in the measure of every part” to make “increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph 4:16) we become “a city that is compact together”. God uses our trials and the cares of this world to teach us how to wash each other’s feet, or bear each other’s burdens. Again, “Jerusalem is builded”, that is Jerusalem above is builded, when we bear each other’s burden and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit^G4851 withal. [Gal 6:2]

[Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.]

Psa 122:4  Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.

God is preparing our hearts to “go up”, meaning to be a witness to the world as “the testimony of Israel” (Psa 78:5), and the reference in this verse to “the tribes of the LORD” is a shadow of the elect which we see expressed in the book of James with these verses (Jas 1:1-3) that are witnessed to in Genesis (Gen 49:28) in this type and shadow event that was written for God’s elect (1Pe 1:12). We “go up” as the tribes of the Lord by being sore-pressed and separated from the world, to become a peculiar people to His glory (1Pe 2:9). We are scattered and few to the glory of our Great God (Luk 12:32).

Psa 78:5  For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: [Those who will be eventually judged by the elect and brought up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (1Co 6:3, Eph 6:4).]

Jas 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Gen 49:28  All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

What should manifest in our life now as a witness to the fact that we are his sons (1Jn 3:1), who are being led by his spirit (Rom 8:14-16) where there is liberty (2Co 3:17), is a spirit of thanks and the sacrifice of praise on our lips for these wonderful works that He is doing unto the children of men (Psa 107:30-31). That is the fruit on our lips that is manifested as a result of our being given the power to lay down our lives as a living sacrifice unto God.

Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Psa 122:5  For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

One of the main reasons we are beseeched of Paul to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” is so that through a lifetime of sacrifice and dying daily, the mind of Christ can be formed within us so that those “set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David” can be established.

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. [“set thrones of judgment”]
1Pe 5:11  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Jas 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. (What it means to live – Php 2:13) [To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.]

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Psa 122:6  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Having done all, we stand, and while we are standing in the Lord we are praying always, being committed to each other and the purpose for which we are called. Since we are granted to lay our life down for each other, we end up being blessed because those who are being blessed in the spirit are those who are loving Christ not just in word but in deed as we lay down our life for one another. The end result of being a living sacrifice in this age is to prosper spiritually. The “peace of Jerusalem” comes as a result of an obedient spirit that learns obedience by the things which we suffer.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Psa 122:7  Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.

If God is for us, nothing shall separate us from His love, not the wars and rumors of wars, not the famine in the world which holds back humanity from the whole stay of bread and water by God’s decree (Isa 3:1), and certainly not because of Satan or any other angel of light that may try to take our crown. None of this is possible because He who is in us is greater than him who is in the world (1Jn 4:4). Christ is the reason we have “Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces”.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory [“prosperity within thy palaces“] of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure [“prosperity within thy palaces“] in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Psa 122:8  For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

A tree is known by its fruits, Christ tells us, and because we are friends and no longer servants, as we have discussed earlier, we can be assured that His peace is “within thee”, and because of that peaceful spirit, we can have companionship in the Lord and a love and gratitude for what God does within His house. These verses in the book of John are very fitting and remind us of our high calling in Him and how blessed we are to know our faithful Creator and Father is fulfilling these verses in our life even at this hour.

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Psa 122:9  Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

It is because of what God does through each of us, that we are inspired and motivated, and comforted, and able to endure through this life of much tribulation. God has designed it this way to his glory, and to demonstrate to the world how precious and important Christ’s bride is who has been washed and made ready to do the work of being saviors who come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau (Oba 1:21). We are judged first and that judgment is God’s goodness being ministered toward us today (Rom 2:4) so that we can help graft in the rest of the world tomorrow.

“Because of the house of the LORD our God” that is being formed within his elect bride today “I will seek thy good” and learn with each of you that “In my Father’s house are many mansions”.