Psalm 122 depicts the joy of a person on the way to the house of the Lord. The verses are filled with gladness and expectation. It's one of the fifteen Songs of Ascents — which are thought to have been recited by people walking up the steps to the temple in Jerusalem.
Spiritually, looking forward is very powerful, as we anticipate knowing more of the Lord, living according to His Word, and experiencing the joys of eternal life.
Much of this psalm is devoted to the city of Jerusalem. The city is celebrated, and the psalmist prays for its peace and prosperity. Here, 'Jerusalem' stands for the church and its doctrine about God and how to live. (See New Jerusalem 6.) It also stands for the Lord's spiritual kingdom. (See Arcana Caelestia 7573[3])
To 'go into the house of the Lord' represents our desire and intention to belong to the Lord and to serve Him. To 'go into' signifies the journey we need to make for this to come about. (See Arcana Caelestia 8722)
The next verse portrays our arrival: 'Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!' Here, 'Feet' stand for several things: our actions that stem from our spiritual intentions, a firm resolve, and a sense of spiritual place. (See Apocalypse Explained 606)
The middle verses deal with Jerusalem as a compact city, which stands for doctrine and true teaching. The tribes of Israel go up to the city to give thanks, which represents a concentrated devotion to the Lord. The 'thrones' spoken of twice in verse 5 symbolize judgements based on Divine truth. (See Apocalypse Explained 134)
Next follows a prayer for the peace of Jerusalem and the prosperity of those who love it. Spiritually, the peace of Jerusalem represents the unity and power of all our beliefs in the Lord. This consequently brings wholeness and healing to us. (See New Jerusalem 185 and Divine Love and Wisdom 367)
The psalm ends much as it began, returning to the picture of the house of the Lord, 'I will now say, Peace be within you. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.'
We, too, go full circle as we go through through the continual process of spiritual growth and rebirth, and the development of a new will. (See Apocalypse Explained 242[4])
