Martin Luther on Psalms 122:8

Verse. 8. For my brethren and neighbours sakes, I will wish thee now prosperitie.

Here Dauid sheweth the cause, as he doth also in the verse following, why he prayeth thus for Ierusalem. As if he sayd: In that I wish that peace may be in thee o Ierusalem, in that I desire thy prosperity and welfare, I doe it for my brethren and neighbours sakes, that is, for my fellowes and companions in faith and religion. And here in his owne person he sheweth the commō complaint of all those that rule either in the church, or in the common weale, or in families, which is, that the greater part of men is euer peruerse and wicked. The godly pastour when he goeth about with great care & diligence to reforme the corrupt life and wickednes of the people, seeth notwithstanding that the more part stil remaineth peruerse & intractable. The Magistrate traueling with like care and diligence in his calling, findeth the people disobedient & incorrigible. Likewise is it in houshold gouernment. What vnfaithfull seruice shalt thou finde euen amongst those whom thou thoughtest to haue found most true and faithfull? Hereof it commeth that many are discomforted and vtterly discouraged, seeing so litle fruite and successe to ensue of their godly trauels. Notwithstanding we see it can not otherwise be: For Satan our perpetuall enemy ceaseth neither night nor day to stirre vppe discord and peruerse opinions in the Church: in the ciuil state stubborne and disobedient persons, in houshold gouernment, negligent and vnfaithfull families. Here we must looke with Dauid, not to the greater part, which is euer wicked, but to our brethren and neighbours. So doth Paule in the 2. Timoth. 3. For the elects sake I susteyne and suffer all things, sayth he. For if it were not for their sakes, who would willingly take vpon him the office of a pastour or preacher in the Church? These, the elect I meane, the Lorde hath here and there sparsed emong the wicked, as precious stones in the middes of the earth. Therfore thou must not think to preach to these only, which were to be wished: but that can not be because they are mixed with the vngodly multitude. Likewise, when thou art called to be a ciuill magistrate or a gouernour of a houshold, thou shalt not finde all to be precious stones, gold or siluer: but let it suffice thee if in a whole multitude (as it chaunceth in mynes) thou find but one veine of siluer, or emongst a great deale of earth but one precious stone. For the greatest part in the Church is hereticall & godles: the least part in the ciuill state obedient & louing of vertue. Hereof it commeth then, that al things are ful of trouble to the godly pastour, the Magistrate, the housholder, because the wicked with such successe contemne and disobey all godly orders.

Notwithstanding, thou man of God, stand in thy calling, do thy duetie, pray for peace, exhorte, counsel, reproue those whom thou hast charge ouer. For since that now by the word of God ye church is somewhat purged of false religion, superstition and idolatrie, & the Magistrates better instructed of their duety and office, Satan rageth as a strong armed man, keping his house when a stronger commeth. Be strong therefore in these tentations, and think that, as these things are not begun by the power of Satan, so though he rage against the same neuer so much, thou must not be discouraged or slacke the Lords busines: but first serue the Lord and then thy brethren and neighbours. For their sakes the Churches must be instructed, the common wealth gouerned: not for the worldes sake and the vngodly multitude, for it is not worthie that a theefe should be hanged, an adulterer or murderer put to death: but the Lord in heauen and our brethren & neighbours in earth are worthy of this seruice, as he addeth in the verse following. Thus I expounde this verse to be a consolation for pastours, ciuill Magistrates and gouernours of families, against the multitude of the wicked, and the trobles which by them the godly doe sustayne.