A Zeal for Worship and the Oath of God

Psalm 132 Sunday, May 17, 2020

These of Ascent speak to our hearts in this season. In Psalm 132 we find a reminder of our heart for worship. We also get to look again at the promises of God.

Psalm 132 is about the desire to see the Ark of the Covenant placed in the temple in Jerusalem. The first half of the Psalm (vs. 1–10) is about David’s oath in which he promised to bring the Ark into a permanent temple. The second half (vs. 11–18) records God’s corresponding oath of an everlasting dynasty.

Charles Spurgeon said: “A joyful song indeed: let all pilgrims to the New Jerusalem sing it often. The degrees or ascents are very visible; the theme ascends step by step from “afflictions” to a “crown,” from “remember David,” to “I will make the horn of David to bud.” The latter half is like the over-arching sky bending above “the fields of the wood” which are found in the resolves and prayers of the former portion.”

I. Be thoughtful of God’s presence (1-10) David’s joy and delight in his God made him long for a home for the Ark of the Lord, the symbolic presence of God.

Let’s read together the historical account of David’s thoughtfulness of God’s presence in 2 Samuel 7:8b-17

What seems so striking to me is the way that David is depicted as a person enduring hardship but not being preoccupied by his hardship but preoccupied by a desire to honor the Lord. It must have been a relevant reminder to the pilgrims who were making their way on the dusty trek toward Jerusalem. let your saints shout for joy.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not an invitation to be free from hardship. It’s an invitation to be preoccupied with a zeal for the glory of Christ even while living with hardship.

There are a lot of hard things that children are going through right now. What the is teaching you right here is that you can still love Jesus and be excited about worshipping Him in His glory especially while things are hard.

II. Be Thoughtful of God’s Promise (11-18) The next verses of the psalm rehearse the terms of God’s covenant.

It exceeds what they would ask or think. • The worshiper had asked God to make his presence with them as the ark was brought to Jerusalem; God says that he will be with them “forever and ever.” • They asked righteousness for the priests; God promises to clothe the priests with salvation; imputed righteousness. • The worshipers asked that the saints might sing for joy; God promises that they will sing for joy forever.

This greater future fulfillment involves three things: 1. The establishment of God’s throne in Jerusalem and beyond (vv. 13–14). 2. God’s blessing on the people, both physically and spiritually (vv. 15–16). 3. The coming Messiah and the establishment of his kingdom (vv. 17–18).1

Let’s see the historical account of God’s oath to David in 2 Samuel 7:8-17

God’s promise was honored in impressive fashion. David's line reigned in Jerusalem for four hundred years. However, this psalm is sometimes sung by pilgrim who are on their way to a festival long after the Davidic throne had ended, the people had even been taken into exile.

And what do they ask? “Have the promises of God failed?”

I will make a horn to sprout for David (17) The explains that Jesus and His people are the fulfilment of this oath • Where is David? • What about the exile and loss of national identity?

Luke 1:32–33 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

What about our thoughtfulness of God’s promises today? The people of God who are singing this Psalm, are having to sing it in faith. And you may be exactly there this morning. You have to walk by faith.

If you are wondering if the promises of God are actually coming to pass you have to look at Jesus. All of the promises of God are ultimately yes and amen in Jesus (1 Cor 1:20)

Let’s read together the historical account of the Ark of the Covenant being brought into the Temple of Solomon in 1 Kings 8:22–53

Conclusion:

Why it’s important: ______

What about Christ: ______

Disciples Should: ______

1 James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 107–150: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 1151–1152