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Psalm 132

Prayer for the LORD'S Blessing upon the Sanctuary

A Song of Ascents<LIST type="decimal">

1. <LI>
2. Remember, O LORD, on David's behalf,
   
   All his affliction;</LI>
   <LI>
3. How he swore to the LORD
   
   And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,</LI>
   <LI>
4. "Surely I will not enter my house,
   
   Nor lie on my bed;</LI>
   <LI>
5. I will not give sleep to my eyes
   
   Or slumber to my eyelids,</LI>
   <LI>
6. Until I find a place for the LORD,
   
   A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."</LI>
   
   <LI>
7. Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah,
   
   We found it in the field of Jaar.</LI>
   <LI>
8. Let us go into His dwelling place;
   
   Let us worship at His footstool.</LI>
   <LI>
9. Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place,
   
   You and the ark of Your strength.</LI>
   <LI>
10. Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
    
    And let Your godly ones sing for joy.</LI>
    
    <LI>
11. For the sake of David Your servant,
    
    Do not turn away the face of Your anointed.</LI>
    <LI>
12. The LORD has sworn to David
    
    A truth from which He will not turn back:
    
    "Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne.</LI>
    <LI>
13. "If your sons will keep My covenant
    
    And My testimony which I will teach them,
    
    Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forever."</LI>
    
    <LI>
14. For the LORD has chosen Zion;
    
    He has desired it for His habitation.</LI>
    <LI>
15. "This is My resting place forever;
    
    Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.</LI>
    <LI>
16. "I will abundantly bless her provision;
    
    I will satisfy her needy with bread.</LI>
    <LI>
17. "Her priests also I will clothe with salvation,
    
    And her godly ones will sing aloud for joy.</LI>
    <LI>
18. "There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth;
    
    I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed.</LI>
    <LI>
19. "His enemies I will clothe with shame,
    
    But upon himself his crown shall shine."</LI>

</LIST>We're almost there. The city gates are in sight and we can see the Temple on Mount Moriah, gleaming like a jewel in the light of day, like the lamp prepared for His anointed. Atop the walls are the watchmen of the city, watching for all who approach, friend, family, or foe. All of Israel joined with David in thrilling at the prospect of creating a permanent dwelling instead of the portable Wilderness Tabernacle. It was a sign to their neighbors that they were there to stay, a permanent fixture in the Land. David was anxious to see it accomplished, but it would be Solomon who would build it. The people heard of the fame of the Lord and His house in far-away places, even as far as our own little village! Now we journey at His command for the express purpose of celebrating at His footstool, the Temple Mount, the ark of the Presence, the ark of His strength.



As we approach, the psalm reminds us to pray for the priests (and pastors today) to be clothed with righteousness. The psalmist also reminds us, the godly ones, to sing for joy!



Our prayers continue, beseeching the Lord to remember David and the promised One to come Who would be set upon David's throne. Messiah will come here to Jerusalem. Will it be this year, in this season? O Lord, we know this is Your resting place forever, that You will bless the city's people meeting their needs with daily bread. As you clothe your Temple priests with righteousness and salvation, clothe us as priests of our households, O Lord. You said that we would be a nation of kings and priests. Help us to rule with the wisdom of Solomon, the heart of David, and the righteousness of Messiah. Do not allow our feet to stray from Your paths, that we would become enemies and clothed instead with shame.

Psalm 131

Childlike Trust in the LORD

A Song of Ascents, of David<LIST type="decimal">

1. <LI>
2. O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
   
   Nor do I involve myself in great matters,
   
   Or in things too difficult for me.</LI>
   <LI>
3. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
   
   Like a weaned child rests against his mother,
   
   My soul is like a weaned child within me.</LI>
   <LI>
4. O Israel, hope in the LORD
   
   From this time forth and forever.</LI>

</LIST>
David continues to confess his sins. He then confesses that he has been humbled and prophesies to himself even as he speaks to the Lord. I love his "note to self" about not being wrongly focused. Can you imagine a king not involving himself in great and weighty matters? Yet here is David saying that anything of earthly weightiness is as a feather compared to the things on God's agenda. When God conversed with Jonah, there was a simple reminder, "Did you mourn the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow?" Talk about great matters and things too difficult for me.



As we approach the city, we continue to comfort ourselves and each other. We confess sins and receive forgiveness. We are not only comforted by that forgiveness, but we are able to compose and quiet our souls because we are redeemed and reconciled to Him. Such peace is unknown to unbelievers and underbelievers. An unweaned child is grabbing and anxious for nourishment and the comfort that comes at mother's breast. The weaned child is simply comfortable resting in mother's presence, perhaps with his head on her lap, just enjoying her presence, completely trusting her protection and supply. That is the sort of trust that I want to exhibit in You, O Lord.

Psalm 130

Hope in the LORD'S Forgiving Love

A Song of Ascents<LIST type="decimal">

1. <LI>
2. Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD.</LI>
   <LI>
3. Lord, hear my voice!
   
   Let Your ears be attentive
   
   To the voice of my supplications.</LI>
   <LI>
4. If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
   
   O Lord, who could stand?</LI>
   <LI>
5. But there is forgiveness with You,
   
   That You may be feared.</LI>
   
   <LI>
6. I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait,
   
   And in His word do I hope.</LI>
   <LI>
7. My soul waits for the Lord
   
   More than the watchmen for the morning;
   
   Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.</LI>
   <LI>
8. O Israel, hope in the LORD;
   
   For with the LORD there is lovingkindness,
   
   And with Him is abundant redemption.</LI>
   <LI>
9. And He will redeem Israel
   
   From all his iniquities.</LI>

</LIST>This is a favorite of mine. So many songs that I've enjoyed over the years have come from this psalm. We're still on the road to Jerusalem, to God's city. As we approach the gates, I think about the relationship I've had with Him over the years. I remember some of the very difficult times--bad harvests, untimely deaths of children and other loved ones--and I remember the body-wracking, soul-wrenching prayers in those painful times. I also remember knowing in my innermost being that He was hearing the prayers and sustaining me through the anguish. One of those iniquities that could be marked was failure to believe and to act on faith in Him, but even in that, there can be forgiveness to those who ask. Verse 7 says He offers abundant redemption. That's enough even for me! He will redeem. He will...



I wait. My very soul waits. Have you ever had to stay up all night? Had to, even though you were exhausted? I remember having to stand a four-hour night watch from 2:00 am until 6:00 am. Dawn during those days was early, something about 5:30 or 5:45. We were in a very dark place, far from the lights of civilization on a moonless night. Even the birds and insects were asleep. The fire was low and its warmth did not help my physical state. Standing, hopping, pacing, whistling, splashing water on my face--I tried everything I knew to help keep my eyes open. Oh how I longed for the morning to come with the end of my watch and voices that would help keep my soul from failing the task. Our only hope is in the Lord Who made the heavens and the earth!

Psalm 129

Prayer for the Overthrow of Zion's Enemies

A Song of Ascents<LIST type="decimal">

1. <LI>
2. "Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up,"
   
   Let Israel now say,</LI>
   <LI>
3. "Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up;
   
   Yet they have not prevailed against me.</LI>
   <LI>
4. "The plowers plowed upon my back;
   
   They lengthened their furrows."</LI>
   <LI>
5. The LORD is righteous;
   
   He has cut in two the cords of the wicked.</LI>
   
   <LI>
6. May all who hate Zion
   
   Be put to shame and turned backward;</LI>
   <LI>
7. Let them be like grass upon the housetops,
   
   Which withers before it grows up;</LI>
   <LI>
8. With which the reaper does not fill his hand,
   
   Or the binder of sheaves his bosom;</LI>
   <LI>
9. Nor do those who pass by say,
   
   "The blessing of the LORD be upon you;
   
   We bless you in the name of the LORD."</LI>

</LIST>As with an earlier Davidic psalm, this psalmist uses the same device, proclaiming truth and asking all of Israel to join in identifying with the persecution and with the fact that the persecutors have not prevailed. The "furrows on the back" is another reference back to the lashings from their Egyptian overlords. The cords or reins on the plow animals are the fetters of slavery and Father has permanently severed that particular bondage for the Hebrews. But for haters of Zion, the psalmist essentially reminds God of His promise that those who curse Abraham's offspring would be cursed.



These verses can perhaps be extended just a bit. Remember that there are two quotes from Jesus, one saying that if the people in question are not against Him, they are for Him. The other says if the people in question are not for Him, they are against Him. Add to that, the Revelation admonition about being lukewarm. Believing Jews absolutely and passionately love Zion. Jerusalem takes on an iconic existence in their minds and hearts. It's not magical, but a supernatural gift given by Father that we should fall in love with the city that He has chosen. We don't have to understand it. It's not enough, in my opinion, to simply not "hate Zion". God wants us to love what He loves just as Christians are to love the unlovely and the unsaved and the sinner, just as He loves them. Instilling that love of Israel/Jerusalem/Zion is a difficult thing. We cannot build that house, either. We can pray and share, but God really plants the seeds of love and grows them. Sometimes through divine appointments, we get to be a messenger or a waterer.

Psalm 128

Blessedness of the Fear of the LORD

A Song of Ascents<LIST type="decimal">

1. <LI>
2. How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
   
   Who walks in His ways.</LI>
   <LI>
3. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands,
   
   You will be happy and it will be well with you.</LI>
   <LI>
4. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
   
   Within your house,
   
   Your children like olive plants
   
   Around your table.</LI>
   <LI>
5. Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed
   
   Who fears the LORD.</LI>
   
   <LI>
6. The LORD bless you from Zion,
   
   And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.</LI>
   <LI>
7. Indeed, may you see your children's children.
   
   Peace be upon Israel!</LI>

</LIST>There is a contrast between 127 and 128. Here it's clear the blessings will follow the one who is not trying to build the house on his own power--that the bread will not be from painful labor but rather a happy experience; life will be well with you.



And again, we see the hill from whence our help cometh! ZION! It's God's plan that we be prospered all the days of our lives. This is a Hebraic observation, not a western or Greek mindset observation. What is prosperity? Is it monetary? Perhaps that may be involved, but the earlier verses talk about a wife like a fruitful vine, and children like olive plants around the table. In Israel and in Arizona, I have friends who talk about olive trees and their propensity for pushing up shoots from the roots. In Arizona, olive trees are treated like weeds! They are pervasive and invasive. I want spiritual children like that, especially since there are no children or grandchildren in my future at this point. I want them to spring up, green and healthy, pervasive and invasive of their culture, being Christ to those nearby. If I can also see their spiritual offspring, what a blessing that will be!

Psalm 127

Prosperity Comes from the LORD

A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.<LIST type="decimal">

1. <LI>
2. Unless the LORD builds the house,
   
   They labor in vain who build it;
   
   Unless the LORD guards the city,
   
   The watchman keeps awake in vain.</LI>
   <LI>
3. It is vain for you to rise up early,
   
   To retire late,
   
   To eat the bread of painful labors;
   
   For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.</LI>
   
   <LI>
4. Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
   
   The fruit of the womb is a reward.</LI>
   <LI>
5. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
   
   So are the children of one's youth.</LI>
   <LI>
6. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
   
   They will not be ashamed
   
   When they speak with their enemies in the gate.</LI>

</LIST>This is yet another reminder to self and to those traveling together that this trip and our lives are not about "us". Solomon learned well about the wisdom of ensuring that we cooperate with God's plans and not try to outrun Father's plans for that house. We don't want to labor in vain, to waste time, talent or treasure on our own folly, our own flesh-born "visions". I want to be one to whom Father gives even in my sleep!



Solomon, son of David, is credited with this psalm. How special and fitting it is that he writes about the blessings of having offspring. Can you see fathers talking to their sons on this journey and telling them what blessings they are? This helps sons (and daughters and others for whom we represent authority figures) gain certainty in the God-given and dad-imprinted identity as the blessed of the Father.