# 07 2022 Dev. Psalm 132: 13. A Place Rest! Read all of Psalm 132 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think and interact with it. This is God’s story. How will it affect your story? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Psalm 132:13 “For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling,”
Intro. Ps. 120-137 is a series of Psalms that include 15 “songs of ascents.” Songs of ascents were sung at the temple by the Priests walking up the 15 steps entering the sanctuary, also sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the three feasts required, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, as well as during the return from Babylon back to Jerusalem.
Psalm 132 is a prayer for the David’s son and for the establishment of the Kingdom. There are two requests, v.1 and v.10. yet the prayer is also about a place of rest for God and “the ark of your might.” When David announced that he would build God a house, God responded: I have traveled with my people from place to place in a tent and have never asked for a house of cedar. God adds: “I declare to you the Lord will build a house for you…” (Chr.17:5-10) Later, God said to David: “Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom forever…” (Chr.28:6-7). This Psalm may have been used for the dedication of the Temple.
V.1 “Lord, remember…” We identify when we find ourselves in a bad place, Lord, remember me, I belong to Jesus, remember my desire to serve you, remember my perseverance throughout my life, remember my faith, remember Jesus’ grace for me.
Vs. 2-5 David’s oath is remembered, his desire to “find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Vs. 6-9 “Let us go to his dwelling place, Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place.” The Temple was a place to worship, to bring gifts, to sacrifice, sacrifices that foreshadowed Christ on the cross. That is what we seek in our churches, a place to rest, a place to be revived, a place to worship, to give thanks and to “sing for joy.” Jesus does not dwell in our churches he dwells in our hearts, but “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
V.10 “do not reject your anointed one.” Lord do not reject the one sealed with your baptism!
V.11-12 “If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” This is a reference to Jesus Christ, David’s throne as imperfect it was, is the foreshadowing of Jesus’ heavenly throne.
V. 13-18 “The Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, ‘This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.” And all the blessings mentioned, go along with God’s presence. That is how it was then, but today the implications of this Psalm is that God dwells with His people, wherever they are found and His blessings follow us. Zion represents you and me, and all who call on Jesus Christ. Jesus dwells with us and we dwell with Him, He is our Place of Rest. Praise be to God!
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