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PSALM

CHAPTER 132

1 A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions: 2 How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; 3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; 4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, 5 Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

Does God "remember" the things we do and the things we suffer? YES! God KNOWS our sorrow in this life. He is with us at all times and does not forget the troubles we face for His Name.

David suffered persecution by Saul because Saul knew that David was the "anointed" of God to receive the kingdom after him.

David also willing suffered by his own vow. His great desire was to build God a temple in Jerusalem. And he suffered very much trying to fulfill that desire.

How many of us Christians today have that determined desire for the things of God?

6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. 7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. 8 Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. 9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. 10 For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.

David's desire was infectuous. Other people "heard" of it, and were inspired to be like him. Solomon himself followed David's desire, and was able to complete the building of the temple.

It was through determination that the people completed that temple for the Lord (verse 7).

When the temple was completed, the desire of the people was that God would be EXALTED (verse 8). Also their desire was that the priests be "clothed with righteousness" (verse 9) and all the saved ("saints") would "shout for joy" (verse 9).

When a man or a church truly desires to EXALT God, He will clothe them in the righteousness of Christ. And when righteousness abounds in the church, all the saved "shout for joy!"

THE "anointed" of God is Christ Jesus. And God's promise to David (2Samuel 7:12-17) was that the Christ WOULD COME. He would not be deterred from deliverance!

11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. 12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.

That promise which God made is an ETERNAL COVENANT! (verse 11). Jesus was the physical descendent of David. His physical life fulfilled the promise of God for Messiah to come through David's family.

God's covenant with Christians through Christ is an ETERANL COVENANT! (verse 12) We are promised by Christ Himself that we shall "sit" with Him on His throne of eternal glory (Revelation 3:21).

13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. 14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

Because of His eternal covenant with Abraham, Moses and David, God SELECTED Jerusalem (Zion) as the central place of worship.

Because of His eternal covenant through Christ Jesus, God has SELECTED the HEART of man as the central place of worship today!

This is the place of "rest" (or abiding) of God - the HEART of man!

The heart of man is where man makes his decisions. It is where he makes his commitments.

There is a misunderstanding in preaching and evangelism of the term "..just ask Jesus into your heart.." That term has lost much of the original meaning today.

To ask Jesus "..into your heart.." means to surrender all that you are to Him and allow Him to become the LORD and MASTER of your life.

15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. 18 His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

When a man surrenders to Christ and allows Him to become LORD of his life, then God begins to "abundantly bless" that person's life! (verse 15).

The saved person becomes a "priest" (verse 16) because he is CLOTHED with Jesus Himself. As such, the saved person has the privilege of entering into the very intimate presence of God at any time. And that can't help but make a person want to SHOUT! (verse 16).

The "horn," in the Old Testament, sometimes carries with it the meaning of power and authority. Jesus is the power and authority of God's covenant with God! He is the LAMP (or light) to all men!

All those who refuse Christ shall be brought to shame. And it goes without saying, that since He is the eternal God, He will CONTINUE to "flourish."

PSALM 133

1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

OH! How I LOVE this song!! What a precious and beautiful symbolism presented here!

When people live in UNITY it is "good" and "pleasant." A community, a subdivision, even a town can have unity. And it is brought about by the determination of the people. Each one determines to live in UNITY with the other.

But God has GIVEN unity to the church - to the saints of God, His saved! We are all ONE BODY, washed clean by ONE BLOOD, baptized into ONE SPIRIT, and placed into ONE FAMILY - the church.

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:4-5)