Day 820- Psalm 132- Journey In His Faithfulness

​Remember, O Lord, in David's favor,
    all the hardships he endured,
2 how he swore to the Lord
    and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
3 “I will not enter my house
    or get into my bed,
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes
    or slumber to my eyelids,
5 until I find a place for the Lord,
    a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
    we found it in the fields of Jaar.
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place;
    let us worship at his footstool!”
8 Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place,
    you and the ark of your might.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
    and let your saints shout for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David,
    do not turn away the face of your anointed one.
11 The Lord swore to David a sure oath
    from which he will not turn back:
“One of the sons of your body
    I will set on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant
    and my testimonies that I shall teach them,
their sons also forever
    shall sit on your throne.”
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion;
    he has desired it for his dwelling place:
14 “This is my resting place forever;
    here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provisions;
    I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
    and her saints will shout for joy.
17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David;
    I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame,
    but on him his crown will shine.”
 
Meditation
Christians are strengthened to persevere when we gaze upon God’s amazing faithfulness and reflect on the cloud of faithful followers of Jesus. For this reason, Hebrews 12:1-3 begins by celebrating “the great cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us as motivation to run the race God has marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus so that God’s faithfulness might be fuel to move us forward.
 
Pilgrims singing this psalm on the way to Jerusalem were going to the temple for celebration, worship, sacrifice, and festival.  David’s commitment to get the ark to the temple is equivalent to their cloud of witnesses. David’s oath to God (1-5) and the procession of the ark to Jerusalem (6-10) is best remembered by his celebration and sacrifices (2 Samuel 6). The Psalm also celebrates God’s oath to David, God’s covenant faithfulness to fulfill His promise in 2 Samuel 7. The fullness of God’s promise to David is the victory and reign of a Greater King promised to rule forever (17-18). God’s faithfulness fuels our commitment.
 
We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses from history and in our houses of worship. God’s faithfulness surrounds us, keeping His promises and working His purposes. The ark represents God’s relentless desire to be present with His people, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Let us, then, consider the commitment of people who have gone before us as we fix our eyes on Jesus, the fullness of God’s faithfulness and fuel for us to persevere.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Who are some men and women who have gone before you, part of the cloud of witnesses, whose commitment to Christ and the Kingdom fuel your faithfulness today?
 
-How can focusing on the faithfulness of God, His relentless commitment to keep His promises, empower endurance for you to remain committed?
 
-If you feel led today, take time to write an encouraging note to someone who has gone before you as part of your cloud of witnesses.
 
Key Verse
17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.”