May 1, 2019 (Wednesday)
All three of the psalms in this final group focus on Mount Zion or Jerusalem, which is appropriate, because these psalms were sung on the way up to the feasts in Jerusalem. In these psalms the pilgrims have finally arrived, and now we focus on the certainty of God’s promise in Psalm 132, the unity of God’s people in Psalm 133 and the beauty of God’s blessing in Psalm 134.
Psalm 132. The psalm unveils God’s promise and plan for the ages, stretching from God’s covenant with Abraham, to Jacob at Bethel, to the construction of the ark and its subsequent journeys, to David’s bringing the ark to Jerusalem, to Solomon’s building of the temple, to the promised coming of Christ, to the fulfillment of all God’s promises to his people through Christ in heaven.
THE CERTAINTY OF GOD’S PROMISE
Psalm 132
New International Version (NIV)
A song of ascents.
I. David’s Promise to God (1-9)
1 Lord, remember David
and all his self-denial.
2 He swore an oath to the Lord,
he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 “I will not enter my house
or go to my bed,
4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
5 till I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 We heard it in Ephrathah,
we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place,
let us worship at his footstool, saying,
8 ‘Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
9 May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;
may your faithful people sing for joy.'”
II. God’s Promise to David (10-12)
10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed one.
11 The Lord swore an oath to David,
a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants
I will place on your throne.
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.”
III. God’s Promise to Us (13-18)
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,
he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,
14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;
here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor I will satisfy with food.
16 I will clothe her priests with salvation,
and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.
17 “Here I will make a horn grow for David
and set up a lamp for my anointed one.
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”Compare three translations side by side. Click here.
Psalm 133 is the fourth and last psalm in the Psalms of Ascent that is attributed to King David. The kingdom of Israel was first united under David, and it is appropriate that David would write a psalm about living together in unity. Last week’s psalm was an unusually long one for the Psalm of Ascents, but this week we are back to a short psalm. And although it is brief, it is also one of the most beautiful descriptions of Christian unity that has ever been written.
Psalm 132
New International Version (NIV)
A song of ascents.
I. David’s Promise to God (1-9)
1 Lord, remember David
and all his self-denial.
2 He swore an oath to the Lord,
he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 “I will not enter my house
or go to my bed,
4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
5 till I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 We heard it in Ephrathah,
we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place,
let us worship at his footstool, saying,
8 ‘Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
9 May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;
may your faithful people sing for joy.'”
II. God’s Promise to David (10-12)
10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed one.
11 The Lord swore an oath to David,
a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants
I will place on your throne.
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.”
III. God’s Promise to Us (13-18)
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,
he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,
14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;
here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor I will satisfy with food.
16 I will clothe her priests with salvation,
and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.
17 “Here I will make a horn grow for David
and set up a lamp for my anointed one.
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”
.
Psalm 133 is the fourth and last psalm in the Psalms of Ascent that is attributed to King David. The kingdom of Israel was first united under David, and it is appropriate that David would write a psalm about living together in unity. Last week’s psalm was an unusually long one for the Psalm of Ascents, but this week we are back to a short psalm. And although it is brief, it is also one of the most beautiful descriptions of Christian unity that has ever been written.
THE UNITY OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Psalm 133
New International Version (NIV)
A song of ascents. Of David.
I. The Goodness of Living Together in Unity (1)
1 How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
II. The Source of Living Together in Unity (2-3a)
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.Compare three translations side by side. Click here.
Psalm 134. The Psalms of Ascent help us on our journey as we draw closer to God in our walk with him. This final psalm is a blessing or a benediction to the whole Psalms of Ascent. When you reach Psalm 134 you’ve reached the top of the mountain. You’re at the very highest step. You cannot go any higher than this. This is why you made the journey to begin with. This is the goal of your journey as a Christian: blessing God, and being blessed by God. This is what we will be doing as believers for all of eternity, and this is what God calls us to do every day here on earth.
Psalm 133
New International Version (NIV)
A song of ascents. Of David.
I. The Goodness of Living Together in Unity (1)
1 How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
II. The Source of Living Together in Unity (2-3a)
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
Psalm 134. The Psalms of Ascent help us on our journey as we draw closer to God in our walk with him. This final psalm is a blessing or a benediction to the whole Psalms of Ascent. When you reach Psalm 134 you’ve reached the top of the mountain. You’re at the very highest step. You cannot go any higher than this. This is why you made the journey to begin with. This is the goal of your journey as a Christian: blessing God, and being blessed by God. This is what we will be doing as believers for all of eternity, and this is what God calls us to do every day here on earth.
THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S BLESSING
Psalm 134
New International Version (NIV)
A song of ascents.
I. May You Bless the Lord (1-2)
1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the Lord.
II. May the Lord Bless You (3)
3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.Compare three translations side by side. Click here.
This is the last of the blogs about the Psalms of Ascent
TODAY IS MAY DAY
Psalm 134
New International Version (NIV)
A song of ascents.
I. May You Bless the Lord (1-2)
1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the Lord.
II. May the Lord Bless You (3)
3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.
Outlines of Scripture and some quotes are from Ray Fowler. Click here for a list of his sermons on “Psalms of Ascent”