Psalm 132

The pilgrim has arrived at Jerusalem, the city of God.  The city he saw from afar (Ps. 122) is where he now stands.  He is at rest from his difficult journey (Ps. 131).  And what is impressive about Jerusalem?  What is important is a building, the temple, and a person, David, the first King to rule from that city.  Therefore, in this longest Pilgrim Song, one is not surprised to find the Psalmist caught up with the thought of God's dwelling with men, and filled with reflections on David who had desired to build the temple.

In vs. 1-9, the writer looks back on David and his desire to build a dwelling place for God.  In vs.10-18, the writer expresses his own prayer for God's dwelling with men both now and forever.

A.            The desire of David for God's dwelling place, v1-5.

The pilgrim is reminded of David's prayer recorded in 2 Sam 7.  David so loved the Lord that he wanted God to dwell right there in his city.  Certainly David knew what Solomon knew, that God could not be confined to a building (2 Chr. 6:18; see also vs. 3-11 which speak of God's desire to dwell with men).  Yet he also knew that God had promised to dwell with Israel, and had done so through the means of the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant from the time of Moses.  God also longed to dwell with men, as He had fellowshipped with Adam and Eve in the garden.  And at the same time, God had created man for this same fellowship.  And, whether he knew it or not, it was this deep longing to know God and to be at peace with God that had caused the pilgrim to take his first steps away from Meshech in the very beginning (Ps. 120).

B.            The worship of the people at God's dwelling place, v6-9.

Because of this longing to be with God the people are moved to worship.  They come with the heartfelt prayer that God would come to His resting place, the ark where the blood has been sprinkled to symbolize the washing away of the sins of the people. The priests are likewise summoned to their righteous service, and the people to joyful praise.  To be finally at the temple is to experience a joy beyond imagination.

Do you understand, fellow pilgrim, that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit whom you have from God (1 Cor. 6:19-20)?  You are not just waiting for the joy of heaven; God desires to have you as His dwelling place now.  To grow in knowing Him, regardless of the afflictions along the way, is to grow in the deepest satisfaction of the soul that man can possibly know.

* * * * * *

The pilgrim has come to Jerusalem.  He is overcome as he reflects on David who had desired to build the beautiful temple he now beholds.  He remembers with deep joy the worship of the people when the ark was first brought to Jerusalem, and how God's glory filled that temple in the days of Solomon.  But this Psalmist is writing many years afterwards.  Perhaps he is concerned about a lack of true worship in Israel.  Or perhaps a new son of David is ascending to the throne.  The prayer of the Psalmist is a wonderful reminder for the pilgrim in our day.  His prayer is based on three promises he now prays back to God.

A.            The promise of God for David, v10-12.

He first remembers the promise God gave to David (2 Sam. 7:11ff) concerning the establishment of a lineage on the throne of Israel.  This was an unconditional promise to David, and so the Psalmist reminds God Who he knows will be faithful.

B.            The promise of God for the dwelling place, v13-16.

God had, in fact, chosen Jerusalem to be the place where He would dwell with Israel.  He had promised Moses in the wilderness that at some point He would designate a city.  That city was Jerusalem.  From verse 14 to the end of the Psalm, God is speaking and promising His abundant provision to His people.

C.            The promise of God for the Messiah, v17-18.

In verse 17, the Lord refers to the horn of David, a reference to those who would come after him, and, ultimately, the Messiah who will sit on the throne of David.  In the course of promising to bless the temple, God then is promising to bless the Messiah Who will someday be both the occupant of David's throne and the God Who dwells with men!

 Again we must think about what all this means to the pilgrim today.  Yes, we await heaven.  Yes, there is yet an earthly kingdom where Christ will reign.  But when the Christian comes to a deeper knowledge of God, he comes to a deeper knowledge of Christ.  No one knows God apart from Christ (John 14:6).  Jesus promises to come to the one who loves Him and make His home with that one (John 14:23).  But this home is not simply a place where God exists; since it is a temple, it is HIS home.  His abundant provisions are only experienced when He is settled down (Eph. 3:17), when He is both the God in the temple and the God on the throne!