Psalms 132 & 133 - Promise and Unity

by Becky

LINKS: Psalm 132, Psalm 133

These psalms are also part of “The Songs of Ascent,” sung by the Jewish pilgrims on their way up to Jerusalem to worship.

PSALM 132

BACKGROUND

This psalm deals with past, present, and future. The first six verses look backward to David’s hardships in becoming king and his desire and vow to build a temple for the LORD. Then, in verses 7 – 9, the psalmist joyfully speaks of going to that dwelling place to worship – showing us that David’s desire had become reality. Because the poet’s heart is turned to worship, perhaps, and therefore to the consuming passion of David for the temple, he reminds the LORD of his promise to David and asks Him not to forget it. God’s promise was two-fold. The first part was unconditional: one of David’s sons would sit on his throne (11). The second part was conditional. If David’s sons (his descendents) would keep God’s covenant, they would sit on his throne forever (12). Part of this psalm (vv. 8-10) is also stated in 2 Chronicles 6: 41-42 in Solomon’s prayer for Israel at the dedication of the temple. God did keep His unconditional promise in setting David’s son, Solomon, on the throne. But we have seen how many of David’s descendents did NOT keep their covenant with God. That resulted in all that judgment we’re reading in the prophets.

There is a kind of double image, though, concerning the part of God’s covenant that promised an heir of David for the throne. The last section of the psalm(13-18) looks to the future to the coming of the Anointed, the Messiah. We are reminded that once again priests will be “clothed with salvation” and saints will “shout for joy” (16). God will “make a horn to sprout for David.” He has prepared “a lamp for [his] anointed.”

We know that God did keep that covenant! He gave the God-Man Jesus, a direct descendent of King David, and so through the Jewish nation, to bring righteousness and truth – to set up an eternal kingdom without geographical or chronological boundaries.

REFLECTION

Think of all the times and circumstances in which this psalm was sung. What was going on in the lives of the various pilgrims who sang it from their hearts? Perhaps they lived during the reign of a king (like Ahab or Manasseh or the wicked queen mother Athaliah) who was not keeping covenant with the LORD and who persecuted God’s followers. Perhaps some sang this while in exile, far away from Jerusalem and God’s temple.

It took faith to sing this from the heart. Look how it focuses on what God has promised! This psalmist knew his history – the story of God’s covenant with David. He knew His God, too. He might not know how or when, but he knew that God would keep His word and that gave him hope!

APPLICATION

How well do you know your history? One reason we’re reading through the Bible together is so that we will know it. We have a record in it of God’s promises and His working. We might not always understand the prophecies, especially as they relate to future events, but we do have evidence here of the God who made those prophecies. So that is the best reason to read the Bible. We get to know our God through it. We see over and over again that God keeps His promises. He will fulfill that which He has promised.

Perhaps you are feeling far away from the LORD right now. Perhaps you are doubting Him and feeling like He doesn’t care. Perhaps you are even suffering for Him.

Take heart! God keeps His covenant. He promises His people a future and a hope!

PSALM 133

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

This short psalm speaks of the pleasantness of brothers in Israel living in unity. Two similes picture the goodness of God’s people focused together on pleasing the LORD and living for Him.

The first simile is that of the sweet-smelling ordination oil that was poured on the head of the priest, Aaron, and all the priests that followed him. This oil consecrated them and set them apart to God. The image here is of an abundance of oil, so much that it flowed off of Aaron’s beard and ran from his hair down onto his collar.

The second simile compares the blessing of unity to the refreshing dew of Mount Hermon. That dew was crucial in the dry season. That dew nurtured life on the mountain.

I am reminded here of Jesus’ prayer for His church in John 17, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17: 21-23)

God’s people living in unity doesn’t mean that we agree on everything or that we are alike – how boring would that be! It would be like only having the melody and no harmony in a song. What it does mean is that we agree on our purpose – to live for the LORD Jesus – to be His to use, to love Him. If we do that we will love each other!

And it IS a wonderful thing to see God’s people living for Him, with love, and not for their own glory and recognition. That unity DOES revitalize us and renew us and it oozes from the church, like the oil on Aaron’s head – a sweet smelling savor to the world around us.

I have had the privilege of knowing many internationals here for graduate school, many of whom have come to trust in the LORD Jesus as the way, truth, and life. When I’ve asked them what drew them to the LORD, without exception they have replied that it was the love God’s people exhibited for each other that drew them.

So this psalm is a chance for us to evaluate ourselves. Who am I living for? Who is my focus? Is it me (my recognition, my fulfillment, my pleasure, my ­­­­­­______ )? Or am I yielded to the LORD, dedicated to Him and His purposes? Am I helping God’s people live in unity or am I causing friction by my focus on something other than my Lord? Am I loving God’s people because I love Him?

PRAYER

Dear LORD, Thank you that you kept covenant with David and that Jesus came as the Anointed One to rule over a kingdom that will never end. We love because you first loved us. Help me to live for you and so to live in love and unity.