Psalm 128, 130, 134 - Blessings of the Pilgrim

LINK: Psalm 128, 130, 134

BACKGROUND

"Joy, which is the small publicity of the pagan,

is the gigantic secret of the Christian."

G.K. Chesterton

Read yesterday's post if you need a reminder about the "Songs of Ascent." 

Psalm 128 

This is a psalm about family. Blessings and prosperity are a result of our fear (meaning reverence and awe) and obedience to God.

Psalm 130

This is not only a Song of Ascent but also the sixth of seven penitential psalms (others are Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, and 143). The first four are attributed to David, but the last three are anonymous. It is a sincere expression of sorrow for sin and assurance of the Lord's forgiveness as we confess. It is perfect for entrance into the temple. 

Psalm 134

As the last of the fourteen Songs of Ascent, the pilgrims arrived in the sanctuary and addressed the priests and the Levites, the watchmen who are serving in the temple. Arriving at their destination, the only response is worship and sharing blessings from Zion (Jerusalem).  The group of psalms following Psalm 134 are all about praising the Lord.

REFLECTION/APPLICATION

Which does your home most closely resemble: (a) the eye of the hurricane, or (b) the hurricane itself?

Psalm 128 describes a family scene, with father, mother (the fruitful vine), and children (olive plants) assembled around the table. It's a picture of tranquility, harmony, and stability. And at first, it may be a scene you have trouble envisioning in your house. (As one harried housewife described it, "Getting my kids to sit still at the dinner table is like trying to nail jelly to the floor!")

But don't miss the point of the psalm. The psalmist is not trying to turn your dining room into a setting for Better Homes and Gardens, but rather to show you the path to true happiness in the home. Even in the midst of chaotic schedules, you can find satisfaction and stability as a family if you will keep uppermost these three things: reverence (fearing the Lord, v. 1a), obedience (walking in His ways, v. 1b), and perseverance (laboring to make it work at any price, v, 2).

This evening, call a family council to discuss ways to put Psalm 128 to work in your home. God has a blessing for your family if only you will follow the blueprint. Will you commit yourself to reverence, obedience, and perseverance in your home?  (The Daily Walk, June 26, 2008, p. 32) 

I love this: keep reverence, obedience, and perseverance uppermost!

How is it going in your home? 

There is an excellent book that helps you write out a blueprint for your family written by the late Stephen Covey, Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families.

PRAYER

Pray through these three psalms for your prayer time today!

Psalm 121-123 - The Pilgrim's Protection and Plea

LINK: Psalm 121-123

BACKGROUND

Over the next two days, we will finish up the Songs/Psalms of Ascent. Here is a review of these special psalms from a previous post: 

An Introduction to the Songs of Ascent

Psalms 120 - 134 are part of a group of Psalms called the "Songs of Ascent" or "Pilgrim Psalms."  "Ascent" is from a root that means "to go up," as ascending a stairway.  They were sung by Jewish travelers on their way up to the temple in Jerusalem for the three annual feasts (Exodus 23:14-19; 34:22-24) - Passover in spring, Pentecost in early summer, and Tabernacles in the fall. Jerusalem was the highest city in Palestine at 2,600 feet above sea level. So, the pilgrims spent much of their time ascending to the city and then ascending the steps to the temple. Jesus' family was taking the journey to Passover in Luke 2:41-52.

Each psalm is a "step" along the journey. The Mishnah (the writings on the Jewish tradition that was compiled in AD 200) states that the fifteen psalms correspond to the fifteen steps that led up from the Court of Women to the Court of Israelites in the temple.

Psalm 120 begins in a hostile, distant land, Psalm 121 is the journey through the hills to Jerusalem, and Psalm 122 is their arrival! The rest of the psalms are about moving toward and up the ascending steps to the temple while contemplating various characteristics of God. While on the journey, the pilgrims would contemplate the blessings of walking with God.

What a beautiful picture! Eugene H. Peterson writes in A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society :

But the ascent was not only literal, it was also a metaphor: the trip to Jerusalem lived a life upward toward God, an existence that advanced from one level to another in developing maturity -- what Paul described as "the goal, where God is beckoning us onward -- to Jesus"(Phil 3:14). (p. 18)

Psalm 121 

This may have been an antiphonal psalm where a leader on the pilgrimage would recite the first two verses, and the group would answer with the next two, back and forth until the end.  The Hebrew word, šāmar, is repeated six times in only eight verses but is translated as "keeps, keeper, protect, and guard" in the New American Standard Version. 

In the pilgrims' journey, God "keeps" us from all harm. There were apostate Jewish shrines on the hills outside of Jerusalem where pagan gods were worshiped (2 Kings 16:4; Jeremiah 3:23; 13:27; 17:2; Hosea 4:11-13). This psalm affirms that God is higher than any of them. He created the hills!

Psalm 122

The superscription of this psalm attributes the authorship to David, but it fits with the time of Ezra and Nehemiah when the exiles ascended to Jerusalem!

David refers to "going up" according to ordinances/statutes. This probably refers to the three Jewish feasts I mentioned in the introduction to the Songs of Ascent. He asks the people to pray for the peace and security of this great city. 

Psalm 123

The psalm lifts his eyes toward God and pleads for mercy. 

REFLECTION

We are all pilgrims on a journey toward God, and I love the image these psalms project!

APPLICATION/PRAYER

Your application is to pray responsibly and personally through these psalms. 

Ezra 5 & 6; Psalm 129 - Perseverance in Rebuilding the Temple

LINK: Ezra 5 & 6 and Psalm 129 (Read over the next two days)

BACKGROUND 

Ezra 5 & 6

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah emerged to encourage the people not to give up the goal of rebuilding the temple. Even though the non-Jews tried to stop the construction, the Jews continued to build and the new king, Darius, ended the 15-year delay in construction by exploring the archives and learning of the decree of Cyrus that stated that God's temple was to be rebuilt and anyone who got in the way was to be impaled (Ezra 6:11). OUCH!

Many clay and papyrus documents recording business transactions and historical data have been discovered in this area (near present-day Syria). A great library and archives with thousands of such records have been discovered at Ebla in Syria.  (The Life Application Bible, p. 782)

The temple was completed in February/March 515 B.C. It took 21 years after the work had started in 536 B.C. and 4 1/2 years after Haggai's first prophecy. It is nice to see prophets who were actually listened to in their lifetime! The temple was finished 70 1/2 years after it had been destroyed on August 12, 586 B.C. 

At its completion, the temple was dedicated, and the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread were celebrated in April 515 B.C. for the first time in 70 years (see Exodus 12:1-30 for background about the Passover). Darius was mentioned as the "king of Assyria."  He is a Persian king, but the former Kingdom of Assyria was also part of his vast empire. 

Psalm 129 

Psalm 129 is a "Song of Ascent."  Click on the link for background information on this group of psalms if you have not already done so. 

I have added this psalm to the Ezra reading because some commentators believe it could have been read at the dedication of the rebuilt temple. Others think it might have been written by Hezekiah. We do not know, but it speaks of confidence and perseverance in persecution and deliverance from the wicked. Zerubbabel persevered through everything to complete his task. So, I thought it fit well here! 

REFLECTION (written in 2012)

Zerubbabel is my hero! He led toward the completion of the task, despite delays and discouragement of over 20 years!

Do you have long-term, God-given goals like Zerubbabel's that require a long-range perspective and perseverance?  In the chapter about Psalm 129 entitled "Perseverance" written in the excellent book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson writes:

The reason my childhood was one enthusiasm after another was that I hadn't yet found an organizing center for my life and a goal that would demand my all and my best. The Christian faith is the discovery of that center in the God who sticks with us, the righteous God (129:4). Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in his ways, steadily and firmly, and then finding that the way integrates all our interests, passions and gifts, our human needs and our eternal aspirations. It is the way of life we were created for. There are endless challenges in it to keep us on the growing edge of faith; there is always the God who sticks with us to make it possible for us to persevere. (p. 134)

The Bible Book Club is the God-given, long-term goal given to me in December of 2007. During the first three-year cycle, God gave me the ability to write 20-40 hours a week while homeschooling my two kids and despite job loss and transition, a severed big toe tendon, horrendous back pain (brought on by this injury) that made it difficult to sit and write, two trips overseas, and the tragic death of my brother and two friends. 

It took me 4 1/2 years to complete the posts for the Old Testament the first time. I am thankful for the encouragement from many of you to "keep going" and the help of others, especially Becky and Katrina, who helped by writing posts in the first cycle (2008-2010) so that I could take days off. I am especially thankful to God who has given me strength beyond my own ability!

I have learned lessons of perseverance through all of this and wonder what I will do with all my free time when I am done with all the writing and editing of this big "God-sized" task! I am sure He will give me another one that is just as fulfilling and rewarding. 

2023 Update: He has given me "God-sized" dreams. I had a vision in February 2015 and another in November 2018 for a "Community of Contemplatives in Action." He is fulfilling this dream. Bible Book Club was so much fun and is such a great base for the work that I do now! I am in this for the long term. And God is opening doors that no one can shut (Revelation 3:8, Isaiah 58:10-12)

APPLICATION

We have many long-term endeavors: raising kids, growing spiritually, and helping others grow.  

Do you have a long-range perspective on these long-term goals?  How are you persevering?  Are you discouraged?

Talk to God about that. Do not give up! Remember that "Slow and steady wins the race!"  Take heart from Zerubbabel! Find some encouragement from others too!

PRAYER

Lord, we commit ourselves to be faithful to Your long-term goals for us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

NOW, there will be a 58-year gap before the book of Ezra picks up again in Ezra 7. In the meantime, we will go through the book of Esther and many Psalms that are tagged chronologically to this time!

Ezra 1-3 & Psalm 126: Restoration and Return

LINK: Ezra 1-3 & Psalm 126

BACKGROUND

The Book of Ezra

Jerusalem fell in 586 B.C., and the exiles were deported to Babylon. Babylon was overthrown by Cyrus of Persia in 539, and the exiles began their return to Jerusalem in 538.  Temple construction began in 536, was halted in 530, resumed in 520, and was completed in 516. Ezra came to Jerusalem in 458.

This book was written around 450 B.C. recording the events from about 538-450 B.C. with nothing recorded from 516-458 B.C. Ezra follows 2 Chronicles in the history of the Jews. 

Ezra and Nehemiah are one book in the Hebrew (Jewish) Bible. With Esther, they make up the "post-captivity" historical books. We will be reading Haggai and Zechariah interspersed within Ezra because they prophesied during the reconstruction period. Since we will read Nehemiah as a character study, I will not be interspersing it with Ezra. 

Here is the historical flow along with the events in Daniel and different Persian kings:

Ezra 1:1-4 (538, edict of King Cyrus [559-530] for return) 
Daniel 6:1-28 
Ezra 1:5-2:20 (538, first return of 49,897 exiles under Zerubbabel) 
Nehemiah 7:26-73a 
Ezra 3:1-13 (536, the altar and the temple foundation built) 
Daniel 10:1-12:13 
Ezra 4:1-5 
Ezra 4:24 
King Cambyses (530-522) 
King Smerdis (522) 
Haggai (520, Persian King Darius I [521-486]) 
Zechariah 1:1-8:23 (520-518) 
Ezra 5:1-6:22 (515, temple completed) 
Ezra 4:6 (486, accusation against Judah, King Xerxes/Ahasuerus [485-465]) 
Esther (479, Esther becomes queen) 
Ezra 4:7-23 (ca. 464-458, King Artaxerxes I/Artashasta [464-424] stopped rebuilding of Jerusalem) 
Ezra 7:1-10:44 (458, Second return of 4,000-5,000 exiles under Ezra) 
Nehemiah 1:1-7:3 (444, Third return of exiles under Nehemiah to rebuild walls) 
Nehemiah 7:73b-11:36 
Nehemiah 12:1-13:31 (ca. 430, Nehemiah's second return) 
Malachi (450-430)

Ezra 1 - Cyrus' Edict

This chapter opens in 538 B.C., 47 years after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem (2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36). The Persians had overthrown the great Babylonians, and Cyrus became king of Persia in 559 B.C. Isaiah 44:28-45:6 prophesied that Cyrus would help the Jews return to Jerusalem. He allowed them to bring back articles belonging to the temple that Nebuchadnezzar had taken away. 

Persian records show that many Jews had accumulated much wealth while in captivity. Consequently, many remained, preferring a comfortable life in Babylon. 

Ezra 2 - A List of Returning Exiles

There is a parallel list in Nehemiah 7. The Nehemiah in Ezra 2:2 is not the same Nehemiah who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Also, this Mordecai is not the same person in the Book of Esther. 

This is the listing of the southern kingdom of Judah consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. 49,897 returned back under the direction of Zerubbabel to build the temple. They gave their wealth according to their ability to build the temple. 

The walk back to Jerusalem would have been almost 1,000 miles and there was danger of constant ambush by robbers, especially because they had the temple treasures with them. But God was leading, and the people who had a heart for Him were stirred to go. When they got there, the people settled in the respective towns and villages of their ancestors. 

Ezra 3 - The Rebuilding of the Altar and Temple

The people united together to rebuild the altar first because it was the center of worship. They needed to make atonement for their sins through blood sacrifices and start the regular ritual of morning and evening burnt offerings prescribed by their Law (Leviticus 1-7). These would have been the first burnt offerings in 50 years, since 586 B.C. They did this all even though they feared the foreigners who had been deported by the Assyrians into Palestine.

They began the period of preparation for building the temple May-June 536 B.C., exactly 70 years since the first deportation in 605. They traded food and olive oil for cedar wood imported from Lebanon just as Solomon had done in the building of the first temple 430 years earlier (966 B.C., 1 Kings 5:1-10, 18; 2 Chronicles 2). 

After the foundation was laid, the priests and Levites praised God as David had prescribed (1 Chronicles 16; 25) and similarly to how Solomon brought in the ark (2 Chronicles 5:12-13). 

There was great joy but great sorrow by those who remembered the glory of Solomon's temple compared to the current one. 

REFLECTION 

In July 2012, I walked the 120 acres of the land of my ancestors in Cross Fork, Pennsylvania. My grandmother left that town in 1906 after her parents both died within two weeks of one another, leaving her an orphan at 11 years of age.  I am the first to return to the land of my forefathers in over 100 years! I have wanted to go there for much of my life. It is a dream come true to finally have done it (it took the wedding of a dear friend in Pittsburgh to prompt us to go).  

My grandmother never returned to that land, and sadly, because of the bitterness of becoming an orphan at such a young age and dishonest dealings from church families in Cross Fork that caused her to lose her inheritance, she was always bitter toward God. She never returned to Cross Fork or God, and she did not like that I had decided to make Jesus my home. I walked that land by Kettle Creek with both joy and weeping. 

My Ancestor's Land along Kettle Creek in Cross Fork, Pennsylvania, July 2012

This gives me just a little bit of a glimpse of what it must have been like for the exiles to return to their homeland and settle in the towns and villages of their ancestors after 70 years. They were returning home. What joy but also what sorrow to remember the stories of the past glory and what once was. 

Jesus is our home. He is where we need to return every day. Many of us are held in captivity in our souls, and we need to return to Him where we can settle and find peace and rest there. 

APPLICATION 

Return to your true home today. Walk His land. Find rest and peace. 

PRAYER 

Psalm 126 is a "Song of Ascent" recalling the joy of the returning exiles. The agricultural reference in 126:5-6 indicates that they would face bad seasons (Haggai 1:9-11), but God would give them rain and harvests (Haggai 2:15-19) and keep His covenant promise.  Let it be your prayer today:

When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion,

We were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter

And our tongue with joyful shouting;

Then they said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

The Lord has done great things for us;

We are glad.

Restore our captivity, O Lord,

As the streams in the South. 

(The Negev desert south of Judah that overflowed in the rainy season)

Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.

He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,

Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

(Psalm 126:1-6)

I love verses 5 and 6 in The Message translation:

So those who planted their crops in despair
       will shout hurrahs at the harvest,
So those who went off with heavy hearts
       will come home laughing,
with armloads of blessing.

And here is a beautiful rendition of this Psalm by Bifrost Arts:

Psalm 120 & 137 - Captivity Songs

LINK: Psalm 120 & 137

BACKGROUND 

Psalm 120 

This psalm is the first of a group of Psalms (120-134) called the "Songs of Ascent." "Ascent" is from a root that means "to go up," as ascending a stairway.  They were sung by Jewish travelers on their way up to the temple in Jerusalem for the three annual feasts (Exodus 23:14-19; 34:22-24) - Passover in spring, Pentecost in early summer, and Tabernacles in the fall. Jerusalem was the highest city in Palestine. So, the pilgrims spent much of their time ascending to the city and then ascending the steps to the temple. The family of Jesus was taking the journey to Passover in Luke 2:41-52. 

Each psalm is a "step" along the journey. The Talmud (a collection of ancient Rabbinical writings) states that the fifteen Psalms correspond to the fifteen steps leading up to the temple. 

Psalm 120 begins in a hostile, distant land, Psalm 122 pictures them arriving in Jerusalem, and the rest of them are about moving toward the temple and ascending the temple steps while contemplating various characteristics of God. While on the journey, the pilgrims would contemplate the blessings of walking with God. 

What a beautiful picture! Eugene H. Peterson writes in A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society : 

But the ascent was not only literal, it was also a metaphor: the trip to Jerusalem lived a life upward toward God, an existence that advanced from one level to another in developing maturity -- what Paul described as "the goal, where God is beckoning us onward -- to Jesus" (Philippians 3:14, The Message).  p. 18

Psalm 120 is one of those psalms written by an anonymous author. The psalmist laments that he is far from home and surrounded by a pagan culture that could have been Babylon. 

Psalm 137 

This is a captivity song as the exiles wept over the destruction of Jerusalem beside the "rivers of Babylon" which was probably the Euphrates and the waterways stemming from it. 

REFLECTION on Psalm 120

Eugene Peterson writes:

People submerged in a culture swarming with lies and malice feel as if they are drowning in it: they can trust nothing they hear, depending on no one they meet. Such dissatisfaction with the world as it is in preparation for traveling in the way of Christian discipleship. The dissatisfaction, coupled with a longing for peace and truth, can set us on a pilgrim path of wholeness in God. 

A person has to be thoroughly disgusted with the way things are to find the motivation to set out on the Christian way. 

Psalm 120 is the song of such a person, sick with the lies and crippled with the hate, a person doubled up in pain over what is going on in the world. But it is not a mere outcry, it is pain that penetrates through despair and stimulates a new beginning -- a journey to God that becomes a life of peace.  (p. 25)

Are you disgusted with the way things are? Does your dissatisfaction with the world lead you to pray for it? I do not think we are shocked anymore at what is happening around us. I really believe that the media has sanitized us to the shock of the world and compassion for it that leads us to prayer. 

I say this as someone who grew up "glued to the TV screen."  We had them in every room, including the bathroom. My brother and I both had small ones in our room. Yep. We were all addicts. (My brother still is.) 

In the summer of 1980, I turned off the tube. I said no. Realizing that I was addicted to soap operas, I kissed the television goodbye. In 1995, someone felt sorry for us and gave us an old black and white, and I would let my kids watch Sesame Street and other "approved" PBS shows. We moved to Malaysia, and, for five dollars a month, we could get English-speaking news. Since all the news was censored there, it was a nice thing, but I started to get hooked back on it, even after 17 years of not watching it!

Since we have been back in the States, I have let more and more shows creep in, and I found myself not being as "shocked" by the world. Granted, most of what I watch is news, but I pulled the plug again on Memorial Day of this year, and I have not missed it AT ALL. It is amazing that in one month of not watching when I do happen to see something on the screen when it is on in places I visit, I am already shocked! 

Not all TV shows are bad, but the advertisements between shows and advertising of other shows that I would never watch can be pretty disturbing! (What was it with that "GCB" Show? I hope it got canceled [just checked, and it did after only 10 episodes]). Never watched it, but the trailers were disgusting!

I have pulled the plug from Memorial Day to Labor Day before, but I am not going to go back to regular viewing after Labor Day this year. I will check the internet for news now and then. If my husband wants to watch something occasionally, I will let him be the guide because he is much more disciplined than I am about television, having grown up out in the country where they only got two stations!

I want to be disgusted with the world, but I do not want to isolate myself from it either. I want to continue to stay informed, but I want to let that information lead me to prayer as my heart breaks for the things that break God's heart!

APPLICATION

How are you doing in your exposure to the world through different media? 

PRAYER

Lord, help our hearts to break for the things that break Your heart. Amen.

Psalm 132 - A Dwelling Place for God

LINK: Psalm 132

BACKGROUND

This is the thirteenth of the Psalms of Ascent. If you have forgotten what these Psalms are all about see HERE.

This Psalm of David speaks of him not resting until he found a resting place for the Ark, where God's presence dwelt. The Ark was in Ephrathah (Bethlehem, David's hometown) and had spent 20 years in Jaar (Kiriath Jearim, 1 Samuel 7:1-2) until it moved to Zion (2 Samuel 6).  David desired to build the temple so the Ark could have a permanent dwelling (2 Samuel 7), but Solomon was the one God chose to fulfill that desire. It is believed it was read at the dedication of the temple because Psalm 132:8-10 are quoted by Solomon in his prayer in the 2 Chronicles 6:41-42 account. When Solomon put the Ark in the temple, the glory of God came in (1 Kings 8:1-11). This psalm also parallels Psalm 89 and is considered one of the "Zion psalms" (See also Psalm 24, 48, 68, and 89). 

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption

God's covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7:8-29 swore that one of David's descendants would sit on the throne. There were two parts to this oath:

1) Conditional: David's descendants would rule over Israel as long as they followed God - The temple was completed in about 959 B.C. and the line of kings ended at the reign of Zedekiah in 586 B.C. because Israel did not follow through on their end.  Stay tuned. 

2) Unconditional: David's royal line would never end, God said, "I will cause the horn of David to spring forth; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed" (Ezekiel 29:21, Luke 1:69). That anointed is Jesus the Messiah, descendant of David (Matthew 1:17). His power and glory will last forever. 

REFLECTION 

I recently was lectured by a woman who sat in my living room and told me I was an idolater, deceived by Satan, and did not know and study the whole counsel of God enough to know that Jesus could not be God in the flesh. She and her partner also refused to pray with me because I would not be praying to Jehovah God and was, therefore, worshiping a false God.  Oh well. 

It is psalms like this that give me assurance that I am not barking up the wrong tree! Jesus is the One promised from long ago. Reading and studying the whole Bible confirms this. 

APPLICATION

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption

There are several things mentioned in this psalm that have a New Testament fulfillment in the person of Jesus:

Throne forever (12): Revelation 11:15 

Horn of David will spring forth (17): Luke 1:69 

Lamp (17): Revelations 21:23 

Mine Anointed (17): Matthew 16:15 (Christ = Messiah, Anointed One) 

Shining Crown (18): Revelation 19:12

It is vitally important to be able to know in your own mind who Jesus is. Let these Old Testament scriptures link you to the New Testament realities so that you may grow strong in your faith.

PRAYER

Lord, as the holiday season is right around the corner, I thank You that in the city of David there was born for me a Savior who is Christ (the Anointed One) the Lord.  Praise and glory to You alone. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

1 Kings 5 - 8 & Psalm 127 - Solomon Builds the Temple

LINKS:

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I am posting six days of reading in one post today because it deals with one topic: Solomon's Temple.

Day 1: 1 Kings 5
Day 2: 1 Kings 6
Day 3: Psalm 127 (The Lord builds the house!)

Day 4: 1 Kings 7
Day 5-6: 1 Kings 8

1 Kings 5-8, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.(click on the picture to see a bigger version)

BACKGROUND

David was a warrior and not a peacemaker. Consequently, God did not want him to build the Temple. Solomon enjoyed peace from all his enemies and could now employ all his wisdom and energy toward managing this God-ordained, grand undertaking. 

A key verse in these chapters is, "I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God" (1 Kings 5:5). The Hebrew root of this word "intend" means to "make visible." He wanted to make what was just something in his father's mind a visible reality. The King James Version says, "I purpose to build a house." I like that! 

So, with this life purpose, he gathered the finest material and conscripted laborers. Four hundred and eighty years after the Israelites left Egypt, having built for Pharaohs who worshiped false Gods, Solomon started the project that would define his reign. The project took seven years and was completed in 959 B.C. It was beautiful on the outside with white limestone, cedar, and gold; much more elaborate than its predecessor: The Tabernacle. For comparisons on the furnishings, you can look at our previous study of the Tabernacle furnishings in Exodus 25 - 30. The furnishings for the Temple were more elaborate, but the basic Tabernacle was within the Temple.

Here is a Jewish perspective on the Tabernacle and Temple:

The Tabernacle and the Temple are not two separate entities; in reality they are one and the same. This idea is emphasized even more emphatically by the commentators and scholars who point out that by comparison, the measurements of the Temple in Jerusalem reflect those of the Tabernacle. For example: the area of the Tabernacle was ten cubits by thirty; the Temple stood at twenty cubits by sixty. The idea is that although the Tabernacle's measurements were relatively small - small enough to enable it to travel conveniently through the desert - still, along general lines of comparison the two structures follow the same pattern of design. 

But once the Holy Temple was erected in its permanent, pre-designated location in Jerusalem, the era of the Tabernacle officially came to a close... and the Tabernacle, for all practice and purpose, became ancient history for Israel. New factors came into being, which irrevocably altered the previous situation: The altar of the Temple was established on its designated spot, the place on which Isaac had been bound by his father Abraham. And the Sanctuary itself was erected on the "shoulder" of Mount Moriah, in keeping with the verse "He shall dwell between his shoulders" (Deut. 33:12) This is the spot which had been chosen by God since the very beginning of time; it was David and Samuel who clarified that it was indeed this spot, the "threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite" (II Samuel 24:18) that God had chosen to rest His presence for all time. From the time that the first Holy Temple was built by King Solomon, there would be no going back to the Tabernacle. (https://templeinstitute.org/)

It took Solomon thirteen years to build his palace. It took longer than the Temple because it was one huge palace complex that housed several interconnected buildings that had civic functions. It included an armory (10:17; Isaiah 22:8) and barracks. It was 11,250 square feet compared to the 2,700 square feet of the Temple. It is thought to have been south of the Temple, but no archaeological evidence has been found.

In 1 Kings 8, the Temple was dedicated during the Feast of Tabernacles which lasted eight days (September/October). In the case of the dedication of the Temple, the celebration lasted for two weeks instead of just one. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, "The Feast of Tabernacles commemorated Israel's years of wandering in the wilderness (Leviticus 23:33, 41-43). It was fitting that the temple should be dedicated at this feast since that permanent sanctuary now symbolized the end of Israel's wanderings" (1:505).

The final furnishing was the Ark of the Covenant, and when it was placed in the most holy place, the cloud filled the Temple and represented the glory of God. This also happened at the Tabernacle dedication (Exodus 40:34-35). The Temple was not a "container" for God because God is everywhere, but it was a place where His presence and character would be evident.

After Solomon's prayer of dedication and the sacrifices, we learn in the parallel version of this story in 2 Chronicles 7 that the fire came down and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices overwhelming the priests and sons of Israel so much so that they bowed down with their faces to the ground and worshiped and gave the Lord praise saying, "Truly He is good, truly His loving kindness is everlasting" (2 Chronicles 7:3).

REFLECTION

Solomon's passion/mission was building a house for God. I love his intentionality in fulfilling that passion too. Once his kingdom was unified, secure, strong, and prosperous, he went to work on it! He had to wait a bit though.

I have this passion, and I am in a position of great peace on every side. A few more things need to fall into place, but I feel like God is leading me toward the next step of building on that passion. Now, I just need to pray in the resources. I want to be intentional. These chapters were a great encouragement to me to "purpose" in my heart to do it!

APPLICATION

What is your passion? Do you feel God is calling you toward something, and you need to "purpose" in your heart to move forward?

If you do not know your passion in serving the Lord, here are some questions that might help you understand it:

1) If I could snap my fingers and know that I could not fail, what would I do? 

2) At the end of my life, I’d love to be able to look back and know that I’d done something about: 

3) If I were to mention your name to a group of your friends, what would they say you were really interested in or passionate about? (Reminder: Ask those closest to you what they would say.) 

4) What conversation would keep you talking late into the night?

5) At this point, if you can describe your passion in a brief sentence, skip to Item 10 of this assessment. If you would like more clarification, consider the following statements: 

6) What I would most like to do for others is: 

    The people that I would like to help most are (children, women, singles, single moms, college, teens, etc.) ... 

8) What are the top five most meaningful experiences in your life and why were they meaningful? 

Once you write them down, do you see a theme throughout the experiences? 

9) I think the area where I could make the most significant contribution is:

If you need more help in identifying your passion, look for patterns in your answers. For example, can you see any themes? Does a particular age group keep coming up? Is there a need that keeps surfacing? Are you serving in a similar role in different areas?
Can you prioritize your concerns? 

10) Based on my answers to the above questions, I sense I have a passion for:  

(SHAPE Network) 

PRAYER

Psalm 127

Pray in a Lectio Divina way through this Psalm on one of the days.

1 Kings 8 

1 Kings 8:23-53 will definitely be a shot in the arm to your prayer life! "Sit and soak" in this prayer and pray through it and personalize it for yourself! Observe Solomon pour out his heart to God in worship and adoration and do the same. Observe how Solomon recalls God's covenant promises, recall all the times God has been faithful to you, and thank Him! The prayer is full of specific petitions which may not apply to you, but they follow a pattern involving prayer for:

1) God's presence and protection, 

2) Forgiveness of trespasses and sins, and 

3) Victory in battle

I encourage you to "pour out" specific petitions to the Lord. God hears and answers your prayer when they are consistent with His promises! So, claim His promises and proceed in prayer. "If we ask anything according to His will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14).

Pray with confidence, my friend!

Psalm 108 & 124 - Triumphal Songs of Help and Deliverance

LINK: Psalm 108 & Psalm 124 
(Parallel Amplified and The Message versions for fun)

BACKGROUND 

Psalms 108 and 124 are more "victory over enemy psalms." So, I put them here to complement Psalms 20 and 21.

Psalm 108:1-5 is similar to Psalm 57:7-11. Psalm 108:6-13 is similar to Psalm 60:5-12. It is a song of triumph.  David had the confident expectation that all His enemies among the peoples would be destroyed through God's divine help. 

Psalm 124 is special in that it is a Song of Ascent that I already explained here. It is a psalm rich in metaphors. Can you identify them?

REFLECTION (written in 2011)

I was praying through Psalm 124 in The Message tonight and personalized it:

Oh, blessed be God!
      He didn't go off and leave me.
   He didn't abandon me defenseless,
      helpless as a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs.

  I've flown free from their fangs,
      free of their traps, free as a bird.
   Their grip is broken;
      I'm free as a bird in flight.

  God's strong name is my help,
      the same God who made heaven and earth.

I could go into detail, but I have to be careful and just say that I was once in the midst of a pack of snarling dogs (metaphorically speaking). But God did not go off and leave me, and He allowed me to fly free as a bird away from their trap.  I had been trapped in between those dogs for a while, and it had taken its toll on me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Once God delivered me, my kids immediately noticed a difference in me.  Every June 16, I celebrate another year of "freedom from the fangs," and I give praise and glory to God who did not go off and leave me.  God's strong name is my help!  YIPPEE!

APPLICATION 

God's strong name is your help too. Take some time to soak in Psalm 124 today. Do you now feel, or have you ever felt like you were being eaten alive?  If it was in the past, think through the situation and remember how God freed you, how you felt when he freed you, and give praise to God for freeing you. I will never forget the feeling I had when I walked out the door for the last time as a part of that pack of snarling dogs. It was a beautiful spring day, and for the first time in years, I was FREE and could breathe again. Reliving memories like this is helpful for you because they help you remember that He can do it again!

If you are currently in a situation like that now, pray through that. Do you believe God is for you or against you? 

PRAYER

Thank You that Your strong name is our help, God. Free us from the grip of the enemy, and help us to fly. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Psalm 131 - A Weaned Child

LINK: Psalm 131 ( a very short reading but meant to be savored)

Since it is a short reading, you might want to meditate on it with Nathan Foster of Renovare. I highly recommend it:

Audio Retreat: Meditation on Psalm 131

BACKGROUND 

Here is another "Psalm of Ascent." If you forget what these are, read the Psalm 133 post HERE.

I placed this as the last Psalm of David's conflict with Saul. It smacks of final surrender to God's purposes. He is composed and quieted and rests. It is the period at the end of a long and weary battle with a fierce foe. 

REFLECTION 

I am one of those people who, by nature, would not have the description of "composed" attached to my name. :) My natural tendency is to freak out, but I do not do that as much anymore. I have had to learn to trust. I have had to learn to not get myself involved in matters "too difficult" for me. I used to have a "savior complex" when helping people.  Often I would get in too deep and have to cry, "UNCLE!"  I would do it in my own power thinking that I was the only one responsible for that person's growth, but even though it really seemed like unselfish caring, it was really more selfish ambition, hoping I would feel better about myself if I had success in helping someone, but "A mature believer leaves the clamor of proud ambition and rests in the Lord" (The Bible Knowledge Commentary). And, yes, a "savior complex" is a veiled form of "proud ambition." It sounds sweet and nice, but it is pride. I am not a savior, but Jesus is!

Psalm 131 is my relinquishing psalm when I am finally in that spot where I have given up my vain, self-sufficient efforts to fix things that are too big for me to handle. It is the point where I finally realize that He is God, and I am not. Pride is handed over to the parent, and I rest. My "great matter" is handled by a loving Father God. It is such a wonderful feeling when I can do that. Now, I pray before I involve myself in difficult matters to see it He wants me to even get involved! Many times, my rushing in to "help" has just been me telling myself I "should" rather than the Lord leading me into it. I wait on the Lord's leading and timing now. 

APPLICATION 

Pray through this Psalm and lay matters that are too difficult for you at His feet. I suggest praying through it using the audio meditation linked above. (Look back on the post this week from Psalm 40 for the meaning behind the word "wait" too.)

PRAYER

Prayer through Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of this Psalm from The Message:

God, I'm not trying to rule the roost,

I don't want to be king of the mountain.

I haven't meddled where I have no business

or fantasized grandiose plans.

I've kept my feet on the ground,

I've cultivated a quiet heart.

Like a baby content in its mother's arms,

my soul is a baby content.

Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.

Hope now, hope always!

Psalm 133 - Savoring Unity

LINK: Psalm 133 

BACKGROUND

An Introduction to the Songs of Ascent

Psalms 120 - 134 are part of a group of Psalms called the "Songs of Ascent" or "Pilgrim Psalms."  "Ascent" is from a root that means "to go up," as ascending a stairway.  They were sung by Jewish travelers on their way up to the temple in Jerusalem for the three annual feasts (Exodus 23:14-19; 34:22-24) - Passover in spring, Pentecost in early summer, and Tabernacles in the fall. Jerusalem was the highest city in Palestine at 2,600 feet above sea level. So, the pilgrims spent much of their time ascending to the city and then ascending the steps to the temple. Jesus' family was taking the journey to Passover in Luke 2:41-52. 

Each psalm is a "step" along the journey. The Mishnah (the writings on the Jewish tradition that was compiled in A.D. 200) states that the fifteen psalms correspond to the fifteen steps that led up from the Court of Women to the Court of Israelites in the temple.

Psalm 120 begins in a hostile, distant land, Psalm 121 is the journey through the hills to Jerusalem, and Psalm 122 is their arrival! The rest of the psalms are about moving toward and up the ascending steps to the temple while contemplating various characteristics of God. While on the journey, the pilgrims would contemplate the blessings of walking with God.

What a beautiful picture! Eugene H. Peterson writes in A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society:

But the ascent was not only literal, it was also a metaphor: the trip to Jerusalem lived a life upward toward God, an existence that advanced from one level to another in developing maturity -- what Paul described as "the goal, where God is beckoning us onward -- to Jesus" (Philippians 3:14, The Message).  p. 18

Psalm 133 

Of all the Psalms in the Songs of Ascent, ten are anonymous, one is attributed to Solomon (127) and four are attributed to the main character of our 1 Samuel story, David (122, 124, 131, 133). 

Imagine the pilgrims walking together up the steps to the temple when you read this Psalm With one voice, they went to praise God. I put this particular psalm here because it fits with David's beautiful friendship with Jonathan in 1 Samuel.

Psalm 133:2 compares unity to precious oil. This probably refers to the holy anointing oil for the high priest. Moses used this oil to anoint Aaron as the first high priest along with all the priests (Exodus 29:7, 30:22, 25, and 30). It flowed down his beard and shoulder and onto the breastplate with the names of the 12 tribes. It symbolized the unity of the nation of worshipers under the priests.

Psalm 133:3 compares unity to the dew of Mount Hermon, in the north. It was the tallest mountain in Palestine (almost 10,000 feet), southeast of the Sea of Galilee. The dew of Hermon was very heavy. Mount Zion was on the lesser mountains and 200 miles south, but God's dew fell on both.  Unity is refreshing and invigorating to the soul!

REFLECTION

As I was doing a "summer soak" in Psalm 133, Teala, one of my best friends since the late '70s, called to find out if we could meet to catch up over a Lavender Lemonade at a local hangout. What a perfect application of this Psalm!

Our fellowship was as refreshing and invigorating as the lemonade. We have unity as friends! I read her this Psalm as we sat outside on a beautiful, Oregon summer day.

APPLICATION/PRAYER

Meditate and pray through these verses. Then call up a friend and thank them for the unity you enjoy. If you are in conflict with a friend, call them up and lovingly make peace with this Psalm in mind.

Another application might be to read the book by Eugene Peterson quoted above. It is a great read!