Wisdom Books Psalms

David and Zion Were Chosen

Discover Jesus as: King of Glory Psalms 132-133 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 456 of 730
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Teaching Notes

INTRO

This week we finish our study in the book of Psalms. The study of Psalms has by far been the longest teaching series we’ve ever completed on any book of the Bible and has been a great study for me. I wasn’t sure about dealing with the up and down emotional themes throughout Psalms, but it hasn’t felt repetitive to me. Our phrase for the book of Psalms is King of Glory, but the one underlying theme that has surprised me is that the King of Glory is coming to Jerusalem. So many of the psalms point to Jerusalem—to the celebration of worship there, to the presence of God there, and to the future work of the Lord there. Psalm 132 fits into three categories. It is a royal psalm, a Psalm of Ascent, and a Messianic psalm. This is the longest of the Psalms of Ascent.

In Psalm 132 is the excitement of going up to Jerusalem into the dwelling place of the Lord (v. 7). The Jews understood Jerusalem was God’s city. Psalm 132 is similar to Psalm 89. Both psalms reference an anointed king and that applys to both the time in which it was written and the future King of Glory. Along with the anointed king, both psalms present an enemy to be faced. Both psalms refer to the horn of salvation and to the throne. MacArthur states that Psalm 132 “contains the nation’s prayers for David’s royal descendants which look ahead, even to Messiah.”1

TEACHING

Psalm 132:1-5: The anonymous psalmist asked God to remember the hardships David endured (v. 1) and how he had sworn an oath to the “Mighty One of Jacob” (v. 2). This is a rare designation of God, used first by Jacob (Genesis 49:24–25). Isaiah 1:24 uses the term “the Mighty One of Israel.” Israel was the second name God gave Jacob. Both phrases were used to show that God provided protection and blessing in times of hardship. In verses 3–5, David was driven by the need to find a dwelling place for God and His ark (2 Samuel 7:1–2). This became a hardship for David (2 Samuel 24), because he was not allowed to build God a dwelling place, even though he bought the land for it. God told David his son Solomon would be the one to build the temple.

Psalm 132:6–7: The psalmist moved from David’s hardships to David’s descendants. He stated that they heard the ark was near Bethlehem in an area called Ephrathah and found it in the fields of Jaar (also known as Kiriath-jearim). The ark had been at Kiriath-jearim for 20 years (1 Samuel 7:1–2) before it was taken to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1–5). MacArthur explains, “God’s throne is in heaven and His footstool is on earth.”2 In this context, “His footstool,” in verse 7 referred to “worship at the ark of the covenant on earth.”3 Constable describes the response to the journey of the ark back to Jerusalem:

The Israelite pilgrims who sang this psalm resolved to go to worship God on Mt. Zion, to the place in Jerusalem where the ark rested (v. 7), referred to here as God’s “footstool.” That was where God dwelt in a localized way among His people. It was His earthly throne. They called on God to meet with them there. They spoke of “the ark of God’s strength” because it represented God’s strength in Israel’s previous battles.4

The ark had been through a lot, including going before the people in the wilderness and leading them across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

Psalm 132:8-10: The Israelites called on God to “rise up, Lord…You and Your powerful ark” and meet them in Jerusalem (v. 8a). Nelson’s Commentary points out that they asked God to send His Anointed One to them as He had promised.5 The psalmist asked that God put everything back into place in His city—His ark, His king, His priests, and His godly people in worship (vv. 8b–9). The psalmist begged God not to turn away from them because He had promised His Anointed One forever (v. 10).

Psalm 132:11–18: The psalmist reminded God that He swore to David his descendants would reign on the throne forever (vv. 11–12). Nelson’s Commentarystates verse 11 was “a poetic recasting of the central words of the Davidic covenant” (2 Samuel 7:8–16).6 Sadly, we know how many of the kings who descended from David were bad kings. “The promise to David was specific in terms of God’s intended blessings on faithful sons, His chastening of wayward sons, and His ultimate fulfillment in the anticipated coming Son.” 7

God chose Zion (Jerusalem) to be His home and His resting place forever. He desired it (vv. 13–14). God would bless His people in His city, clothe His priests with salvation, and the people would “shout for joy” (vv. 15–16). To “shout for joy” literally means to “utter loudly” and was used to describe “hearty, joyful singing.”8 In Jerusalem, God would make a “horn grow for David” and prepared a lamp of authority for the coming Messiah (v. 17) (Isaiah 11:1–5). The coming Messiah would wear the crown while His enemies would be clothed in shame (v. 18).

CLOSING

The Psalms of Ascent that were sung going up to Jerusalem were for all of us. We will all be going up to heavenly Zion (Hebrews 12:22–24). The Messiah’s kingdom will be established forever (Isaiah 9:7), and His enemy will not withstand Him. The King of Glory is perfect It is a song of preparation for all of us, because we will all ascend to Him in His time.

  1. John MacArthur, John MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 686.

  2. MacArthur, p. 686.

  3. MacArthur, p. 686.

  4. Thomas Constable, Dr. Constable’s Bible Expository Study Notes: Psalms, p. 450; available at https://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/psalms.pdf.

  5. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999) p. 734.

    Nelson’s Commentary, p. 734.

  6. Nelson’s Commentary, p. 734.

  7. Nelson’s Commentary, p. 734.

Questions

  1. Why was David so insistent on finding and bringing the ark back to Jerusalem in Psalm 132:3–5? (2 Samuel 6:12)
  2. In Psalm 132:12, the Lord made a promise to David. Where else in Scripture was this promise made? (2 Samuel 7:11–12; Psalm 89:3–4)
  3. Psalm 133:1 speaks on how good it is to “dwell in unity.” There are several instances in Scripture where unity and joining together can accomplish much. Where in Scripture are these mentioned (Deuteronomy 32:30; Romans 12:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Hebrews 10:25)? Are you dwelling with your brethren? If not, what can you do to spend more time with like-minded people?
  4. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Psalms 132—133 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Psalm 133:1

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!”

When there is unity on a sports team, the game is more likely to end in victory. When there is unity in the body of Christ, it leads to victory in the kingdom. The Lord longs for oneness and unity. The world will believe in Jesus when they witness harmony among brothers and sisters in Christ.

How do you make every effort to live in harmony with one another? Love binds everything together in perfect unity. So put on love. Remember love comes from above—from the love of your Heavenly Father. Allow your love to overflow from the love you receive from Him. Love your family. Love your brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. Don’t keep records of wrong. Forgive others and seek forgiveness. As you love others, the world will take notice and witness the oneness. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, lay yourself aside and walk in humility. If you feel a lack of unity with a brother or sister, it is time to seek reconciliation. Begin with asking the Lord how to love them today, and walk it out in obedience, trusting He will be with you.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!”

— Psalm 133:1

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • John 17:20–23 — “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
  • 1 Corinthians 13:4–8a — “Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in

unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never ends.”

Colossians 3:14 — “Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity.”