Psalms – Prayers of Honesty and Praise
As I read the pilgrim song of the people who are excited with David to long last build a temple for God, I am also thinking of how, today, (and maybe back then), we try to limit Who God is and Where He should reside in our lives. Do we put try to “house” God in our church buildings, only going to meet Him and do business with Him when the doors open? Do we limit Who He is by only coming to Him when things seem out of our control without considering that all things are not really in our control in the first place? Mm. Who is in first place? Who or what do we think about first each morning? Each afternoon? Each night?
Psalm 132, The Message
A Pilgrim Song
132 1-5 O God, remember David, remember all his troubles!
And remember how he promised God,
made a vow to the Strong God of Jacob,
“I’m not going home,
and I’m not going to bed,
I’m not going to sleep,
not even take time to rest,
Until I find a home for God,
a house for the Strong God of Jacob.”
6-7 Remember how we got the news in Ephrathah,
learned all about it at Jaar Meadows?
We shouted, “Let’s go to the shrine dedication!
Let’s worship at God’s own footstool!”8-10 Up, God, enjoy your new place of quiet repose,
you and your mighty covenant ark;
Get your priests all dressed up in justice;
prompt your worshipers to sing this prayer:
“Honor your servant David;
don’t disdain your anointed one.”
11-18 God gave David his word,
he won’t back out on this promise:
“One of your sons
I will set on your throne;
If your sons stay true to my Covenant
and learn to live the way I teach them,
Their sons will continue the line—
always a son to sit on your throne.
Yes—I, God, chose Zion,
the place I wanted for my shrine;
This will always be my home;
this is what I want, and I’m here for good.
I’ll shower blessings on the pilgrims who come here,
and give supper to those who arrive hungry;
I’ll dress my priests in salvation clothes;
the holy people will sing their hearts out!
Oh, I’ll make the place radiant for David!
I’ll fill it with light for my anointed!
I’ll dress his enemies in dirty rags,
but I’ll make his crown sparkle with splendor.”
FROM THE HEART
The completion of the temple was no assurance of God’s blessing on Israel, for the important thing was that the people fulfill their responsibilities toward the Lord. God told David to get the materials ready and Solomon would direct the temple to be completed.
This work does bring God’s people together for one purpose or goal. God is honored and praised for the completion of the mission to build it. Does this building keep God first in their lives? We find later that it does not. In fact, Jesus, who is God in flesh, comes to visit what should have been a house of prayer to God, to find a “den of thieves”, using the Temple courtyard as a way to make money while cheating people in the process.Be careful, I’m hearing God say today. We must go to God daily, asking for His help, direction and wisdom to live in this corrupted world.. When we abide in Him. He abides in us wherever we are. This is a daily exercise. It is REAL Life by God working in and through us.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for all You are to us. We thank you for all You have done, are doing and will do in our lives! We praise you first and only! Help us to stay focused and alert. Don’t let us resort to thinking of your house as the only place to meet you. May buildings dedicated to You be places of prayer to You, places of Your saving grace, and houses where Your Holy Spirit is evident in the people who lead the people to praise You! Help us, Lord. Thank you for saving us! Right where we are. I love you, Lord with all that is in me.
In Jesus Name, Amen
