Series Title: Going Up with the Psalms of Ascent (chapter 26)
These edited transcripts are taken from Dwight's most loved audio series, Highways in Their Hearts. Click here to see the downloadable audio version in our online store.
Here are some principles from Psalm 132 that have deeply influenced me, and I pray they will also benefit you.
1) The way of the pilgrim is the way of passion.
For you and I to enter into the fullness of God's presence and power requires both a passion for the divine and the divine passion within us.
The Bible describes God as jealous. The Jewish Publication Society translates jealous as passionate; Yahweh is passionate. He is a God intensely engaged with his people; it matters deeply to Him what happens to them.
Therefore, if you and I are to make the pilgrimage into His presence and experience His power—if we are to grow up in Christ and be conformed to him—it will not happen by some apathetic, laid-back, intellectually distant attitude. It requires passionate commitment and engagement, an intensity of seeking and serving the things of God.
We want a heart after God like David of old.
David was not a perfect man; his faults were numerous. But he loved his God and pursued Him with passion. He could dance before Him with unbridled rejoicing and humble himself when confronted with his sin. But most of all, as Psalm 132 reminds us, David glimpsed into the mystery of God's desire to dwell with His people and labored unceasingly to see that promise realized.
To most Protestants, it seems a little strange to get passionate about the things of God. I think we are somewhat fearful of the body, emotions, and intensity. We have developed an attitude that to be spiritual means to be quiet, reserved, almost detached—as if our soul is removed from this body and floats around in the spiritual dimensions. But that is not the biblical picture.
None of us are strangers to passion. Whether it's a hobby, a pastime, or a sporting event, we've all made our throats sore, yelling enthusiastically at one time or another. How many times have you made yourself hoarse from shouting and singing the praises of God?
Most of us ministers wouldn't dare humiliate ourselves before our congregations, so lost in the presence of God that we cared nothing about what others thought. We wouldn't dare make fools of ourselves. Rather than disrobing like David, we drape ourselves in fancy garments. Rather than speak plainly out of humility, we affect haughty, sacred-sounding speech designed to impress.
I ask myself, how many times have I lost sleep worrying about God's welfare?
What about His reputation, saving activity, and people in this world? Trust me, I have lost plenty of sleep worrying about myself, my ministry, my family, and my loved ones. But how often am I uncomfortable because of a heavy heart for what this world is doing to profane His holiness?
To be a real pilgrim means you have to burn with a holy intensity. You have to burn—not with emotions artificially generated and hyped up by some Pentecostal preacher or fancy musicians. You have to burn with a holy fire that does not consume, just like the bush that Moses stood before. Emotional passion will exhaust you, but spiritual passion will energize you.
We need to pray for that fire. John Wesley spoke of it as a heart strangely warmed. All God's great men and women come into that burning presence where their hearts are deeply stirred and nothing satisfies but God himself. I pray we become passionate about pursuing God's purposes, like David.
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah. (Psalm 143:5-6)
2) As pilgrims draw nearer to God's consuming fire, His priorities become increasingly their preoccupations.
Though I have touched on this principle, I wish to focus on one particular aspect. From a New Covenant perspective, we know God is still building a house suitable for himself. Our Lord Jesus said when kingdom people gather to worship, he would be there amidst his church.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Eph 2:19-22)
The apostles and prophets remind us here that the church of the Living God needs the whole Word of God—both Testaments.
When he says, a dwelling place for God by the Spirit, Paul is using imagery from the Hebrew Scriptures. God cares passionately for his church, so much that he gave his Son up that it would be built up. And because he cares, we should care. The state of the church and the state of the church in the world matters to God.
When David came into his kingdom, his top priority was establishing a suitable habitation for God. Likewise, when we come into the kingdom, our first priority should be to have the same heart for God—a burning desire to prepare His people as His holy temple, a suitable dwelling for His presence in the world.
Pilgrimage is not a matter of the lone rangers, each going their own way. We are not engaged here in Buddhism or Hinduism in which you turn within and begin your ascent into the spiritual realms. No, that is not the way of the Lord God of Israel. You go with others on pilgrimage; you must care for others; what happens to them must matter to you. The church is not perfect, but it is important.
A friend called me some years ago; he was distraught with the church and gave me a whole list of things in which the church was wrong. I pointed out to him that the church was also partly right on every one of those issues; it depends on how you look at it. It is like a glass that you pour water in until it reaches the midpoint—and when you look at that glass, what do you see? Is it half empty, or is it half full?
It depends on whether you are looking for emptiness or water. The church is not perfect, but it matters to God and should matter to us. We should be reluctant to criticize and eager to build up. Jesus wept over Jerusalem before he offered himself up for her. He laid his life down for the church. How could we, his disciples and fellow pilgrims, do otherwise?
We need to travail over the state of the church; we need to lose sleep over it (I'm speaking metaphorically). It matters to us because we are God's dwelling place in this fallen world. We should work to build it up and make it suitable.
But also keep in mind the text in Ex 25:8, let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst, means both "I will dwell in your midst" and "I will also dwell in you." You must realize that you are individually and that we are collectively a temple for the Holy Spirit. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor 6:19-20)
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Want to go deeper? Click here to explore audio seminars by Dwight A. Pryor.
Interested in taking one of our dynamic online courses? Click here.
This study is from a professionally produced transcription of the audio recording. It was edited for readability by the team at JC Studies.
Dwight A. Pryor (1945-2011) was a gifted Bible teacher of exceptional clarity and depth who earned the friendship and admiration of both Christian and Jewish scholars—in the United States and Israel—as well as the respect and appreciation of followers of Jesus around the world. His expertise in the language, literature, and culture of Israel during the life and time of Jesus and the early church yield insights that nourish every area of faith and practice.
Dwight founded JC Studies in 1984 to edify the people of God. Click here to explore over fifty of his audio and video seminars.
Series Title: Going Up with the Psalms of Ascent (chapter 25)
These edited transcripts are taken from Dwight's most loved audio series, Highways in Their Hearts. Click here to see the downloadable audio version in our online store.
Now that we've examined the historical setting of Psalm 132 let's unpack the richness of this psalm verse by verse.
Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured, how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob (1-2)
The sages of Israel observe that not many vows are mentioned in the Bible and with good reason. You should be very reluctant to vow to God because it is a matter He takes seriously. Be hesitant to make one, but once you have done so, they say, be eager and go to every length necessary (even if it costs your life) to fulfill your vow—the very thing David is willing to do.
"I will not enter my house or get into my bed, I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob." (3-5)
An ancient Jewish commentary says the title Mighty One of Jacob is used here because it connects to the first vow in the Bible.
Jacob made it at Bethel when he dreamt of a staircase ascending and descending from heaven. There he made a vow to the LORD: If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you." (Gen 28:20-22)
Jacob is the first vow maker, and in Psalm 132, David references the Mighty God of Jacob, the One who received the first vow. Notice David's passion for the things of God. He cannot be at peace or comfortable until he has made every effort to pursue God's purposes in his life.
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!" Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy. For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one. (6-10)
The text changes here from the first person to the third person plural as if a choir is singing amid a liturgical procession—perhaps on the occasion of King Solomon's enthronement and placing the ark in the temple he constructed. The psalm functions as a reenactment of the original events, inviting worshippers to join in the liturgical procession of bringing the ark into the holy temple.
How King David acted on his vow is exemplary.
The prophet Nathan indicated that it was not God's will that David build God a house but rather that his son would. In Psalm 131, David said, in effect, I don't take on matters too great for me; I know the boundaries of my domain, what is my responsibility and what is not.
David does not react negatively to God's message through the prophet, which he would have if he wanted the glory of building the house for the LORD. Instead, he humbly engages in every act of preparation necessary so that when Solomon is ready, the temple can be built according to God's specifications.
David consecrated the site of the future temple, procured the means and materials for its construction, arranged for the future temple service, inspired and excited the people, and gave his son the model to build the temple. In so doing, he imposed on himself several hardships alluded to in Psalm 132:1.
Let's pause here to reflect again on the beauty of reciprocity highlighted in this psalm. In verses 2-9, David makes a vow to God, and in verses 10-18, God makes a vow to David.
Here is what I mean. The temple and the ark within it served as the point of mediation between God and his people. The priests who served in that temple became the mouthpiece for the LORD. So God would anoint them by His Spirit, and they would prophetically speak on His behalf, giving His response to petitions that were made at the temple. I understand verses 10-18 as a Spirit-inspired prophecy given in response to the petition of the preceding verses.
The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne." (11-12)
The LORD assures them he will not take back His promise. But notice carefully that His unconditional covenant has a conditional aspect. The unbroken lineage of David's sons who sit on the throne will only happen if they are obedient. But as we know from history, they were not (even Solomon was not). That line was broken, but it was not severed because the unconditional part of God's covenant with David is: "Your throne will endure forever."
Human unfaithfulness does not annul God's faithfulness.
Though we are fickle, He remains faithful. If Yahweh makes a vow (an oath, a pledge), you can hold Him to it; God always keeps His Word. What is our confidence that this is so? It is based entirely on His holy character. He is a God of grace (hesed), which means steadfast love and covenant faithfulness.
Some ten centuries later, a son of David was born who indeed established the Davidic throne. And what was his message? Filled with the Holy Spirit, he announced, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15). The one who called himself the Son of Man established, in the words of Daniel, a kingdom which will endure forever (Dan 2:44). And it endures to this day over 2000 years later!
For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. (13-14)
The confidence of the answer in verses 11 and 12 is based on verses 13 and 14. The Israelites did not set up a committee and say: "LORD, we think Zion should be your dwelling place because it is a lovely city, and the mountain view here in summertime is great." By His mercy and grace, the Lord God Almighty chose Zion. That is why the throne will continue, why the line of David will reign. His promises are the foundation of our hope.
I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy. There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. (15-17)
The phrase I will bless takes us back to the Abrahamic promise, even back to the original blessing in the Garden of Eden. The presence of the Holy One amidst His people is the source of every blessing.
The word salvation parallels the word righteousness in verse 9 and continues to reveal the intent of His desire to dwell with.
The word "horn" is a symbol of strength and might, and it refers to the king. But more than that, ancient interpreters understood it as a reference to the Messiah. The 15th benediction of the Jewish prayer liturgy reads: "Make the branch of thy servant David to shoot forth speedily, and let his horn rise high by virtue of thy salvation."
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Zechariah says: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (Luke 1:67-68). So that we will get the connection, Zechariah makes it for us: to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant (72).
His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine! (Psalm 132:18)
Want to go deeper? Click here to explore audio seminars by Dwight A. Pryor.
Interested in taking one of our dynamic online courses? Click here.
This study is from a professionally produced transcription of the audio recording. It was edited for readability by the team at JC Studies.
Dwight A. Pryor (1945-2011) was a gifted Bible teacher of exceptional clarity and depth who earned the friendship and admiration of both Christian and Jewish scholars—in the United States and Israel—as well as the respect and appreciation of followers of Jesus around the world. His expertise in the language, literature, and culture of Israel during the life and time of Jesus and the early church yield insights that nourish every area of faith and practice.
Dwight founded JC Studies in 1984 to edify the people of God. Click here to explore over fifty of his audio and video seminars.
Series Title: Going Up with the Psalms of Ascent (chapter 24)
These edited transcripts are taken from Dwight's most loved audio series, Highways in Their Hearts. Click here to see the downloadable audio version in our online store.
At the beginning of this study, I offered Psalm 84:5 as a guiding image for our journey together: Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. My premise is this, if we wish to travel more intentionally into God's presence and power, we must set a highway toward spiritual maturity in our hearts. This can be symbolized by a journey to Jerusalem, the place of His dwelling and presence.
We seek ancient wisdom on walking with the living God from this purposeful grouping of Psalms 120-134; spiritual lessons about growing up in our holy faith. In a word, we desire to become more Christ-like.
We just finished reading Psalm 131, the shortest of the collection, which has one of the most challenging lessons: humility. When we pass that threshold of learning to humble ourselves, God reorganizes our thinking by drawing us into His inner chamber and revealing to us His priorities and, conversely, what are to be our preoccupations.
Now we come to Psalm 132, the longest of the Psalms of Ascent, strategically placed near the climactic end of our pilgrimage. I want to explore it from the perspective of David's passion, the fire burning in his heart for his God. Before diving into some useful applications, let's place this psalm in its wonderfully rich historical context so that we can more fully appreciate what is going on.
Structurally, this psalm consists of two movements: first, David's pledge, followed by Yahweh's promise. Said another way, first comes the psalmist's petition, followed by the priest's prophetic response.
Verses 1-5 focus on David's passion for God's presence among His people embodied in the Ark of the Covenant (Ark of YHWH-Josh 4:5). The Ark is a chest made of acacia wood overlaid with gold, with cherubim on each side. It was designed according to the LORD's specifications and constructed under the anointing of the Holy Spirit by Bezalel. The Ark was the place (the point) of contact between the infinite God and His finite people.
The word dwelling—used twice in Psalm 132—is crucial for understanding the Hebrew Scriptures.
Dwelling is used as a verb to translate the Hebrew word shakhan. God's manifest presence, shekhinah, comes from shakhan. By divine design, the Tabernacle (Mishkan), which holds the Ark, is the medium of exchange between the holy God and His earthly people. It represents the goal of our salvation: Let them make me a sanctuary so that I may dwell in their midst (Ex 25:8).
Shekhinah is the dwelling presence of the Holy God; it is the tangible effulgence of the ineffable that comes down and hovers over the Holy Ark between the cherubim. The tent of meeting (the tabernacle) holding the Ark was where the Shekinah most vividly manifested itself, where God's presence was tangible, clear, and powerful.
This Ark, the holiest and most sacred of all objects, was captured by the Philistines in a battle with Israel. In 1 Samuel 4-5, the story is told of how, under the guidance of the priest Eli, the Israelites went out against the Philistines at Ebenezer and were routed. The elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the Ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies."
Again, the Israelites go out to battle, and again, they are defeated, but this time, the Ark is captured by the Philistines. A messenger returns to the priest with this report:
"Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the Ark of God has been captured." As soon as he mentioned the Ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
After the Philistines suffered a series of unexplainable negative events for about seven months, they devised a plan to see if the God of Israel was doing these things to them. They placed the Ark upon a cart pulled by two cows with nursing calves. Typically, such cows would not want to leave their calves, but under God's influence, they went directly to Bethshemesh and returned the Ark to Israel.
Saul became king, and the Ark dwelled at Kiryat Je'arim for some twenty years—referred to in Psalm 132 as Ja'ar. David, under God's anointing and appointment, succeeded Saul as king. One of his top priorities was to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Kiryat Je'arim to the holy city of Jerusalem. Why? Because he grasped what we have been talking about. He desired the Ark to rest in its proper place, the place of God's choosing.
David wanted what God wanted, to dwell in the midst of His people.
As the Ark enters the city, David leads the celebration. Showing no concern for his position or prestige, he humbles himself in the sight of the people by dancing before the LORD with all his might. David's heart for the divine will pleases God. I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will (Acts 13:22).
David's passion is further expressed in 2 Samuel 7 as he reflects, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the Ark of God dwells in a tent. Psalm 132 expounds upon this: I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.
The prophet Nathan then relates God's striking response to David: The LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house (2 Sam 7:11). The LORD God covenants Himself with David: Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me (2 Sam 7:16). The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne" (Ps 132:11).
This divine promise would inspire Israel's prophetic imagination for centuries giving rise to messianic expectations. Its glorious fullness is hinted at in the opening lines of Matthew's inspired Gospel, The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David [...].
Want to go deeper? Click here to explore audio seminars by Dwight A. Pryor.
Interested in taking one of our dynamic online courses? Click here.
This study is from a professionally produced transcription of the audio recording. It was edited for readability by the team at JC Studies.
Dwight A. Pryor (1945-2011) was a gifted Bible teacher of exceptional clarity and depth who earned the friendship and admiration of both Christian and Jewish scholars—in the United States and Israel—as well as the respect and appreciation of followers of Jesus around the world. His expertise in the language, literature, and culture of Israel during the life and time of Jesus and the early church yield insights that nourish every area of faith and practice.
Dwight founded JC Studies in 1984 to edify the people of God. Click here to explore over fifty of his audio and video seminars.