The Songs Of Ascent – Part 16 – Psalm 132 – What Are The Desires Of Your Heart? Do You Receive Them? Jesus Shall Reign Eternally On David’s Throne Series

THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 16 – PSALM 132 – WHAT ARE THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART? DO YOU RECEIVE THEM? JESUS SHALL REIGN ETERNALLY ON DAVID’S THRONE

[A]. ALL ABOUT DAVID THE KING AND HIS EVERLASTING KINGSHIP

Just a recall here as we near the end of these Songs of Ascent. The psalms were sung as the pilgrims ascended the heights to arrive in Jerusalem at the appointed feasts God said they had to attend. A number of commentators say the fervour of the singing grew as they approached Jerusalem, these people who came from throughout Israel.

Today we are looking at a specific Psalm that focuses on David the King of Israel. This is not David speaking but the psalmist recalling David’s desire to build the House of the Lord (the Temple that Solomon built).

{{Psalm 132:1 “Remember, O LORD, on David’s behalf, all his affliction;

Psalm 132:2 how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,

Psalm 132:3 “Surely I will not enter my house nor lie on my bed.

Psalm 132:4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids

Psalm 132:5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”}}

The first five verses are about David’s desire. The next 5 are in connection with the worship in the Temple and the remaining seven verses are about the continuance of the Lord in Zion and the everlasting reign of David’s sons/Son.

These verses are restating the depth of desire David had to build a resting place for the Ark of the Covenant, a House for the Lord. The Tabernacle was still being used and had been operating for about 400 years. It would be good to look at this episode as it was recorded in the Kings.

2Samuel 7:1-7 Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains,” and Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind for the LORD is with you,” but it came about in the same night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan saying, “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in for I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle? Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”}}

{{2Samuel 7:12-13 “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I WILL ESTABLISH THE THRONE OF HIS KINGDOM FOREVER.”}}

[B]. DISAPPOINTMENT FOR A HEART’S DESIRE, GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT INDEED

I think every single person has had a pent up desire and that can cover such a range of events or happenings. Our desires can be very deep and retained even for years. David’s desire to build a house for the Lord was a long one, not a sudden impulse or fanciful whim. He really wanted to do that for the Lord.

David’s desire was correct. His motive was correct and his worship was correct. David was a man after God’s own heart. So many people have a desire that is based on materialism or greed or ambition or self-adoration. Christians are just as guilty of that as the non-Christian but generally the greed is not as great. Some have a burning desire to provide facilities for missionaries and the desire is deep.

Your desires betray your heart’s attitude to the Lord. I know some young men work towards an expensive, fast car and they have this desire for years sometimes. Do they pray God will give them that car? Maybe? Do you think God hears prayers like that?

What if God came to you and stood before you and said, “Ask what you want and I will give it to you?” What would you truly think, and what would you truly say? Would the two match up? Well the Lord did that one night to Solomon recorded here -

{{2Chronicles 1:7-12 In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you,” and Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great loving kindness, and have made me king in his place. Now, O LORD God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. GIVE ME NOW WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?” God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth, or honour, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge, that you may rule My people, over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you, and I will give you riches and wealth and honour, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor those who will come after you.”}}