The context of this psalm has to do with…
• The building the Temple in Jerusalem.
• God’s conditional covenant with David.
It is almost certain that this psalm was sung by the multitudes when the Ark was moved from the Threshing floor of ……. to the Temple in Jerusalem. It was a season of spiritual joy, the greatest that had ever occurred in Israel’s national history.
#1. David’s Covenant With The Lord – v 1-9.
David’s Desire for a central place to worship God:
• David’s life characterized by affliction. “LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:” v 1
• David’s commitment promised. “How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;” v 2
• David’s priorities towards the Lord. “Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,” v 3-4
• David’s goal – to establish a Central Place to worship the Lord. “Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.” v 5
David’s Discovery of Ark of the Covenant:
• Tracking it throughout the land – “Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.” v 6
• Traveling to it to worship in His presence – “We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.” v 7
Solomon’s Dedication of the Temple – v 8-9.
• Call for the Lord to dwell in the Temple – “Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength” v 8.
• Call for the Right Response from the Priest and the People – “Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy” v 9.
#2. God’s Covenant With David – v 10-12.
Based on God’s Unchanging Promise to David – “For thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. 11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.” v 10-11
Based on the Obedience of David’s sons – “If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.” v 12
#3. The Promise of Prosperity – v 13-18.
God Chose Zion – “For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. 14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.” v 13-14
God Promised to Bless Zion with…
• Material blessings. “I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread” v 15
• Spiritual Blessings. “Her priests also I will clothe with salvation; And her saints will sing aloud for joy.” v 16
• Kingdom Blessings. “There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.” v 17
God Promises to Curse David’s enemies – v 18. “His enemies I will clothe with shame.”
God Promises to Bless David’s seed. “But upon himself his crown shall shine.”
#4. The Spiritual Application for Today – Romans 15:4 “For whatso-ever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
God desires a place to dwell in the heart of man – v 13-14. “For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. 14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.”
God directs our search for His Salvation – v 6. “Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.”
• Ephratah is the ancient name of Bethlehem.
• The fields of the wood is a reference to where the ark was placed after its restoration by the Philistines [Kirjath-jearim = city of the woods]. Doesn’t this also remind of Calvary?
• This search may be long and the discovery may be made in an unlikely place — some fields of the wood, as it were, where no one would have thought of going to look for it.
Once we have experienced His Salvation, we will desire to worship and follow Him – v 7-9. “We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. 8 Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. 9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.”
Pastor Kevin W. Burden • CARTER CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH • Wednesday, July 30, 2008
