Promises We Hold On To

Prelude: a few weeks back we started to look at the Ascent Psalms. However, we stopped after 12 of the 15 Psalms. So today, we pick back up with the 13th, Psalm 132.

So we are headed to worship. And these 15 Psalms prepare our hearts and minds for worship. And this is the longest, and many feel one of the most important of the Psalms. This one deals with promises. But not just any promises. Promises made by David to God. Promises by God to David. And even God’s promises to us.

David promised a dwelling place for God. And as the worship centered on the Temple, David kept his promise.

God promised a messiah, an anointed one. And he promised one would sit on the throne forever. And I hope you know those promises were fulfilled in one person – Jesus the Messiah.

But it doesn’t stop there. It continues. And it continues with power … (vss 13-18)

God promises to dwell with his people. Wow! He will not only be here with us, but he will dwell, live amongst us. This goes beyond the earthly years of Jesus, it’s forever. Again, wow! And he promises to bring salvation. We are priests, clothed in salvation, sharing it with the world. And finally, the last two verses are the apex, the mountain top … and it points to Jesus. His promises will be fulfilled in heaven.

And that’s a reason to worship. He keeps his promises … all in Jesus.

• Presence
• Salvation
• Heaven

So today, worship Him. The great promise keeper.

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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,
“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.”

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.

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.”

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.
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.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
but on him his crown will shine.”

– Psalm 132