“The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back…”
(Psalm 132:11a, ESV)
I don’t know about you, but I struggle to make plans one month, one week, sometimes even one day out. Life is just so unpredictable; my emotions, my body, the state of this house are unpredictable. When I read in scripture how our God makes promises – grand promises! – to nations, to generations, to us even today and keeps them all, I have two distinct reactions: I am relieved. And then, I doubt.
Isn’t it too good to be true?
Psalm 132 is a song about promises. It is about a promise David made to God, a vow not to rest until he found “a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob” (v.5, ESV). What David is searching for is the Ark of the Covenant, a wooden box containing reminders of God’s promises and provisions for the people of Israel. The Ark was a symbol of God’s presence. David vowed to find it, to keep it near, and he did just that.
But more that this, Psalm 132 is about God’s promise to David. God made a covenant with David that his future generations would inherit the throne, that God’s presence and provision would be with them also.
If we learn one thing in Scripture, it is that our God delights in keeping His promises. He delights in redeeming us and in exceeding our expectations.
It is true that David’s son Solomon inherited the throne, but the larger story is one even David could not have imagined. God fulfilled His covenant with David through Christ, through God made man. God not only gave David’s line the throne; God gave them – and us – Himself.
“This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it” (emphasis added, v. 14, ESV).
Sisters, this means us. We are God’s resting place. Forever.
He dwells within us, not because of our goodness, our accomplishments or our faithfulness, but because He desired us. He has chosen us. Yes, God is faithful because faithfulness is who He is, but it is also His choice to be faithful.
He chose you yesterday. He chooses you today. He will choose you tomorrow.
But the promise does not end there. He vows to bless us. He promises salvation and joy, physical and spiritual provision.
We can expect His faithfulness. We can expect His blessing.
Our God may not be predictable, but He is faithful. He is trustworthy. We can expect Him to do what He says He will do.
I feel convicted today because I often place myself in situations where I don't have to trust God and, therefore I don't get to exercise my faith in Him or see His blessings. I am so self reliant that my own efforts and rewards has become enough. I've become satisfied in the world. This is no life at all! I need to be constantly exercising my faith that that father will take care of me in ways I can't imagine if I would only let Him and ask Him to.
God is faithful. His promises are true for all of His children. God will bless us- we are bessed to be a blessing to others.
I have been seeking understanding on “the Elected of God”. Are we promised here that in his choosing us, we become his Elect? And as his Elect, what great things does he have in store for us – exceeding all our expectations? His grace always is greater than all I could ever fathom…
Sue, I have struggled to understand "the elected of God", to understand it in relationship to His chosen and our free will choice. Christ died for all creation…so in a sense all are chosen, but not all are the elected. Christ is the bridge from one to the other. When we cross over that Bridge we become "God's Elect" and all the promises He has for those who are His are ours. Still working to understand so I hope I didn't fog up the issue. It is an important one.
Exactly. And I am overwhelmed with just the beauty of Christ’s death and resurrection…that is more than enough for me; we are his chosen.
I am loving this!! ..”God delights in keeping His promises.”
From my first understanding of Jesus I knew He was ‘for me’. It took many, many years and a crooked road before I began to understand that my response to His love for me should be humble, obedient, TRUST. His promises are many, and His word is Truth, Light and Living Water! I must allow His Faithfulness to sustain me, and His word to dwell in me.
“Look to the Lord and His strength, seek His face always.” (1 Chron 16 and Psalm 105)
has become my prayer to focus my mind through out the day on His faithfulness to guide, direct and protect.
Oh How HE Loves us! I will sing of his love FOREVER!! God bless you Sisters!!
I needed this reminder today. God is faithful because that is who he is! If there's one thing I can count on in this ever-changing world, it's that my God will come through for me. Not in the timing I would expect usually, but it's always the perfect time.
It's encouraging to read others comments here- that we all struggle with remembering God DOES keep his promises. People and things fail us regularly but God is always there- steadfast and true. Let our hearts put complete trust in Him.
An earlier expressed concern with the interpretation of today's scripture encouraged me to examine myself and my understanding of the context. I, too, believe God has chosen Zion and resides there just as He promised, but I believe that we like David sometimes want to contain God. I have done that so often, because I just cannot wrap my mind on the omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience of God.
I also believe we are a royal priesthood, a chosen people…TK states that so well. But unlike the priests of the old covenant we carry the Temple of God into every place we go for:
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; (1 Corinthians 6:19NIV)
And, corporately, we are The Church, The Body of Christ– when we gather in worship or mission, when we pray in agreement, God resides in His Body.
God has chosen, the Word makes it clear, to reside where and in whom He chooses. He will not abandon His chosen, be it Zion, the Church or you or me. So even though we are broken pottery, life patchworks glued together with cracks galore, when He rests within us, the light of His presence transforms the vessel. As Royal Priests we carry the Glory of God to a world in need of a savior.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (Message) expresses it so well:
If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!
Have a blessed day! I close with the words from this morning's devotion:
Sisters, this means us. We are God’s resting place. Forever.
Beautifully stated! Amen.
Thanks Carolynmimi! Your words ring the bell in my heart.
"So even though we are broken pottery, life patchworks glued together with cracks galore, when He rests within us, the light of His presence transforms the vessel."
Beautiful word-picture of how God uses our imperfect-ness into something useful and extraordinary!
Great to know anytime, but especially in these crazy times. :0…;)
Have a blessed day my lady friends …
I love this Scripture this morning. Knowing that God chose me yesterday, chooses me today, and will choose me tomorrow lifts my spirits and reminds me that I am chosen, that someone is counting on me, that I must try and meet His expectations, but if I don't quite do that today and I stumble, falter, or doubt…He'll be there tomorrow, choosing me again. What a great God!