Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

has been said, and takes up the thread and carries it forward, cannot fail to be recognized.’ 2 It is truly a “Song of Ascent” as it ascends the various themes within itself: • David vows unto the Lord- “…He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel” (2) which is answered by the Lord’s oath- “The Lord swore to David…”(11) • The singer proclaims “Your priests will be agents of salvation” (9) then the Lord declares: I will make its priests the agents of salvation;” (16) The four sections provide the outline:

I

REMEMBER DAVID - v.1-5-

The Aspiration of David

II FOR THE SAKE OF DAVID - v. 6-10- III THE LORD SWORE TO DAVID - v. 11-13 IV THE POWER OF DAVID - v. 14-18

The Ark Finds Rest

The Affirmation of David’s Lineage

The Anointed Messiah

INTRODUCTION:

“A Song for the Ascent to Jerusalem.”

(See the “Introduction to the Songs of Ascent”)

I

REMEMBER DAVID - v.1-5-

The Aspiration of David

“Lord, remember David and all that he suffered.” (1)

This verse shows us that the author of the psalm and singer of these verses is someone other than David. He is emphasizing the role of David’s suffering in the building the Temple. David had suffered op- pression from Saul, numerous wars, betrayal by close friends and family and personal moral failure but remained true to God’s call upon his life to prepare a Temple for the Lord. A true disciple of Christ, like David, will experience hardships in the advancement of the kingdom of God: “This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21) “He took an oath before the Lord. He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel, ‘I will not go home; I will not let myself rest. I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber until I find a place to build a house for the Lord, a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.” (2-5) David expresses his desire to build God a house in ‘hyperbole’, the use of exaggeration to empha- size. This ‘oath’ is not recorded directly anywhere in the scripture. Nathan the prophet is the most prob- able one to hear David express his desire to build God a house: “David summoned Nathan the prophet. ‘Look!’ David said. ‘Here I am living in the beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out in a tent!’ Nathan replied, ‘Go ahead and do what you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.’ But that same night the Lord said to Nathan, ‘Go and tell my servant David, ‘ …Are you the one to build me a temple to live in?’” (2 Sam. 7:2-5) This psalm teaches us that God is building his church, something greater than any earthly temple. “The Mighty One of Israel (Jacob)” is one of the loftiest titles of God in the Old Testament; Jacob uses this name to prophesy the uncontested strength that will rest upon his son Joseph. “But his bow re- mained strong, and his arms were strengthened by the Mighty One of Jacob,…(Gen. 49:24) This same ‘uncontested strength’ will accomplish the building of his eternal house.

II

FOR THE SAKE OF DAVID - v. 6-10-

The Ark Finds Rest

“We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar.” (6)

The Ark of the Covenant was the most important piece of sacred furniture in the Tabernacle built by Moses in the wilderness. This relatively small acacia wood box overlaid with pure gold and covered by a mercy seat with two golden cherubim is important to the understanding of worship. It was placed in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle and God promised to meet with his people there: “I will meet with

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