Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

The Ark was lost to Israel when the Babylonians conquered Judah in the days of Jeremiah. The Book of Revelation tells us that the Ark is now in heaven: “Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple.” (Rev. 11:19) Spurgeon says: ‘His Ark can only reveal the glories of his feet…’ as it was known as the ‘footstool’ of the Lord.

“Your priests will be agents of salvation; may your loyal servants sing for joy.” (9)

From this point in Old Testament history, the priests were not merely to function as ones who of- fered sacrifices but were to explain the law and the way of salvation. Before King Asa of Judah brought reformation to the backslidden nation it was said; “For a long time, Israel was without the true God, with- out a priest to teach them, and without God’s law.” (2 Chron. 15:3) This function is now given to all the followers of Christ: “You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Pet. 2:9, 10)

“ For the sake of your servant David, do not reject the king you chose for your people.” (10)

Verses 8-10 of this psalm are quoted almost directly by Solomon as he prays at the dedication of the Temple. “And now, O Lord God, arise and enter this resting place of yours, where your magnificent Ark has been placed. May your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and may your saints re- joice in your goodness. O Lord God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember your unfailing love for your servant David.” (2 Chron. 6:41, 42) He was praying for himself and all the successive kings de- scending from David.

III

THE LORD SWORE TO DAVID - v. 11-13

The Affirmation of David’s Lineage

“The Lord swore to David a promise he will never take back: ‘I will place one of your descendants on your throne. If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant and follow the decrees that I teach them, then your royal line will never end.” (11, 12) ‘Yahweh’ promises that a powerful descendant will sit on the throne of David-a king who will live to see the conquest of all foes.’ 4 This passage repeats the prophetic promise that God gave to David in Psalm 89:35, 36: “I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie: His dynasty will go on forever; his throne is as secure as the sun…” Although there was a succession of Davidic kings that ruled Judah, the prophecy of “one of your descendants on your throne” (11) was eternally fulfilled by the com- ing of Jesus Christ. The angel Gabriel announced to Mary: “…you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord will give him the throne of his an- cestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever, his Kingdom will never end.” (Lk. 1:31-33)

“For the Lord has chosen Zion (Jerusalem); he has desired it as his home.” (13)

The psalm is ultimately about God’s election of Mount Zion/Jerusalem as his dwelling place in the Old Testament. Zion/Jerusalem finds its greatest expression as his church in the Book of Revelation: “And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven…I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.” (Rev. 21:2, 3) As in the previous section, the last sentence anticipates the theme of the next section and so ‘ascends’ in its thoughts.

IV

THE POWER OF DAVID - v. 14-18

The Anointed Messiah

This section emphasizes God’s city of Jerusalem and God’s king, David. This is a continuation of the direct prophecy of Yahweh making it highly prophetic of the coming eternal church. • The Place of God- “’This is my home where I will live forever,’ he said. ‘I will live here, for this is the place I desired.” (14) The prophecy concerns both Jerusalem and the coming Church: ‘The subject all through is the church, which is ever identical although changing in the persons of its members.’ 5

• The Prosperous City- “I will make this city prosperous…” (15) • The Poor Satisfied- “…and satisfy its poor with food.” (15) • The Priests of Salvation- “I will make its priests the agents of salvation…”(16)

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