We are born into the world needing someone to care for us and soon learn to communicate our needs. This time should become an important life lesson where we learn to soothe and quiet our soul. It is from this place that we can begin to seek and understand God as He reveals himself to us. David understood that there was a covenant promise associated with the ark of God that had not been fulfilled and he sought to secure that covenant for himself and the nation of Israel by bringing the ark to Jerusalem. All of this though was just the fulfillment of God’s plan. David was the channel, the blessing of God flowed through David because in Psalm 132:13–14 (LEB) For Yahweh has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation. “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. Today, we don’t need to go to Gibeah or Jerusalem to find the ark of God, we simply accept Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is available to us to teach us and empower us to fulfill God’s will. And His will for our generation is what Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom, 2 preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and instruction.
God Gives Rest to His Loved Ones
I Have Soothed and Quieted My Soul
Psalm 131:1-3
Here is one of the shortest Psalms, yet it contains one of the most important lessons for life. This lesson is presented using the example of a nursing child. When we are born, we only know we are hungry, we have a need, but no language or communication skills except to cry out. As we grow, we begin to understand how to communicate our needs. We learn that we can live through a short delay between feeling hunger and eating because we understand delayed gratification. Finding this ability to soothe and quiet my soul is a key to a peaceful life in
Psalm 131:2 (LEB) Rather I have soothed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother, like the weaned child is my soul with me.
But this is not just about learning to communicate or learning to wait. This is based on our knowledge of God, that is for us and is with us. We can put our future our hope in him in
Psalm 131:3 (LEB) O Israel, hope in Yahweh from now until forever.
Let Us Go To His Dwelling Places
Psalm 132:1-9
There was a time when the ark of the covenant was taken by Israel’s enemies. When it was returned, it rested in “the house of Abinadab in Gibeah” in 1 Samuel 7:1 for twenty years in
1 Samuel 7:2 (LEB) From the day the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, days multiplied and became twenty years while all the house of Israel mourned after Yahweh.
Then David restored the ark to its rightful place in Jerusalem in
1 Chronicles 15:3 (LEB) And David gathered all Israel to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of Yahweh to its place that he had established for it.
They all went to the place where the ark was and the priests carried the ark as commanded by God and with great celebration along the way, brought the ark of God to Jerusalem where it belonged as described in
Psalm 132:8–9 (LEB) Arise, O Yahweh, to your resting place, you and your mighty ark. Let your priests clothe themselves with righteousness, and let your faithful sing for joy.
The Lord Has Chosen Zion
Psalm 132:10-18
God gave David a promise and generations are reminding themselves that this is an eternal promise for the throne in Jerusalem in
Psalm 132:11 (LEB) Yahweh swore in truth to David; he will not turn back from it. “One from the fruit of your body I will set on your throne.
This promise is not because of who David was, but because of what the Lord has chosen to accomplish in
Psalm 132:13–14 (LEB) For Yahweh has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation. “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
These promises are given as the conduit for blessing, a channel to prepare an environment that God can inhabit. These promises will create a place where holiness and righteousness reign and are seen in overflowing blessing and joy in
Psalm 132:15–16 (LEB) I will bless its provisions abundantly; I will satisfy its poor with bread. I will also clothe its priests with salvation, and its faithful will shout exuberantly for joy.
Study Verses
- Psalm 131:1-3 I Have Soothed and Quieted My Soul
- Psalm 132:1-9 Let Us Go To His Dwelling Places
- Psalm 132:10-18 The Lord Has Chosen Zion
Today’s Reading
- Psalm 127:1-5
- Psalm 131:1-3
- Psalm 132:1-18
