What is our attitude towards our place of worship? Who is at the center of our worship? Let’s begin in Psalm 132.
A Song of Ascents. (WEB)
Did King David wholeheartedly desire a place of worship, a temple for God in Jerusalem? Do we have a special place to pray? Do we have a special place where the saints gather to worship God?
Yahweh, remember David and all his affliction, how he swore to Yahweh, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: “Surely I will not come into the structure of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, until I find out a place for Yahweh, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” (Ps 132: 1-5 WEB)
Did they celebrate the ark’s journey from Ephrathah Bethlehem and the fields of Jaar around Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem? Is our life like a journey of placing God in the center of our lives?
Yes, we heard about it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. Let’s enter God’s dwelling place; let’s worship at the place God rests his feet! Get up, Lord, go to your residence—you and your powerful covenant chest! Let your priests be dressed in righteousness; let your faithful shout out with joy! And for the sake of your servant David, do not reject your anointed one. (Ps 132:6-10 CEB)
What promise did God make to David and how is Jesus the final fulfillment of that promise?
You made a solemn promise to David, when you said, “I, the Lord, promise that someone in your family will always be king. If they keep our agreement and follow my teachings, then someone in your family will rule forever.” (Ps 132:11-12 CEV)
What is the significance of God choosing Zion symbolically and eternally?
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.” (Ps 132:13-18 ESV)
How did Peter explain that Jesus fulfilled this promise to David?
Brothers, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not left in Hades, and His flesh did not experience decay. God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah! (Acts 2:29-36 HCSB)
What is our attitude towards our place of worship? Who is at the center of our worship? You decide!
