Psalms 132:1-18: a reflection

1LORD, remember David and all his affliction, 2how he swore to the LORD, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: 3“Surely I will not come into the structure of my house, nor go up into my bed; 4I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, 5until I find out a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 6Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar. 7“We will go into his dwelling place. We will worship at his footstool.” 8Arise, LORD, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength. 9Let your priests be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy! 10For your servant David’s sake, don’t turn away the face of your anointed one. 11The LORD has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: “I will set the fruit of your body on your throne. 12If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forever more.” 13For the LORD has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation. 14“This is my resting place forever. I will live here, for I have desired it. 15I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16I will also clothe her priests with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy. 17I will make the horn of David to bud there. I have ordained a lamp for my anointed. 18I will clothe his enemies with shame, but on himself, his crown will shine.”

Psalm 132 recalls David's consuming desire to provide a dwelling place for God. It remembers his vow: I will not come into my house, nor go up to my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob. David would not rest, would not enjoy his own comfort, until he had made provision to honor God. And the psalm goes on to recall God's own sworn promise to David in return, to establish his throne and raise up his anointed.

Notice the intensity of David's devotion: he would not rest until he had found a place to honor God. His own comfort, his own house and bed and sleep, took second place to his desire to honor the LORD. He put God's honor before his own ease, and gave himself no rest until he had seen to it. His zeal was for God's dwelling, not first for his own comfort.

That is a devotion worth examining ourselves against. We are prone to see to our own comfort first, and to give God's honor whatever attention is left over. But David would not rest until he had honored God. Ask whether your zeal for God's honor comes before your own comfort, or after it. Let David's devotion stir you to put God's honor first, to give yourself to what honors him before you see to your own ease, to care more that God is honored than that you are comfortable. And take heart that the God David sought to honor made David a sworn promise in return; the God we honor is faithful, and honors those who honor him.

Lord, David would not rest or enjoy his own comfort until he had found a place to honor you, putting your honor before his own ease. Examine my devotion by his. I am prone to see to my own comfort first, and to give your honor whatever attention is left over. But David gave himself no rest until he had honored you. Stir me to put your honor first, to give myself to what honors you before I see to my own ease, to care more that you are honored than that I am comfortable. And thank you that the God David sought to honor made him a sworn promise in return; you are faithful, and you honor those who honor you. Give me a zeal for your honor that comes before my own comfort, and let me seek first to honor you.