Read
(A song for worship.)
The Lord Is Always
1Our Lord, don't forget David
and how he suffered.
2Mighty God of Jacob,
remember how he promised:
3“I won't go home
or crawl into bed
4or close my eyelids,
5until I find a home for you,
the mighty Lord God of Jacob.”
6 When we were in Ephrath,
we heard that the sacred chest
was somewhere near Jaar.
7Then we said, “Let's go
to the throne of the Lord
and worship at his feet.”
8Come to your new home, Lord,
you and the sacred chest
with all its power.
9Let victory be like robes
for the priests;
let your faithful people
celebrate and shout.
10David is your chosen one,
so don't reject him.
11 You made a solemn promise
to David, when you said,
“I, the Lord, promise
that someone in your family
will always be king.
12If they keep our agreement
and follow my teachings,
then someone in your family
will rule forever.”
13You have gladly chosen Zion
as your home, our Lord.
14You said, “This is my home!
I will live here forever.
15I will bless Zion with food,
and even the poor will eat
until they are full.
16Victory will be like robes
for the priests,
and its faithful people
will celebrate and shout.
17 I will give mighty power
to the kingdom of David.
Each of my chosen kings
will shine like a lamp
18and wear a sparkling crown.
But I will disgrace
their enemies.”
Reflect
God’s plan is far reaching. It has continuity. The past promises connect to the future and also connect our lives to a promising future. The passing of time and events do not change that.
When the exiled returned home they possibly wondered if God would still fulfill the promises made to David. It had been a long time and their lives were different now.
Commentators suggest that Psalm 132 was a prayer for God to remember his covenant, which ensured that his presence and power would be with his people and that David’s line would continue.
You and I are blessed today in God’s Son, the Great King, who now sits on David’s throne forever. Luke tells us in 1:69, “Our God has given us a mighty Saviour from the family of David.”
We know that the Lord doesn’t need to be reminded of anything. But something happens in the heart of the worshipper when he or she ponders what the Lord has promised. The prayers that flow from these times of reflection are bold, filled with faith, not demanding but preparing the heart to receive.
No matter how many detours there may be in life we can always count on God to be faithful to those words he places in our hearts. Most of all we can find in Christ the fulfillment of all of God’s great promises. Paul writes to the Corinthians, “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.” (NLT 1 Corinthians 1:20)
Like the worshipers of Psalm 132, we can rejoice in what God has promised, pray with faith in him and be assured that he will deliver on his word.
Respond
Dear faithful Father, you never forget how much we need you and how much we need you to fulfill your word. Bring back to my heart today those words you want me to hold on to. I will pray with faith, convinced of your faithfulness. Through Jesus my Lord. Amen.
Jacqueline Dugas
Jacqueline Dugas is Vice President and Director of Ministries at Every Home for Christ International/Canada (EHC), where she has served on the executive leadership team for more than two decades. Her ministry work involves speaking and writing for a trans-denominational and international audience on the broad topic of knowing God and making Jesus known everywhere. Jacqueline has authored 7 Days with Jesus, written as a follow up resource for Finding the Hope, EHC’s evangelism outreach in Canada and abroad. She has co-authored the widely used evangelism booklet, Finding the Hope, and the Finding the Hope Personal Kit, both published in multiple languages. She is co-producer of EHC’s monthly publication, Harvest Partner.