Psalm 132
Here in England we have a rhyme "Remember, remember the 5th of November. The Gunpowder treason and plot"
To me there is something very English about Guy Fawkes night - where we celebrate that a plot to blow up parliament was foiled, and that in November!
Tomorrow is the Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, Thursday is Bastille day in France, and last Monday was Independence day in the USA.
June last year was the 800th anniversary of the singing of Magna Carter (In my mind a more significant event than the non-event that was the gunpowder plot by the way!)
Remembering events that changed the country and the world are important things to do - both the good events (from the view of the winners) and the bad
This Psalm is about remembering the contribution to Israel and the Jewish faith of David
LORD, remember David and all his self-denial.
He swore an oath to the LORD, he made a vow to the Mighty one of Jacob;
"I will not enter my house or go to my bed, I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty one of Jacob."
I suspect that there is a bit of hyperbole here as I'm pretty sure that David went to bed regularly and slept (given the number of his wives and children, I imagine he didn't always sleep ............careful Mark remember this is a family friendly blog)
However be that as it may, David did draw the plans for the Temple of God and acquired the land - though his son, Solomon actually built it (in much the same way as Hadrian built his wall!)
We heard it in Ephrathah (Bethlehem) - we came upon it in the fields of Jaar.
Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool.
The Next bit sounds a bit like the prayer at the dedication of the temple -
Arise, LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.
Not sure about getting up to go to rest!
May your priests be clothed with your righteousness; may your faithful people sing for joy.
For the sake of your servant David, do not reject your anointed one.
God made a promise to David that one of his descendants would sit on the throne (if they kept the terms of the covenant)
I read the rest of the Psalm with a bit of disappointment - the history of Israel and Judah were full of breaking the terms of the covenant with prophets warning of calamity ahead while the nation went slowly from major regional power to vassal to conquered and deported people.
In the Psalm God promises to always rest in Jerusalem at the temple, he will bless with abundant provisions, even the poor will have satisfying food.
The priests would be clothed with salvation, and the faithful will sing for joy.
Perhaps the end of the Psalm is a bit prophetic - looking towards the offspring of David, Jesus.
Here I will make a horn (power) grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one.
I will clothe his enemies with shame, but his head shall be adorned with a radiant crown
(Ever see a halo?)
Here in England we have a rhyme "Remember, remember the 5th of November. The Gunpowder treason and plot"
To me there is something very English about Guy Fawkes night - where we celebrate that a plot to blow up parliament was foiled, and that in November!
Tomorrow is the Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, Thursday is Bastille day in France, and last Monday was Independence day in the USA.
June last year was the 800th anniversary of the singing of Magna Carter (In my mind a more significant event than the non-event that was the gunpowder plot by the way!)
Remembering events that changed the country and the world are important things to do - both the good events (from the view of the winners) and the bad
This Psalm is about remembering the contribution to Israel and the Jewish faith of David
LORD, remember David and all his self-denial.
He swore an oath to the LORD, he made a vow to the Mighty one of Jacob;
"I will not enter my house or go to my bed, I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty one of Jacob."
I suspect that there is a bit of hyperbole here as I'm pretty sure that David went to bed regularly and slept (given the number of his wives and children, I imagine he didn't always sleep ............careful Mark remember this is a family friendly blog)
However be that as it may, David did draw the plans for the Temple of God and acquired the land - though his son, Solomon actually built it (in much the same way as Hadrian built his wall!)
We heard it in Ephrathah (Bethlehem) - we came upon it in the fields of Jaar.
Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool.
The Next bit sounds a bit like the prayer at the dedication of the temple -
Arise, LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.
Not sure about getting up to go to rest!
May your priests be clothed with your righteousness; may your faithful people sing for joy.
For the sake of your servant David, do not reject your anointed one.
God made a promise to David that one of his descendants would sit on the throne (if they kept the terms of the covenant)
I read the rest of the Psalm with a bit of disappointment - the history of Israel and Judah were full of breaking the terms of the covenant with prophets warning of calamity ahead while the nation went slowly from major regional power to vassal to conquered and deported people.
In the Psalm God promises to always rest in Jerusalem at the temple, he will bless with abundant provisions, even the poor will have satisfying food.
The priests would be clothed with salvation, and the faithful will sing for joy.
Perhaps the end of the Psalm is a bit prophetic - looking towards the offspring of David, Jesus.
Here I will make a horn (power) grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one.
I will clothe his enemies with shame, but his head shall be adorned with a radiant crown
(Ever see a halo?)
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