“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.” Psalm 132:13-14 ESV
Reflection: how can we prepare the dwelling place for the Lord?
This morning we woke up to an amazing sunrise over the ocean. It is almost difficult to get enough of it; just have to soak it up, like food for the soul. And, if we stop for a moment to consider what it took to design this view, it is even more awesome. Certainly something this beautiful had to be thought of, planned and then created. Not some “random act of nature”. It is a reflection of the maker of it, which is always the case of any artwork. When we slow down to see the beauty of what God has created, it also prepares our hearts for worship, of the creator. Of the Lord.
Psalm 132 might seem controversial, but it truly isn’t. It is a love story. We see in the focus verse that “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.” Psalm 132:13-14 ESV. Reading this might point your mind to a physical place, to a country, a mountain, a city and even a temple. But we know that God does not dwell in buildings made by man. So the meaning here is spiritual. Let’s now read from the beginning of this beautiful psalm, about the Lord’s servant David.
“Remember, O LORD, in David’s favor, all the hardships he endured, how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, “I will not enter my house or get into 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 place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”” Psalm 132:1-5 ESV. The psalmist is pointing out how David committed to build a dwelling place for the Lord. And, we are led to think again to the temple in Jerusalem. But that was only to be a picture, a representation of where God truly lives, which is in the hearts of His people. In all those who have been justified by faith in Christ.
The idea here that we cannot miss, is the commitment David made to the Lord. That he would toil, night and day, to prepare this dwelling place for the Lord. And, that is exactly the parallel picture we must learn from, of the preparation we make to prepare the true temple for God. Which is us, our hearts. Not a building. Many invest heavily in making the most beautiful cathedrals and church buildings, but ignore the actual dwelling place for God.
Prepare your heart; as a temple for the Lord.
David said in his longing and toiling after the Lord, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm 139:23-24 ESV. It is for those hearts who long for the Lord whom He says, “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.” Psalm 132:13-15 ESV