Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19990509.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm One Hundred And Thirty-Two - Building Our Faith In God's Words By Viewing Their Biblical Contexts
(Psalm 132:1-18)
  1. Introduction
    1. There may be times when we want to claim a Bible text's promise to meet a certain need, but due to past discouraging trials, our faith has become weakened so that the promise may seem too good to be true!
    2. There is a very instructive lesson in Psalm 132 on how one's faith can be edified after faith-crippling trials, a lesson dealing with the believer's identifying with the Biblical CONTEXT where the promise appears!
  2. Building Our Faith In God's Words By Viewing Their Biblical Contexts, Psalm 132:1-18:
    1. This psalm was written by one of the exiles who returned from Babylonian Captivity. As such, because of Israel's long internment and the total devastation of Judea, the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant about having a sure kingdom seemed nearly impossible for them to believe, Bib. Know. Com., O. T., p. 887.
    2. Thus, Ps. 132 was penned for God's people when they needed their faith in God's promises built back up.
    3. Psalm 132:1-10 meets that need by looking beyond the Davidic Covenant itself to review the very encouraging, applicable Biblical historical context in which God had initially given that very covenant:
      1. During the latter days of the judges, a time of great apostasy, the ark of God's visible presence was allowed by God to be taken from the tabernacle as discipline against Israel, 1 Sam. 2-4 (Jud. 19-21).
      2. Then, much to Israel's grief, the ark stayed "in exile" from the tabernacle for 20 years in "Jaar", or Kirjath-Jearim, 1 Sam. 7:1-2; Ibid., p. 887.
      3. Finally, due to the high level of David's devotion to God, and through a trying series of events where a man lost his life, David brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, 2 Sam. 6.
      4. Seeking closure to the nation's grief over the ark's recent "exile" from the tabernacle, David desired to build a lasting temple for it to stay put. God responded in promising David a lasting lineage, 2 Sam. 7.
      5. Drawing from this Biblical historical CONTEXT'S theme of divine promise following years of "exile" and broken communion with God, the psalmist of Psalm 132 hoped that God would again keep the Davidic Covenant after the 70-year dearth of Babylonian Captivity for returning exiles, Psalm 132:1-10:
        1. The psalmist called of Jahweh to recall how David was afflicted until he had obtained a permanent dwelling place for the Lord in a temple, not in a transitory tabernacle, Ps. 132:1-5.
        2. This burden of David had risen out of that to which the current Babylonian exiles could identify -- Israel's initial grief at the first absence of the ark from the tabernacle when it had stayed in "Jaar", that is, Kirjath-Jearim, Ibid., B.K.C., O.T., p. 887. The psalmist alludes to this burden identification by way of recalling ancient Biblical contexts by his poetic references in Ps. 132:6a,b to "Jaar", etc.
        3. As Israel first yearned with David to return the ark to the tabernacle and end God's exile, so the Babylonian exiles identified with the same yearning for restoration of closeness with God, 132:6-9.
    4. Thus, having reviewed this encouraging Biblical historical background to the Davidic Covenant, the psalmist repeated the blessings God gave in that covenant for edifying Israel's current faith, Ps. 132:11-18:
      1. Having recalled how God graciously promised an enduring lineage for David on the heels of the ark's joyful restoration after its long exile from the tabernacle, the psalmist asked God to restore the nation's blessings based on that covenant and God's faithfulness following recent exile, 132:10-13 (2 Sam. 6-7).
      2. Then the psalmist itemized the blessings promised of God because of that covenant as follows:
        1. God would stay forever and ever within Israel, never to depart as He had before with the ark, v. 14.
        2. God would bless Israel with material and food provisions, something the exiles badly needed, v. 15.
        3. He would also provide spiritual and mental fulfillment alluded to in "salvation" and "joy," Ps. 132:16.
        4. God would make a strong (signaled in "horn") and stable (signaled in "lamp") King for David's line, and we know this to be ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Chri st, the King of Kings of David's line, v. 17.
        5. This blessing would turn the tables on Israel's enemies, putting them in shame and honoring her, 18.
Lesson: Reviewing the Biblical historical context behind God's promise to David revealed added insight for more potent application that a LATER generation of believers could use to edify their faith in God.

Application: When we read Scripture with needs for a stronger faith, it pays in terms of faith-building to examine the historical CONTEXTS to Scripture that add so much more insight to God's workings.