Week 30 (Feast of Tabernacles), Psalm 131-135

Continuing the 15 Psalms of Ascents (120-134), #12-15.

Psalm 130 and 131 are a pair of "sisters" connected with the meaning of Atonement. God gives us a proper preparation of repentance and forgiveness before the refreshing of the Feast of Tabernacles.

12. Psalm 131

Author: David (superscription).

Time/Occasion: Not known.

Main theme: Humility and child-like trust in God.

Hymnal: N/A.

Personal application: We humans tend to think we are greater than we are (a definition of pride). This is a very personal confession that God is superior and that David knows that he is not great of himself.

He had been accused by his brothers of selfish ambition in serving King Saul and by Saul himself of aiming to usurp the kingdom. Many commentaries reference David's answer to his wife Michal's accusation in 2 Samuel 6:22. Michal was proud of her royal birth and derided David for lowering the dignity of the crown (and her reputation with it). David's reply was similar to his statement here. "I am willing to look like a fool in man's eyes to show my joy and honor to God." He was a powerful man, and he had many servants; but unlike Saul, he maintained the converted attitude of being little in his own eyes.

His analogy is of a weaned child who still finds comfort and security in his mother's arms, although his original desire to nurse is not even remembered. Just what was David weaned away from in his relationship with God? He explains in V. 2 that the reason he doesn't have thoughts of personal aggrandizement is that he "quieted" himself or "damped down" (Soncino) those desires of human nature and accepted the security and peace of relying on God instead of himself. He had been weaned of carnal desire for self-reliance and self-glory. In other words, David did what Jesus instructed all of us to do in Matthew 18:3, "Unless you turn and become like little children, you cannot go into the kingdom of heaven." We commonly make this same request asking that "Israel" (the Church) will trust God so that He may do His work through us. How would the Church "hope" or trust in the Lord? By each of us individually working to maintain the same attitude of conversion that David expresses here.

Psalm 131 is perfectly placed after 130. As 130 describes repentance, forgiveness, and redemption -- the attitude of Atonement -- so 131 expresses the natural result of keeping the Day of Atonement, the godly attribute of humility. God gives us a proper preparation before the refreshing of the Feast of Tabernacles. The most important thing in making ready for the Feast is obtaining the Atonement attitude toward God and each other, which produces peace. In reality, this psalm is good preparation for any day of our lives. Soncino calls it "a literary gem of exquisite beauty and surpassing spirituality."

13. Psalm 132

Author: Not known. Probably Solomon. He refers to David four times.

Time/Occasion: Thought to be used at the dedication of the temple. V. 6* links the poem to the story of David bringing the ark to Jerusalem from Kiriathjearim (2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13 and 15). V. 8 contains the only specific reference to the Ark in the Psalms.

Main theme: The sureness of God's promises to David and to the Church.

V. 3-5: "Habitation" and "tabernacle" are synonyms meaning residence, dwelling place, tabernacle, etc. The Feast of Tabernacles shows God dwelling with the whole world as He only does in His Church in this age. He will "tabernacle" with all mankind in the Millennium. This was pictured by the OT tabernacle and temple.

* V. 6. Ephratha means "fruitfulness" and is another name for Bethlehem and the surrounding area. "The field of the woods" refers to Kiriathjearim, a city about 10 miles west of Jerusalem where the Ark of the Covenant stayed for 20 years (1 Samuel 7:2). This is one of the historical ties in this psalm.

It begins as a song with the temple and the ark as symbols of the Church and God's throne. Solomon recalled that his father, David, wanted to bring the ark up to the location where the temple would be. This served as an introduction to Solomon's invocation of God's blessing on the new temple as the spiritual heart of the Kingdom and for the prophecy of the Church and Millennial Kingdom. Thus, the psalm fits both the historical setting of the temple dedication and the prophesied establishment of the Kingdom at the beginning of the Millennium. Note the parallel: The beginning of Solomon's peaceful reign and the beginning of the Millennium are both founded on God remembering His covenant.

In V. 1-10 an earnest plea is put forth for God to remember His covenant. The answer is given in the eight-verse prophecy of Christ and the Kingdom that follows and makes this one of the messianic psalms. The Davidic Covenant is the vehicle of blessing the Church. God speaks and reassures us that Christ, the "Son of David," will sit on David's throne as promised (V. 11), in Zion (V. 13), forever (V. 14). The Church, both priests and saints (V. 16), rejoice, and David's Crown (the Kingdom under Christ) shall flourish (V. 17-18).

Hymnal: N/A.

Personal application: Once again, David serves as a type of all the Firstfruits. Since the Firstfruits are at the core of the meaning of each of the Holy Days, they would naturally be included in a Festival psalter. Using this messianic psalm as your own prayer offers strong encouragement and declares "Thy Kingdom [will] come." He will never forsake any of us. He has chosen His Church (one at a time), and each of these promises is given to each of us, including a crown that will flourish or "blossom" forever.

Christ will return to His temple (church) whose members will become teaching priests, will be clothed in righteousness, and stand forever. Psalm 132 contains Feast instructions written directly to the Church! Why? So that we may more clearly understand and pray about our purpose, mission, and part in God's plan. God's promises are sure.

14. Psalm 133

Author: David (superscription).

Time/Occasion: Not known.

Main theme: Rejoicing in the fellowship of fellow believers. Family unity among God's people is of absolute value to Him and essential for our eternal salvation.

After a clear and understated declaration that unity is good, two similes that use oil and water as symbols of the Holy Spirit are employed to expound how God edifies and sanctifies His people through their fellowship.

V. 2. The anointing oil (precious ointment -- Exodus 30:23-33) types the Holy Spirit in the compassionate, comforting attitude God has toward us, the joy He offers us, and the unlimited power He has to create a new creation in us. The "running down" pictures the totality of Aaron's consecration to His holy service as High Priest (representing Christ, the Anointed One). Unity and harmony in spirit among the brethren sanctifies God's people like the oil sanctified Aaron.

V. 3. The "dew of Mt. Hermon" is especially heavy (abundant) and in that semi-arid clime brings about a third of the life-giving moisture, making the area richly productive. Unity makes possible growth and productivity like abundant moisture makes the land productive.

Hymnal:
#132 How Good and How Pleasant; #187 Hymn of Unity.

Personal application: Spiritual unity (first with God, then with fellow man) is mandatory for eternal life ("life forevermore"). The alternative is a divided kingdom like Satan's realm, and that will not happen! So we should make a great effort to be in the unity of the Spirit even when we aren't completely aligned in opinions and viewpoints. Jesus is in the process of bringing us into to the full unity of the faith (Ephesians 4:13). We need to have the reverence for Him, the humility before Him to be corrected and grow in understanding, and the respect for fellow believers that allows Him to do His unifying work in us.

15. Psalm 134

Author: Not known.

Time/Occasion: A fitting conclusion for the Holy Day Psalter. The scene is of the congregation preparing to leave the crowded courts after the evening service as night draws near. The worshippers leave with blessings pronounced on the priests and Levites ("all ye" is plural) who remain to keep the temple through the night, lifting their hands in prayer, representing all Israel to God in worship. The priests and Levites respond with blessings to each individual worshipper ("you" is singular) from Zion's Lord in the temple.

Main theme: Farewell hymn with blessing.

Hymnal: N/A.

Personal application: Blessings are exchanged between the worshippers and ministers of the temple (priests and Levites). What an example for God's Church today. This describes the ideal godly relationship of mutual service and love with Christ's ministry in His Church. These attitudes are exemplified by continual prayers for each other!

A personal blessing was pronounced on each worshipper. This was one of many blessings the priests pronounced -- like the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6. One of the main duties of the priests was to bless (pray for) the congregation. As the elders and all the congregation of the Church today have the responsibility of praying for each other, so do all the Firstfruits have the duty (a ministry or service) of representing the people of the world to God by praying and interceding for them, too. Note 1 Samuel 12:23, Romans 1:9.

The end of the Feast finally comes, and the congregation leaves for home. The final thoughts of a satisfying Festival are of unity of spirit, joy, mutual blessing, and thankfulness. It speaks of our personal relationship with God -- obedience and a right attitude toward Him and His Holy Days -- and a right spirit and attitude toward our brethren, all manifested by our continual prayers, motivated by God's love and concern for each other. Once again, the Psalms teach us all about prayer!

Conclusion to the Psalms of Ascents

Psalm 134 is the final of the fifteen Psalms of Ascents or Degrees -- 120-134. Overall, these 15 Psalms give us a broad perspective. They amount to a treasure trove of spiritual instruction for the Holy Day season. Virtually every aspect of keeping a spiritually-oriented Festival Season is covered.

They deal with all the major aspects of our unity and cohesiveness as a body -- everything that makes us a body. From themes of wholehearted worship of God the Father and Jesus Christ, to the meanings of Trumpets and Atonement, to the structure of the Church and the responsibilities of and to the ministry, to the hassles of life, to instruction on preparing our attitudes to keep the Feast before we get there, to family life, preservation, deliverance, survival, faith, hope, humility and love, to rejoicing with each other and celebrating our God, the Church and our calling, to celebrating world peace in the Millennium, to following the way of peace and unity now, to a final double blessing at the end of the Feast as we leave to go back into the fray for another year.

15. Psalm 135

Author: Not known.

Time/Occasion: Composed after the Babylonian exile for use in the temple worship services, it is built out of material from quotations of scriptures, especially other Psalms. It is a "Hallel" or Hallelujah psalm, beginning and ending (being "framed by") the phrase "Praise ye the Lord," as are Psalms 146-150.

Main theme: The assured security of God's choice of (both OT and NT) Israel to be His people.

V. 1-3a. Beginning with a four-fold call to worship, naming all God's servants, specifically the Levites or ministry of the temple, the hand of God is traced in the natural world of the heavens, earth and seas, and through the early history of Israel.

V. 3-4. God is good/gracious. Example: His choice of Israel demonstrates it.

V. 5-14. Five reasons that we may trust that God will always be gracious.

V. 15-21. God is compared to false gods who cannot speak, see, hear, or breathe, showing what a privilege God has given us to know and trust the True God. Our exclusive worship is absolutely required.

Hymnal: #78 Praise God's Name; #129 How Great Thou Art.

Personal application: Five reasons are given to show that physical Israel is absolutely secure in God's calling. These reasons for trust are just as good for the Church today -- "the Israel of God." They are:

V. 5. His supremacy. No other force can change His choice to call you.

V. 6. His sovereign independence. He could not be forced to choose someone, therefore, He deliberately chose you because it was His will to do so.

V. 7. His almightiness. Since He is the direct ruler of all things, He can do anything -- and He chose you.

V. 8-12. His historical acts in Israel's behalf -- and His saving acts and miracles on your behalf -- are clear proof that He has called Israel and you.

V. 13-14. His steady changelessness (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). He can not be talked into changing His mind about His Plan to save Israel or to save you.

This psalm is powerful. So many of our human doubts stem from thinking that God is weak like we are and might change His mind, give up on us, and throw us away. Here is a collection of powerful encouragement from other places in the Bible to strengthen us. God tells us that one of His great responsibilities is to strengthen His people with His Spirit, and Christ told the disciples in Luke 11:32 to "strengthen the brethren." We should read this Psalm with understanding. God has not called us to be weak and discouraged, but strong and with courage and faith! Review this Psalm enough that when you have doubts, you think of it! As always, use this Psalm as your own prayer guide!