Psalm 132:1-18 (NIV) 1LORD, remember David and all his self-denial. 2He swore an oath to the LORD, he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob: 3“I will not enter my house or go to my bed, 4I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 6We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar: 7“Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool, saying, 8‘Arise, LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. 9May your priests be clothed with your righteousness; may your faithful people sing for joy.’ ” 10For the sake of your servant David, do not reject your anointed one. 11The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne. 12If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” 13For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, 14“This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it. 15I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food. 16I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy. 17“Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one. 18I will clothe his enemies with shame, but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”
1 Chronicles 22:8-13 (NIV) 8But this word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. 9But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. 10He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ 11“Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said you would. 12May the LORD give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. 13Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
Psalm 132 is a song that the Hebrew people would sing as they traveled to Jerusalem to worship God and offer sacrifices. It is a song that reminded them of God’s covenant with David to bring in a time of rest for His resting place. Rest is significant for the people of Israel. Rest meant foreign armies weren’t invading and killing. Rest meant there was no drought and starvation. God promised His people that He would give them rest, if they kept His covenants. But, God also promised that He would use unrest to wake His people up and draw them back to Himself. This is what God is reminding David of in our 1 Chronicles passage, but tucked into this lesson is an incredible prophecy. “A son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest.” The immediate fulfillment is Solomon who has enough peace and wealth that he can build the temple, but the ultimate fulfillment is the better Man of Rest - Jesus.
Jesus came to bring about a deeper rest that transcends circumstances and situations. The rest Jesus offers is not contingent on external forces and stresses that we have no control over. Jesus offers a rest that is eternal and spiritual.
Man’s greatest unrest is not wars and famine, but sin. Our sin brings guilt, shame and fear that keeps us up at night and churns our stomachs. Sin destroys and brings eternal death. But Jesus is the true Man of Rest, who took our sins on the cross and now offers forgiveness and freedom from the unrest of sin.
Today, if there is unrest in your life, run to the Man of Rest for forgiveness and freedom. Repent of your sins and believe the gospel of Jesus that takes away your sins.
Memory Verse: Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”