“Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions: How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. For thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
This is by far the longest psalm of this group. That should through up a flag on this psalm that there most be something important here. Is it deliverance? Is it praise? What is it? It is a psalm about obedience. What is one of the largest focal points about our spiritual growth? It is obedience to the Lord. Psalm 123 a psalm that has already introduced us to serving the Lord by following his simple motions but the greatest step in our faith is obedience to seek God wherever He is moving.
Solomon is perhaps the writer of this psalm. He remembered the desire of his father, David, was to build the temple for God. It wasn’t God’s will for David to do this but it was for Solomon. So, the act of obedience here was dedication to have a place of worship for God. What God calls us to do may be a different work but nevertheless we are called to obey. This psalm reminds us of David’s tireless and relentless work to obey God and serve him. At the heart of our discipleship is our obedience. It’s not in the quality in the obedience its the simple fact that we are seeking to obey God with our whole body, mind, and spirit. As the song says,
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Jeremy Kamer Ministries 