(The previous post covered five more of the fifteen songs of Ascents. There were still four more...)
Psalm 131
A Song of Ascents; of David.
1 Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or in things too wonderful for me.
(David expressed his humility. He was aware of his capabilities and did not do things he knew he could not do.)
2 Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child with his mother, Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
(David’s soul was peaceful and patient.)
3 O Israel, hope in Jehovah From this time forth and for evermore.
Psalm 132
A Song of Ascents.
1 Jehovah, remember for David All his affliction;
2 How he sware unto Jehovah, And vowed unto the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, Nor go up into my bed;
4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, Or slumber to mine eyelids;
5 Until I find out a place for Jehovah, A tabernacle for the Mighty One of Jacob.
(This vow was not recorded elsewhere in the Bible. David had an intense desire to see an establishment for God’s worship and service.)
6 Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah: We found it in the field of the wood.
(Ephrathah was Beth-lehem: Genesis 48:7.)
7 We will go into his tabernacles; We will worship at his footstool.
8 Arise, O Jehovah, into thy resting-place; Thou, and the ark of thy strength.
9 Let thy priest be clothed with righteousness; And let thy saints shout for joy.
(A request for the priests to be clothed in righteousness.)
10 For thy servant David's sake Turn not away the face of thine anointed.
11 Jehovah hath sworn unto David in truth; He will not turn from it: Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
12 If thy children will keep my covenant And my testimony that I shall teach them, Their children also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore.
13 For Jehovah hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for his habitation.
(God chose Zion (Jerusalem) for His dwelling place.)
14 This is my resting-place for ever: Here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 Her priests also will I clothe with salvation; And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
(David’s horn being caused to bud meant that God would enlarge David’s leadership.)
18 His enemies will I clothe with shame; But upon himself shall his crown flourish.
Psalm 133
A Song of Ascents; of David.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
(David wrote of fellowship. Fellowship meant "to give, to share." An effect of this was unity.)
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard; That came down upon the skirt of his garments;
(The holy anointing oil for the high priest was olive oil mixed with four of the best spices: Exodus 30:22,25,30.)
3 Like the dew of Hermon, That cometh down upon the mountains of Zion: For there Jehovah commanded the blessing, Even life for evermore.
(Hermon was a mountain and its name meant "sanctuary.")
Psalm 134
A Song of Ascents.
1 Behold, bless ye Jehovah, all ye servants of Jehovah, That by night stand in the house of Jehovah.
(This psalm was an exhortation to bless the Lord…)
2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, And bless ye Jehovah.
3 Jehovah bless thee out of Zion; Even he that made heaven and earth.
(Jehovah was God who created the heaven and the earth. This was the last of the songs of Ascents. If we look at the Book of Psalms relative to worship, the authors of the "Exodus" and "Leviticus" sections symbolized the Ark of the Covenant. Perhaps these fifteen psalms represented the Ark of the Covenant ascending to the temple where it belonged, which fit this "Deuteronomy" section that was focused on divine government. Next, we will see a psalm of praise, which would follow the Ark being in the temple...)
Psalm 135
1 Praise ye Jehovah. Praise ye the name of Jehovah; Praise him, O ye servants of Jehovah,
2 Ye that stand in the house of Jehovah, In the courts of the house of our God.
(Encouragement for those who stand in the temple to praise Jehovah.)
3 Praise ye Jehovah; for Jehovah is good: Sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
(The reason: "for Jehovah was Good"...Right and Just.)
4 For Jehovah hath chosen Jacob unto himself, And Israel for his own possession.
5 For I know that Jehovah is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.
(God was great and above all gods.)
6 Whatsoever Jehovah pleased, that hath he done, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;
(God was Right and Just. The things that pleased God were always Right and Just.)
7 Who causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; Who maketh lightnings for the rain; Who bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries;
8 Who smote the first-born of Egypt, Both of man and beast;
(The Passover - it was as if the Law/history was being proclaimed to all those in attendance during a temple dedication.)
9 Who sent signs and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants;
10 Who smote many nations, And slew mighty kings,
11 Sihon king of the Amorites, And Og king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan,
12 And gave their land for a heritage, A heritage unto Israel his people.
(Canaan was given to the Israelites as the Promised Land. Notice, Og (Numbers 22) was still mentioned.)
13 Thy name, O Jehovah, endureth for ever; Thy memorial name, O Jehovah, throughout all generations.
14 For Jehovah will judge his people, And repent himself concerning his servants.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not;
17 They have ears, but they hear not; Neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18 They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them.
(Verses 15-18 were similar to Psalm 115:4-8. The attributes of these false gods were like the attributes of the men that made the false gods, and like those who trusted in the false gods.)
19 O house of Israel, bless ye Jehovah: O house of Aaron, bless ye Jehovah:
20 O house of Levi, bless ye Jehovah: Ye that fear Jehovah, bless ye Jehovah.
21 Blessed be Jehovah out of Zion, Who dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye Jehovah.
(Encouragement to bless God and praise Him, especially from the priesthood.)
(This post covered the last of the songs of Ascents as well as a psalm of praise.)
Day 182
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