THE STEP OF DETERMINATION
Lesson 25 Pilgrim’s Staircase
Psalm 132
Psalm 132:1-18 (AMP) 1 LORD, [earnestly] remember to David's credit all his humiliations and hardships and endurance— 2 How he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: 3 Surely, I will not enter my dwelling house or get into my bed— 4 I will not permit my eyes to sleep or my eyelids to slumber, 5 Until I have found a place for the Lord, a habitation for the Mighty One of Jacob. 6 Behold, at Ephratah we [first] heard of [the discovered ark]; we found it in the fields of the wood [at Kiriath-jearim]. 7 Let us go into His tabernacle; let us worship at His footstool. 8 Arise, O Lord, to your resting-place, you and the ark [the symbol] of your strength. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness (right living and right standing with God); and let your saints shout for joy! 10 For Your servant David's sake, turn not away the face of your anointed and reject not your own king. 11 The Lord swore to David in truth; He will not turn back from it: One of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne. 12 If your children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children also shall sit upon your throne forever. 13 For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His habitation: 14 this is my resting-place forever [says the Lord]; here will I dwell, for I have desired it. 15 I will surely and 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 a horn spring forth and bud for David; I have ordained and prepared a lamp for my anointed [fulfilling the promises of old]. 18 His enemies will I clothe with shame, but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
1. A) Read Psalm 132. David had a deep desire to do something for God, what do you think that may have been? (See especially verse 5) ______
Until I have found a place for the Lord, a habitation for the Mighty One of Jacob.
B) One commentator called this psalm “The Step of Determination”, (verses 1-5). Does this sound like the words of a determined man? Y ___ N ___ What makes you think so? ______
C) Would you say that he was specific about what he desired to do? Y ___ N ___
D) What was he willing to forgo until he got the job done? ______
E) Commentators believe this is reference to the Ark of the Covenant which had been stolen, returned, misplaced, neglected, hidden, and abandoned. Why do you think David would want to find apermanent dwelling place for this piece of temple furniture? ______
F) The Ark of the Covenant was the visible presence of an invisible God. Do you think it was the piece of furniture or the God of the piece of furniture that David wished to please? ______
G) Do you think God was pleased with David’s desire? Y ___ N ___ Why? ______
2.A) At this point of history, David lived in a fine cedar palace. Do you think it troubled him that GOD had no permanent dwelling? Y ___ N ____
B) Who else had no permanent dwelling? (See Matthew 8:20) ______
Matthew 8:20 (AMP) 20 And Jesus replied to him, Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have lodging places, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.
3.Do you think there is something inconsistent about being in pursuit of our own interests and neglecting the interests of God? Y ___ N ___ Why? ______
4. A) Have you ever desired to do something wonderful for God? Y ___ N ___
B) Have you ever made a vow to GOD, promising Him you would do something?
Y ___ N ___
C) Personal Have you fulfilled it?
D) Do you think God takes our vows seriously? Y ___ N ___ Why? ______
5. A) In order for David to keep his vow, he had to first locate the Ark of the Covenant and transport it toJerusalem, why would this be a serious (and dangerous) operation? (See 2 Samuel 6). ______
B) Do you think if you are serious about doing something for the Lord it will require diligence andoften difficulties? Y ___ N ___
C) In your mind, have you ever “pictured how it would be”, once your desire would become a reality? Y ___ N ___
D) Would you say that this is what David was doing in Verse 7? Y ___ N ___ Don’t know ___
E) Was David to fulfill his plan? See 2 Samuel 7:1-16. Y ___ N ___
2 Samuel 7:1-16 (AMP) 1 WHEN KING David dwelt in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 The king said to Nathan the prophet, see now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains. 3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you. 4 That night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, 5 Go and tell my servant David, thus says the Lord: Shall you build me a house in which to dwell? 6 For I have not dwelt in a house since I brought the Israelites out of Egypt to this day, but have moved about with a tent for My dwelling. 7 In all the places where I have moved with all the Israelites, did I speak a word to any from the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to be shepherd of My people Israel, asking, why do you not build Me a house of cedar? 8 So now say this to my servant David, thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I was with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like [that] of the great men of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them that they may dwell in a place of their own and be moved no more. And wicked men shall afflict them no more, as formerly 11 and as from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Also, the Lord declares to you that He will make for you a house: 12 and when your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up after you your offspring who shall be born to you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My Name [and My Presence], and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy and loving-kindness shall not depart from him, as I took [them] from Saul, whom I took away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before you; your throne shall be established forever.
6. A) Do you think that God was displeased with David for being presumptuous? Y ___ N ___
Why? ______
B) According to the verses we read in 2 Samuel 7, did David suffer loss because God chose not tohave David build the temple? Y ___ N ___
C) What promises did God give to David? ______
D) What is the difference between blessing David and blessing the House of David? ______
7.Psalm 132 is almost a dialogue between the psalmist and God. Comment on the parallelisms.
A) Verses 1-6 with verse 12 ______
1 LORD, [earnestly] remember to David's credit all his humiliations and hardships and endurance— 2 How he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: 3 Surely, I will not enter my dwelling house or get into my bed— 4 I will not permit my eyes to sleep or my eyelids to slumber, 5 Until I have found a place for the Lord, a habitation for the Mighty One of Jacob. 6 Behold, at Ephratah we [first] heard of [the discovered ark]; we found it in the fields of the wood [at Kiriath-jearim].
12 If your children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children also shall sit upon your throne forever.
B) Verse 7 with verse 13 ______
7 Let us go into His tabernacle; let us worship at His footstool.
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His habitation
C) Verse 8 with verse 14 ______
8 Arise, O Lord, to your resting-place, you and the ark [the symbol] of your strength.
14 this is my resting-place forever [says the Lord]; here will I dwell, for I have desired it.
D) Verse 9 with verses15-16 ______
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness (right living and right standing with God); and let your saints shout for joy!
15 I will surely and 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.
E) Verse 10 with verses 17-18 ______
10 For Your servant David's sake, turn not away the face of your anointed and reject not your own king.
17 There will I make a horn spring forth and bud for David; I have ordained and prepared a lamp for my anointed [fulfilling the promises of old]. 18 His enemies will I clothe with shame, but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
F) Verse 11 is not included in the parallelisms, but how is this the answer to David’s heart’s desire? ______
11 The Lord swore to David in truth; He will not turn back from it: One of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne.
8.The Bible has a lot to say about making vows (promises) to God. How does Numbers 30:2, speak to the issue? ______
Numbers 30:2 (AMP) 2 If a man vows a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break and profane his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
B) Is it a serious thing to make God a promise? Y ___ N ___
C) Is a marriage vow, a vow to God? Y ___ N ___
D) In the church in which I grew up, we had Godparents. Is it wise to commit to a lifetime of prayer andnurture if you will not or cannot fulfill that vow? Y ___ N ___
E) Is it a sin to promise to do something at church and fail to carry it through? Y ___ N ___
F) What does Ecclesiastes 5:4-7 tell us? ______
Ecclesiastes 5:4-7 (AMP) 4 When you vow a vow or make a pledge to God, do not put off paying it; for God has no pleasure in fools (those who witlessly mock Him). Pay what you vow.
5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Do not allow your mouth to cause your body to sin, and do not say before the messenger [the priest] that it was an error or mistake. Why should God be [made] angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in a multitude of dreams there is futility and worthlessness, and ruin in a flood of words. But [reverently] fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is].
9. A) David had a desire and determined to make it happen - until God told him no. What is the differencebetween David’s desire and the vows addressed in question eight? ______
B) Do you think that if God had given David the green light to proceed - David would have? __
C) Do you think it is the actual doing or the intention of David’s heart that God appreciated? _
Why? ______
D) What is the difference between “good intentions” and the intention of the heart? ______
E) Do good intentions bring Glory to God? Y ___ N ___
F) Will we get a reward in Heaven for our good intentions? Y ___ N ___
G) Why is it better to say “no, I’m sorry I cannot”, than to commit to something you cannot or have no intention of carrying through? ______
10. Personal If you are presently on The Step of Determination, your heart has been stirred to do something for the Lord, are you determined to finish your course?
THE PILGRIM’S STAIRCASE
Syllabus 25
It is interesting reading different commentators’ comments on scripture. They seem to place a higher emphasis on one point over another and it is not until you take a wide view of the passage itself to determine precisely where The Holy Spirit would have you focus. Today’s lesson tends to focus upon the determination to do something for The Lord. We see the psalmist (it does not directly name David as the author) recounting the zeal in which David pursued his desire to build a temple for The Ark of the Covenant, which was the visible Presence of God among the people. The Ark was a sacred portable chest adorned with two Cherubim and The Mercy Seat. It was the only article of furniture in the innermost room of the tabernacle (The Holy of Holies).
Once a year blood was sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat by the High Priest. Within the Ark was the two stone tablets that contained the Ten Commandments, a golden pot of manna (the bread from Heaven the Israelites ate in the wilderness), and Aarons rod (that budded) see Numbers 17:1-11. The ark was carried by the sons of Levi during the wilderness wanderings. Carried into the Jordan River by the priests the ark caused the waters to part (see Joshua 3:6 - 4:18). The ark was carried at the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:4-11), later it was deposited at Shiloh.
The Israelites took the ark into battle against the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:1-11). The Philistines captured the ark only to send it back when disaster struck their camp (1 Samuel 5 - 6). It remained at Kirjath Jearim until David brought it to Jerusalem. For twenty years, the ark had been lost/abandoned.
King David now sat upon his throne, wars had settled, he had himself a nice comfortable cedar home. But David was troubled. God had so blessed him, but God Himself had no place to rest.
David organized a search for the ark, when it was found he brought it to Jerusalem with great celebration.
Psalm 132 tells the story how David’s determination to establish a resting place for God led him to make a vow to do this thing, then sealing his vow with an oath. David promised God that he would not enjoy his home or even his bed, he would not sleep or even slumber until he found a habitation for the Mighty God of Jacob.
Several applications may be made in regard to David’s zeal. He did not deem it right that he should enjoy creature comfort when God’s “house” was in shambles. His God was not some piece of stone, his was The Mighty God of Jacob. David’s God deserves the best, better than anything David should enjoy!
When you love God as deeply as David did, thoughts of any disrespect or indifference was not tolerable!
For twenty years, the people had gone without the Presence of God in their midst. Worship had gotten polluted. God was not being honored! David’s determination in verses 1-5 grew out of his deep distress (mental distress, soul turmoil, restlessness). He was concerned that there was no certain dwelling place for the ark. David’s deep desire was strengthened by a deep denial of self.
Have you denied yourself for the sake of the church? Has God stirred you to do something? Are you determined to see this thing through? Will you bulldoze through the obstacles? Or, at the slightest provocation, assume God is closing the doors? Do you think he could be allowing the hindrances in order to test your depth of commitment?
In order for David to do what he planned he had to make a diligent search. After the ark left the original tabernacle it was cast about from pillar to post. The Philistines had it and got rid of it. David did not even know where to look. There were rumors that it could be found in Ephratah. Eventually it was found in the fields of the wood (KJ). David made a diligent and dangerous search. But, he stuck to it.
Have you made promises to God? A test of maturity is the commitment to do that which God has called you to do, even if (perhaps especially if) it is dangerous or discouraging to go on.
In David’s heart, he had a vision of what he wished to accomplish for the Lord. A temple where the people would go to worship. A habitation fit for the Lord. It would be grand. But God had different plans for David and sent Nathan to tell David that it would be his son, not himself who would build the temple. God had bigger and better plans for David!
Solomon would build a stone temple, but David would father a “temple” that would not/could not be destroyed by human hands. David’s temple would be eternal. After David, would “sleep with his fathers”, his “seed” (Jesus) would establish the throne of his kingdom forever. God had better plans for David. “David, you are talking about building a house that will last for a little while. I’m going to build a house that will last forever”. You ask that the priests will be clothed in righteousness, but “I” will clothe them with salvation.
God is the reader of hearts. Although David failed to inquire of the Lord before he committed himself, God honored the desire of David’s heart. God honored the zeal David felt for His God. God honored David’s willingness to forgo his worldly pleasures in order to do right by God and His sanctuary.