Joy of Answered Prayer
Opening Prayer
Lord, remember me as You remembered David.
Read PSALM 132
1 Lord, remember David
and all his self-denial.
2 He 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,
4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
5 till I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 We 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.
9 May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;
may your faithful people sing for joy.’”
10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed one.
11 The Lord swore an oath to David,
a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants
I will place on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant
and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
on your throne for ever and ever.”
13 For 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.
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor I will satisfy with food.
16 I 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.
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4). Let us approach this reading with a thankful heart.
This “song of ascents” is part of the worship of Israel. The author may not be known. It is Davidic in style, but it might be later than that due to some clear echoes of the prayer of Solomon (10; 2 Chr. 6:40–42). Regardless of authorship, this psalm is full of promise and the joys of answered prayer. It begins with an expression of real hunger for fellowship with God. The author is restless in soul until he discovers God’s will for him. His desire to build a sanctuary could indicate a longing to dwell in God’s presence. Are we so hungry for the presence of the Lord that we can’t sleep at night (3–5; cf. Psa. 42:1–3a)?
God hears our heartfelt praying, and his answers exceed our asking. The cry, for instance, of verse 8 is gloriously fulfilled in verse 14; the second request of verse 9 receives its response in verse 16; and the entreaty regarding David in verse 10 is wonderfully realized in verses 17 and 18. God reveals himself as “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:20). Recall now the answers to prayer you have already received and rejoice.
God keeps his promises to David, his descendants and us. There are conditions to some of these (12), but even when we fall short, as certain forthcoming kings of Judah would do, the purposes of God in time and eternity will not be denied. God has chosen Zion, and he has sent us his Messiah whose everlasting crown shall be resplendent (Arthur G. Clarke, Analytical Studies in the Psalms). His eternal promises include the poor (15). As such, we should never forget their needs as we enjoy being clothed with salvation and sing forever with joy (16).
Apply
Praise God for his promises. Ask him to help you to be faithful to him while you await his timing.
Closing prayer
Lord, clothe Your New Testament saints with the same splendor that You gave Your anointed in the Old Testament.
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