Psalm 132 and the Sure Oath of the Lord

Covenant. Oath. Powerful words to ponder. I trust his sure oath and not my own righteousness or my own strength.

“Remember, O Lord, in David’s favor, all the hardships he endured, how he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob…” Psalm 132:1-2

Meditating on this psalm gave birth to a memory etched indelibly in my mind from the morning of the day after my staggering loss. My mind was spiraling in numbness and confusion. My vision was distorted, and my thoughts were warped. My knees were weak. I had symptoms of spiritual paralysis. Unknown waves were assaulting me.

However.

Even in a broken world, loss does not have the final word. Spiraling, I found bedrock. I landed on a foundation that was the result of God’s doing. Sure, I had faith, but faith is only as good as the object of the faith. I am not bedrock; but he is bedrock.

God remembers our endurance as he remembered David’s. David swore and vowed to God. He was in pursuit of God. He was intent on serving God.

“Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!” Psalm 132:7

David’s choice is to press into God’s dwelling place. He is drawn to worship at the Lord’s footstool. He called out to God to go to his resting place. He desires priests to be clothed in righteousness and saints to shout with joy.

“For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one.” Psalm 132:10

The author of this psalm reaches back to the covenant and requests that God not turn his face away for the sake of David, his servant. There’s the bedrock of an enduring covenant previously made with the people of God. And God’s people look back to that promise, and they stand firm on bedrock.

“The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back…” Psalm 132:11-12

Let this brief word encourage you today. The Lord swore a sure oath. To underscore the eternal significance, he adds, God will not turn back from his sure oath. It’s a promise. An oath. A covenant. A powerful pledge or vow for us to stand upon.

Even in loss.

Bedrock.

“For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: ‘This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.” Psalm 132:13-15

The object of our faith is the point. We did not choose God; he chose us. Paul says to us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption…” (Ephesians 4:3-5).

The Lord chose Zion. He desired to inhabit, as a forever place, his people. He promises blessing. He promises satisfaction. He is eternally trustworthy.

Bedrock. A sure oath.

We are clothed with salvation that is from the blood of Jesus. We will rejoice. Enemies are brought to shame. His covenant is bedrock for our souls.

Even in loss. Especially in loss.

Redemption has been given to overwhelm brokenness.

“Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy…His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.” Psalm 132:16, 18