Remember Your Steadfast Love

 

In Solomon’s temple dedication prayer he quotes a few verses from Psalm 132.

Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy. For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

That’s the part quoted, but let me read more, and you’ll see why this song was on Solomon’s heart.

The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: “One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne.”

He knows he’s the fulfillment of this promise. The next part is about how this lineage will go on forever if they keep God’s ways. Solomon just got done a long prayer asking that God will take them back when they pray after they inevitably sin.

David has some pleading prayers like, “Take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and renew a right spirit within me.” But, he also says things like “God has rewarded me according to my righteousness” and how he’s been blameless.

It would seem David could see himself as God saw him. Solomon, sees himself a sinner; David could see himself as a saint. Solomon didn’t know the love of God the way David did because he didn’t love God the way his father did.

Solomon trusted more in God’s love for his father than for himself. He finishes with, remember your love for my father, as if He’s not sure God will answer if he asks, but has more confidence that God will respond in love for David.

Everyone must have their own love relationship with the Lord. It doesn’t work any other way. That’s just awkward.

Give your heart in love to the Lord. Take His heart for your own. Trust in His steadfast love for you.