A heart for the house of the LORD
Psalm 132:1-5(MSG) O GOD, remember David and all his troubles! Remember how he promised GOD, made a vow to the Strong God of Jacob, “I’m not going home, I’m not going to bed, I’m not going to sleep, not even take time to rest, Until I find a home for GOD, a house for the Strong God of Jacob.”
The Psalmist implores God to acknowledge both David and his struggles. He prays: God, remember David and all his troubles. This reminds us that God is mindful of the challenges we face in our dedication to His glory.
David was committed to building a temple for God, a dwelling place for the Almighty. His dedication was so profound that he vowed to forego many of life’s comforts until he accomplished this task. However, we understand from Acts 17:24(NIV) that God doesn’t live in man-made temples as it states: The God who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth, and does not dwell in temples made by man.
Instead, God resides within us. John 14:23(AMP) Jesus answered, “If anyone [truly] loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him.”
Fundamentally, David’s vow symbolises the importance of making room for the Lord in our hearts. Psalm 26:8(AMP) expresses this love: O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells. Similarly, Psalm 27:4(AMP) says: One thing I have asked of the LORD, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.
As we reflect, we are reminded of the importance of nurturing a deep, personal relationship with God, making our hearts a true home for His divine presence.