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November 21, 2018

Soon and Very Soon

K Karpen   |   Read Psalm 132:1-18

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Lectionary Week
November 19–25, 2018
Scripture Overview

Second Samuel records the final words of David. David takes comfort in the covenant that God has made with his family, which must be continued by kings who will honor God and rule justly. The psalmist sings of this same covenant with David’s family and the same necessity to follow God’s decrees in order to rule well. Revelation opens with a vision of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant, the King to rule over all kings for all time. Many expected Jesus to set up a political kingdom. Yet in John, Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom is not an earthly one. This week let us thank God that the kingdom is based not on the exercise of power but on Jesus’ example of serving others.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read 2 Samuel 23:1-7. Upon your deathbed, what would you like your last words to be?
• Read Psalm 132. What is your vision of Paradise? Who will be seated around your table?
• Read Revelation 1:4b-8. How do you bear faithful witness to “the Alpha and the Omega”?
• Read John 18:33-37. To whom do you pledge allegiance? To whom do you give lip service?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 132:1-18

1 LORD, remember David all the ways he suffered 2 and how he swore to the LORD, how he promised the strong one of Jacob: 3 “I won’t enter my house, won’t get into my bed. 4 I won’t let my eyes close, won’t let my eyelids sleep, 5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the strong one of Jacob.” 6 Yes, we heard about it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. 7 Let’s enter God’s dwelling place; let’s worship at the place God rests his feet! 8 Get up, LORD, go to your residence you and your powerful covenant chest! 9 Let your priests be dressed in righteousness; let your faithful shout out with joy! 10 And for the sake of your servant David, do not reject your anointed one. 11 The LORD swore to David a true promise that God won’t take back: “I will put one of your own children on your throne. 12 And if your children keep my covenant and the laws that I will teach them, then their children too will rule on your throne forever.” 13 Because the LORD chose Zion; he wanted it for his home. 14 “This is my residence forever. I will live here because I wanted it for myself. 15 I will most certainly bless its food supply; I will fill its needy full of food! 16 I will dress its priests in salvation, and its faithful will shout out loud with joy! 17 It is there that I will make David’s strength thrive. I will prepare a lamp for my anointed one there. 18 I will dress his enemies in shame, but the crown he wears will shine.”

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

This psalm speaks to us of the importance of making a place for God. It quotes King David saying that he will not go to his own house, will not get into his bed, and will not sleep until he finds a place for God to dwell.
God needs space....

God, help us create a place for you in our lives. Amen.


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