eschatology, God's Dwelling Place (Ps.132)

This psalm ends with a tiny description of the Millennium, and begins with a description of how much king David wanted to provide a temple for the Lord...

(Psalm 132:1-5)  Remember, O Lord, on David’s behalf,
All his affliction;
2 How he swore to the Lord
And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
3 “Surely I will not enter my house,
Nor lie on my bed;
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes
Or slumber to my eyelids,
5 Until I find a place for the Lord,
A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

About building a temple, God sent David a message which he passed along to the people...


(1 Chronicles 28:2-8)  Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brethren and my people; I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it. 3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4 Yet, the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever.  For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5 Of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons), He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he resolutely performs My commandments and My ordinances, as is done now.’ 8 So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God so that you may possess the good land and bequeath it to your sons after you forever. 

Just as David reminds everyone of the Davidic covenant in the scripture above, a reminder of the Davidic covenant is found in this psalm starting in verse 11...

 (Psalm 132:10-12)  For the sake of David Your servant,
Do not turn away the face of Your anointed.
11 The Lord has sworn to David
A truth from which He will not turn back:
“Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne.
12 “If your sons will keep My covenant
And My testimony which I will teach them,
Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forever.”

As we've been seeing (and the Bible is VERY consistent in all things) - it will take a perfectly obedient king in order to fulfill the Davidic covenant, and that King - is Jesus - the Son of God, as well as a legitimate descendant of king David.  Because the Israelites rejected Jesus as their King, they crucified Him.  This was to accomplish His work on the cross which provided a new covenant - everlasting salvation - to all those who believe (past, present, future).   Unbelieving Israelites in the Tribulation will see the signs (the judgments), then believe and cry out for their Messiah's return.  Jesus will come again at the end of the Tribulation to sit on the throne to establish the Millennial kingdom and fulfill all covenants...

 (Psalm 132:13-17)  For the Lord has chosen Zion;
He has desired it for His habitation.
14 “This is My resting place forever;
Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
15 “I will abundantly bless her provision;
I will satisfy her needy with bread.
16 “Her priests also I will clothe with salvation,
And her godly ones will sing aloud for joy.
17 “There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth;
I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed...”

Today's takeaway:  bear with me as my mind is being blown away by how huge and awesome God is!  The main idea is this - that as we give just as much as we are able, it is pitiful in comparison to what God is able to do through us when we really listen and follow His directions.  But ultimately - so very pitiful in comparison to what God is able to do and WANTS to do for us.

I'm going to use the temple as an example.  We recently read through the scriptures where the temple is rebuilt.  This is how it went when the people tried as best possible...

(Ezra 3:8a, 9-10a, 12)  Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem in the second month... 9 ...Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen in the temple of God.  10 Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord... 12 ...many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy...

Obviously the second temple was not as glorious as the first one, which Solomon built using the incredible wealth that God had blessed him with.  Or the very first "temple" which was in a tent.  when God gave specific directions and filled the workers with the Holy Spirit...


(Exodus 36:1)  “Now Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the Lord has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”

And yet nothing involving us and our talents could ever compare to what God can do.  God created the universe, after all.  In the Millennium, Jesus will replenish the earth and rebuild the temple.  HEAVEN - is just going to be something we cannot even imagine!

Meanwhile, because of Jesus' work on the cross, when we become Christians...

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)  ...do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Even more mind-blowing - is God's grace!  David understood this...

(Psalm 51:10-12)  Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.  11 Do not cast me away from Your presence  And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

It is NOT our works, but HIS works that save us.  And it is us allowing HIM to WORK IN US which will produce the best, most powerful life-changing results ever...

(2 Corinthians 4:7-18)  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;  9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;  10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.  13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,  14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.  16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

eschatology, the Stone Which Was Rejected (Ps.118)

Once we reach the book of Daniel, we will see how critical this psalm's portion is - especially the verse that is highlighted.  The moment Jesus was rejected and crucified was the moment when the Jewish Age was put on hold, and the Church Age began.  There are seven years still left for the Jewish Age, but only God knows when the rapture will happen and the Jewish Age will continue again (we will see several verses on this later in the New Testament). 

Meanwhile, because Jesus was rejected - salvation was possible - to everyone EVER.  So as you read through this scripture, notice how David is speaking about salvation in the present tense.  Jesus' work on the cross was timeless.  There was purpose in the exact timing of when He "was born" on earth and when He was crucified - but WHAT HE DID on the cross was for ALL TIME - so that even the people of the Old Testament could be "Christians" WHEN they believed and put their faith in God...

(Psalm 118:1-4, 19-29)  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Oh let Israel say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
3 Oh let the house of Aaron say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
4 Oh let those who fear the Lord say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting”...

5 

10

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
The righteous will enter through it.
21 I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me,
And You have become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief corner stone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O Lord, do save, we beseech You;
O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, and He has given us light;
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, I extol You.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Today's takeaway:  we should be so thankful and excited about God's gift of salvation, that we want to share it...

(Matthew 5:14-15)  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven..."

Recently I met a young man who seemed to have a lot of idealistic and hopeful thoughts - even though there is so much evil happening all around us.  He believed that mankind would eventually work out all the issues - because one day we would all just figure it out on our own. 

In my head, I was begging God to give me an opportunity, and the right words to say, in order to shed some light.  By the end of the conversation, he learned that I am a Christian, and that I would never compromise my beliefs which are based on what God says, and that God says we should love everyone no matter what.  And that was pretty much it!  In the end, he hoped he'd meet up with me again, in order to get a list of acceptable restaurants in this location, although I felt that maybe he was just thankful there was someone to talk with and someone to listen.

Well, after lots of prayer that evening, the next day I wrote out a list of restaurants and kept it with me.  I "just happened" to bump into him that evening on the streets so I could give him the list.  He was in the middle of a conversation with someone else, so there was clearly no opportunity.  But perhaps that was all I was to do.  Maybe I'll meet up with him again?  I don't know.  Was there a seed planted?  I think "yes" - a very tiny one.  But that tiny seed can surely grow.  Cause him to ask questions.  God can use anything great or small, and He could definitely send others to add to that.  God will work that out.  I just need to be ready, available and willing.  We should desire (as God does) that everyone finds salvation;  but realize everyone is ultimately responsible for themselves...

(Romans 1:18-23)  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

eschatology, the Worthy King (Ps.110-111)

These psalms are definitely worth focusing on.  First of all, Jesus quoted the first verse of Psalm 110 to the Pharisees and scribes who were trying to trip Him up and find some fault in Him.  Of course they couldn't.  Jesus is God in flesh!  Holy and sinless!  Worthy!  Worthy to pay for our sins!  Worthy to sit on the heavenly throne, and it goes without saying that He is worthy to sit on the earthly throne!...

(Luke 20:41-46a)  ...Then He said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is David’s son?  42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
43 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and how is He his son?”

45 And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes...

As we know, all scripture is God-breathed, thus God inspired David and guided him in the Spirit to prophecy about Jesus.  Just below, the first verse event took place right after Jesus' work on the cross and His ascension back to heaven - and it continues to be so - UNTIL the Tribulation and battle of Armageddon ("making the enemies a footstool").  Verse 2-4 will take place in the Millennium when Jesus sits on the earthly throne and fulfills the covenants...

(Psalm 110:1-4)  The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
2 The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
3 Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power;
In holy array, from the womb of the dawn,
Your youth are to You as the dew.

4 The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

Then David returns to describing the Tribulation and the victory that Jesus will have. 
NOTE: "in the day of His wrath" refers to the Tribulation days...

5 (Psalm 110:1-7)  The Lord is at Your right hand;
He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.
6 He will judge among the nations,
He will fill them with corpses,
He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.
7 He will drink from the brook by the wayside;
Therefore He will lift up His head.

Today's takeaway:  is found in the psalm that follows, where David gives praise to the eternal Lord, who keeps His promises and fulfills His covenants!  There will be justice!  There will be blessings!  The Lord is SO WORTHY to be praised!!!  Why would we NOT make Jesus the King of our personal lives???...

(Psalm 111:1-10)  Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the Lord;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
3 Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5 He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.
6 He has made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.

7 The works of His hands are truth and justice;
All His precepts are sure.
8 They are upheld forever and ever;
They are performed in truth and uprightness.
9 He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and awesome is His name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.