Read
Psalm 132, 2 Chronicles 6:14-21, Ephesians 2:18-22 (NLT)
Psalm 132
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
Lord, remember David
and all that he suffered.
He made a solemn promise to the Lord.
He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel,
“I will not go home;
I will not let myself rest.
I will not let my eyes sleep
nor close my eyelids in slumber
until I find a place to build a house for the Lord,
a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.”
We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah;
then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar.
Let us go to the sanctuary of the Lord;
let us worship at the footstool of his throne.
Arise, O Lord, and enter your resting place,
along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.
May your priests be clothed in godliness;
may your loyal servants sing for joy.
For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject the king you have anointed.
The Lord swore an oath to David
with a promise he will never take back:
“I will place one of your descendants
on your throne.
If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant
and the laws that I teach them,
then your royal line
will continue forever and ever.”
For the Lord has chosen Jerusalem;
he has desired it for his home.
“This is my resting place forever,” he said.
“I will live here, for this is the home I desired.
I will bless this city and make it prosperous;
I will satisfy its poor with food.
I will clothe its priests with godliness;
its faithful servants will sing for joy.
Here I will increase the power of David;
my anointed one will be a light for my people.
I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but he will be a glorious king.”
2 Chronicles 6:14-21
He prayed,
“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.
“And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow my Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ Now, O Lord, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David.
“But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you. May you watch over this Temple day and night, this place where you have said you would put your name. May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place. May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.”
Ephesians 2:18-22
Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Jesus Storybook Bible:
God Sends Help (p.326)
Meditate
We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. (Ephesians 2:21)
Pray
Our great God, You are holy. It is only by Your grace that we have been rescued from our sin and brought into Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, You have cleansed us by Your sacrifice and made us holy in God’s sight. Thank You for giving your body and blood to establish the New Covenant. Forgive us for searching for our identity in the world. Help us to live as the royal priesthood and holy Temple You have made us to be. We pray especially for our church family. May we seek out opportunities to encourage one another and build each other up. May Your mercies and excellencies be celebrated among us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Take a moment to pray for others.
Sing
New City Catechism
Question 41: What is the Lord’s Prayer?
Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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