By Jaime Sherman
From Psalm 133, we see that strife and division are not God’s plan for our lives, but because sin entered our world, discord is the norm. We remember on this day so many years ago that Jesus took on the burden of sin for all mankind, dying on a roughly hewn cross so that He could bring us back into a right relationship with Him. His plans have always been for blessing and favor. So today in the midst of so much uncertainty around us, we can be certain that God is for us and has guaranteed the eternal future (133:3) of all who trust in the work of Jesus upon the cross. Our eyes rightly fixed, not on our present realities but on God’s eternal promises, causes us to lift up our hands in holy reverence, humility, and submission and declare that God is worthy of all blessing and honor.
In John 17 just before He was arrested and sentenced to death, Jesus responded to His Father in this way. He “lifted up his eyes to heaven” and prayed what has become known as the High Priestly Prayer. His gaze was lifted upward, upon His Father in heaven, full of submission and reverence.
The posture of one’s body often shows the state of one’s heart in relation to God, and so it was with King Solomon, who wrote at least one of the psalms we have studied in the past two weeks and lived out the charge to “lift up hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!” (134:2). He directed the building of the temple, which his father David had longed to complete to give God a place to dwell among His people. Read I Kings 8:12-61, and note Solomon’s reverence toward God, including the number of times the text indicates the posture of the king’s body and hands.
133: When Brothers Dwell in Unity
A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! 2 It is like fine oil on the head, running down on the beard, running down Aaron’s beard over the collar of his robes. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD has bestowed the blessing of life forevermore.
134: Come, Bless the LORD
A Song of Ascents. 1 Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD! 2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the LORD! 3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
Gazing Upward
How would you describe Solomon’s character based on how he displayed himself before the Lord?
According to verse 23, what has God done for His people?
What should our response be in light of God’s faithfulness? (verse 61)
Prayer
As you think back to God’s faithfulness since the creation of mankind, including in your own life, journal a prayer of response. You might consider the different aspects of prayer — adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication (the asking) — that was modeled by King Solomon in I Kings 8.
Until Easter
There are two more days until we pause to remember the resurrection of Jesus. We encourage you to spend time reading John’s account of Jesus’ final week before the cross, starting with John 12 and reading the final chapters of the book. Read it slowly. Read it out loud. Listen to it read. Take time to reflect on the great sacrifice and love made on your behalf by the Savior, and then celebrate the victory we have in Christ Jesus.