Scripture Reading: Psa. 128—132
Ⅰ
Psalm 128 is the praise of the saint in his going up to Zion concerning Jehovah's blessing to Israel from Zion and the prosperity of Jerusalem in their enjoyment:
A
Zion signifies the overcomers in the churches, and Jerusalem signifies the church as God's kingdom.
B
Jehovah will bless them from Zion, and they will seek the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of their life—vv. 5-6.
Ⅱ
Psalm 129 is the praise of the saint in his going up to Zion concerning the persecutors of Israel and the haters of Zion:
A
Here Israel signifies the New Testament believers, and Zion signifies the overcomers.
B
All the haters of Zion will be put to shame and turned back—cf. Gen. 3:15; John 15:18-25; Rev. 12:4-5, 17.
C
The Lord will vindicate Himself; He desires Zion, and He is for Zion.
Ⅲ
Psalm 130 is the praise of the saint in his going up to Zion concerning God's forgiveness to Israel and His redeeming of Israel from all its iniquities:
A
The psalmist hoped in the Lord and in His word for His abundant redemption—vv. 5-8.
B
Every day our shortcomings and imperfections need God's forgiveness, and our filthiness needs His cleansing—1 John 1:7, 9.
Ⅳ
Psalm 131 is the praise of the saint in his going up to Zion concerning his humbled heart and quieted soul before Jehovah:
A
Certain things are too great and wondrous for us, and we should not go about in these things—v. 1.
B
The psalmist has calmed and quieted his soul within him; he has been weaned, or stripped, of everything except the Lord—v. 2.
C
When we have become like the psalmist, humble, calm, quiet, and weaned, we can advise others to hope in God—v. 3.
Ⅴ
Psalm 132 is the praise of the saint in his going up to Zion concerning Jehovah's habitation and rest in Zion through David, His anointed:
A
The psalmist asks Jehovah to remember all of David's afflictions, which typify all the afflictions of Christ—v. 1.
B
In verses 2 through 5 we see David's desire for the house of God.
C
David wanted Jehovah to arise and enter with the ark into His resting place in Zion (vv. 6-8); today this resting place is the overcomers in the churches.
D
Verses 7 and 8 are figurative of the recovery of the church life:
１
The ark was separated from the tabernacle; this signifies that Christ was with the church but that He has been separated from the church.
２
Now is the time for us all to say, "Arise, O Jehovah, unto Your resting place, / You and the Ark of Your strength"—v. 8.
E
Verses 13 through 18 are Jehovah's speaking concerning Zion; this is a picture of the top church life—the situation of the overcomers in Zion, the highest peak of God's mountain:
１
"This is My resting place forever; / Here will I dwell, for I have desired it"—v. 14.
２
"I will abundantly bless its provision; / I will satisfy its poor with bread"—v. 15.
３
"Its priests I will clothe with salvation"—v. 16a.
４
"Its faithful ones will shout with a ringing shout"—v. 16b.
５
"There I will cause a horn of David to shoot forth"—v. 17a.
６
"I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one"—v. 17b.
７
"On him his crown will shine"—v. 18b.