It isn’t just COVID that’s keeping God’s people from gathering on the Lord’s Day, you know. Lots of single parents have to work long hours to make ends meet, and since most restaurants and retail establishments are open on Sundays, those who work there are often prevented from attending public worship. To make matters worse, many youth sports leagues are now scheduling games on Sundays, so families who want structured activities and physical exercise for their children are often faced with a difficult choice indeed.

So, how high a priority is public worship for you? Far from rolling over and going back to sleep on the Sabbath, David was so intent on providing a permanent house for the Lord that he refused to enter his house or lie on his bed or close his eyes until the job was finished (verses 3-4). And he wasn’t the only one with this kind of eagerness for worship. The psalmist encourages all the saints to shout for joy, even as the priests purify themselves so that they might offer the sacrifices prescribed by the Law of Moses (verse 9).

And how does God respond to this kind of heartfelt worship? We know that He chose one place, Mt. Zion, to be the place for the only Temple where He was to be worshipped (verses 13-14). Moreover, He promised David that his descendants would sit on his throne in the same place, as long as they were faithful to God (verses 11-12).

And God has kept both of those promises through the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. For the Son of David is God’s Anointed (verse 17), the One having all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Moreover, all those who trust in Him are not only His holy priests – we are also living stones, together constituting His dwelling place (I Peter 2:5).

So, if David was so intent on providing a building where sacrifices could be offered that would foreshadow the cross of Christ, how much greater should our joy be as we come together to form the true Temple of God, celebrating the Messiah who by the perfect sacrifice of His cross has clothed all His priests with salvation (verse 16)? Shouldn’t we all join our voices in a shout of joy (verses 9 and 16), each and every Lord’s Day?

Psalm 132 (NASB)

A Song of Ascents.
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.”
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the field of Jaar.
7 Let us go into His dwelling place; Let us worship at His footstool.
8 Arise, O LORD, to Thy resting place; Thou and the ark of Thy strength.
9 Let Thy priests be clothed with righteousness; And let Thy godly ones sing for joy.
10 For the sake of David Thy servant, Do not turn away the face of Thine 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.”
13 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.
18 “His enemies I will clothe with shame; But upon himself his crown shall shine.”