Background

Three Sides of Obedience

Some have thought this psalm was written by David, but it seems far more likely that it was written by Solomon for the temple dedication, for the words of the psalm reflect his prayer at that event very closely. As Solomon's writing, it provides us with a threefold view of obedience. Two of these views are found directly in the psalm. We see in it David's obedience to God. His obedience went so far that he was willing to set aside even his most pious plans because God had said, 'No.' That was all it took. God said, 'No!' and David accepted. Close to the beginning of this study of the Songs of Ascent, we looked at the matter of servanthood (Ps 123). There, we saw that the servant was so attentive to his master that the merest glance of the master's eye was sufficient to lead the servant to action. So it was with David and God.

The second facet of obedience we are shown is God's obedience to His own promises. In Ps 125, we looked at our security, and found it to be located squarely in God's steadfastness, His trustworthiness. In Ps 130, we looked at our hope, and found that it, too, was based solely on His word to us. Because we know Him faithful, we can trust His promises to us. God seeks for a people after His own image, a people who, like Himself, can be trusted at their word. Let your yes be yes, and your no, no. Live such a life that men know they need nothing more than your word. Live such that you need not swear by things greater than yourself so as to be believed.

The third, and perhaps most intriguing view of obedience we have in this psalm is the one seen only in placing it in its proper place within the scope of God's history. For here we see Solomon's obedience to both God and father. Here, we see the heritage of obedience, an obedience taught by one who had learned to one who would follow. Here, we see the purpose of godly training in the family.

Setting the stage

To fully appreciate this, as we proceed, we must begin by setting the stage upon which the song was sung. To begin with, look to the words of David, as he passed the torch of leadership to his son. His oath to God was not forgotten, he still longed to see God's house built, but he wanted it built in God's way, in obedience to God's direction.

1 Ch 28:1-10

1 Now David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that served the king, and the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the overseers of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, with the officials and the mighty men, even all the valiant men. 2 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 And 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 And 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 'And 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 in order that you may possess the good land and bequeath it to your sons after you forever.

9 "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 10 Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be courageous and act."

1Ch 28:20

20 Then David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished."

Another man might have looked at this last bit, and held off completing the temple as long as possible. After all, the promise was that God would not forsake him until the temple was completed. Why not, then, delay that completion, and thus be assured of God's presence? But Solomon was wise. He knew better than to toy with God, for he had been trained up in the ways of God!

Solomon was indeed faithful to complete the work that God had given him through David. The temple was built, and all things ordered as God had described. At the completion, Solomon offered a lengthy prayer. That prayer is worthy of a complete reading, but for now, let's look at some portions of it:

2 Ch 6:1-4

1 Then Solomon said,

"The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
2 "I have built Thee a lofty house,
And a place for Thy dwelling forever."

3 Then the king faced about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.

4 And he said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hands,

Remember humility? Solomon was wise indeed, claiming nothing for himself, but attributing all to God.

2Ch 6:7-11

7 "Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8 But the LORD said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. 9 'Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.' 10 "Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in the place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11 And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD, which He made with the sons of Israel."

Again, notice that even as he acknowledges what he has done, he gives all the credit to God.

2Ch 6:36-39

36 "When they sin against Thee (for there is no man who does not sin) and Thou art angry with them and dost deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to a land far off or near, 37 if they take thought in the land where they are taken captive, and repent and make supplication to Thee in the land of their captivity, saying,' We have sinned, we have committed iniquity, and have acted wickedly'; 38 if they return to Thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which Thou hast given to their fathers, and the city which Thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy name, 39 then hear from heaven, from Thy dwelling place, their prayer and supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Thy people who have sinned against Thee.

Remember, in our last study (Ps 131), how we saw that the heart was the root of our state? The heart must return, else the man has not returned at all. Prayer will give voice to the heart.

2Ch 6:41-42

41 Now therefore arise, O LORD God, to Thy resting place, Thou and the ark of Thy might; let Thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let Thy godly ones rejoice in what is good. 42 O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Thine anointed; remember Thy lovingkindness to Thy servant David."

Here we see the setting complete. These are the very words of verses 8-10 of this psalm. Here we see the reason for the psalm. In what has led up to it, we see what was necessary to that reason: Full and unquestioning obedience to God.

Recognition / Provision / Worship / Servanthood / Help / Security / Joy / Work / Happiness / Perseverance / Hope / Humility / Obedience / Community / Blessing