GPsalms 143:1-2 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. 2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
 
HAVE you ever confessed your sin to God by praying, “Do not bring your servant into judgment.” You have when you’ve prayed as Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our debts (sins, trespasses) as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12a) He wants you to know two things: Your confession is an admission you are under God’s judgment. And your confession releases you from God’s judgment.
   God’s law and his gospel confirm the just, good news of his righteous forgiveness. For example, in the law God teaches the righteous life to the Israelites. Then he tells them what to do when they break the law: Leviticus 5:5 “When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned.” Obeying this command, one was to then redeem, to pay a price for his sin through the sacrifice of various animals, depending on the sin. Sin costs. It separates us from God. Confession redeems. It restores our relationship with God.
   To violate God’s law is a holy confrontation between the sinner and the Righteous One. As a nation, Israel’s history was to reject God’s law. They did not confess. They did not pay the redemption price. God’s just and righteous response was to sentence Israel into exile. Exile from God’s presence illustrates hell. God showed the world what happens when we ignore sin. Without confession and proper payment, sin has an eternal cost.
   In God’s infinite mercy, we can confidently pray, “Father, forgive my debts.” With faith in Jesus, your Redeemer, you know God will forgive the sin because Jesus committed his broken body and shed blood to pay sin’s cost. Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”  
  The power of your confession today releases the fullness of God’s grace, justice and righteousness into your eternal soul. Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
   The Bible is God’s promise he forgives and redeems your confessed sin. Be faithful to the just and righteous God to obey his commands. With faithful confession, you know he will not bring you into judgment.   
 
 

Psalms 142:3-5 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. 4 Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. 5 I cry to you, O LORD I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
 
HAVE you been in a cave? David was. When God anointed David to become Israel’s next king, David became King Saul’s enemy, and Saul then sought to destroy David, God’s anointed. One of the many places David found refuge from Saul’s hateful jealousy was a cave in En Gadi, a remote area of cliffs near the Dead Sea.
   Hiding in a physical cave caused David to experience a dark spiritual cave that threatened to keep him from his future. That’s why he prayed for God’s help. When my spirit grows faint within me, I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” David is saying God has given of himself to David. How does David know this?
   Let’s consider. How do you respond when circumstances force you into a cave? Perhaps an accident causes severe injuries; an illness threatens your life; a relationship breaks apart; a job loss leaves you wondering “What’s next?” Challenges and threats surround you as a powerful army waiting to destroy you. What do you need to walk out of the dark cave into the light of hope and confidence for your future?
   You look for the light that leads you to the exit. Where’s the light? David says the light is in God’s law. Psalms 19:8b The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. That’s why he faithfully prayed: When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. David knew the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. And he also knew the LORD’s way is the only way out of the cave. “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
   That’s why he didn’t kill Saul. God seemed to test David’s faithfulness when Saul entered the cave to relieve himself. The king did not know David and his men were close enough to kill him. Although David’s men urged him to take Saul’s life, He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’S anointed.” (1 Samuel 24:6) David  based his actions on the law. He saw all events as the LORD’s will. David did not see Saul as his enemy. David’s enemy is the temptation to reject God’s law. David confessed God has made him who he is. God has anointed him his wisdom. “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”  
   The LORD had given a portion of himself to David. God’s will became David’s will for his destiny. David was committed to fulfill God’s call, not his own desires. That’s why David could pray in expectation: V 7a Set me free from my prison that I may praise your name. He wanted to be free not only for his own sake, he wanted to praise God’s name, to follow God’s laws and to live in God’s purpose for his life.
   Today, God has given you his portion through Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s full revelation to mankind. He is the Light to point to you the way to your salvation. “When He gave us Jesus Christ, He gave us all that we will ever need.” (Warren Wiersbe) Nothing can remove us from that relationship. If there is some dark “cave” holding you hostage, trust God’s promise. Cry out to him and know he is your refuge and portion in the land of the living.
   As you confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, God’s Holy Spirit is now God’s portion to anoint you with eternal life. God’s will becomes your will. You walk into the light, faithful to the way God has anointed you.  

Psalms 141:7-10 “As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.” 8 But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge – do not give me over to death. 9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
 
ONCE there was a youth camp for atheists. People who reject God felt if Christian youth could have a camp for recreation and sharing like thoughts, so the atheists could enjoy some time celebrating their unbelief in God. They could rejoice in themselves! Things went along well at the camp until the night the conversation turned to death. The young atheists could not grasp the thought of nothing after life. A great uneasiness and despair fell over the group, suddenly consumed with fearful thoughts of the end of their existence. People can easily say, “I don’t believe in God.” until the reality of life without God confronts their hearts.
   David confronted his enemies with this eternal emptiness. He quoted the opposition’s mockery of eternal life: “Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.”
   Then he countered that with God’s reality. Our bones spread on the ground are not our eternal truth. Life does not end at the mouth of the grave. Life continues and expands in God’s refuge. If our eyes are fixed on an empty death, a restlessness arises in our soul that cannot find peace. But when we fix our eyes on God, we see our life held firmly in our creator’s hand. His Word is our refuge, our hope and our joy.  
   We pray with David for the LORD to keep us from the snares and the traps set by evildoers. Emotional and spiritual snares are Satan’s methods to disturb our hearts. Unbelief and pride entrap many a heart to believe their wisdom exceeds God’s truth. They gather to celebrate their “wisdom” and mock the “superstitious” Christian mind.
   Snares, though, are just that. We think we’re safe in our self-absorbed truth. But something soon cause us to wonder, “What is true?”  As those young atheists learned, there is no escaping the snares of fear, emptiness and futility that wrap around a Godless heart.
   Pray against the unbelief that imprisons people you know and love. Pray they will turn to the LORD God to find a refuge that will embrace them forever. Help them to know the Lord Jesus Christ has come to show us how to pass by (death) in safety into his home. John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
   There is no grave when you are alive in Jesus.

Psalms 140:6-8 O LORD, I say to you, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for mercy. 7 O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle – 8 do not grant the wicked their desires, O LORD; do not let their plans succeed, or they will become proud.
 
FIRST, notice how often “cry” is used in the psalms for “prayer” as it is here in David’s cry for mercy. It is good when our prayers come from a passionate, trusting heart. Is David cry for mercy against or for his enemies?
   It is very easy to assume David’s prayer is against his enemies. That’s the natural thing to do, isn’t it? And he does so in other psalms. But with a shift in our perspective, we can understand David was doing what Jesus taught us to do: Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  When we consider each person is made in God’s image, we can more readily begin to understand why Jesus taught us to love and pray for each other.
   David knows God can deliver his enemies from their sin because God is his strong deliverer and his shield in battle. In faith, he prays God will deliver the wicked from their desires. And he will not let their plans succeed. This makes sense. We surely don’t want our enemies’ plans to succeed. But see David’s reason: or they will become proud.
   It is all too true when pride comes, then comes disgrace. (Proverbs 11:2a) David prays his enemies become wise, so they will know their sin and submit to God’s laws. If they don’t v 9 the heads of those who surround me will be covered with the trouble their lips have caused. 10 Let burning coals fall upon them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise. V 11b May disaster hunt down men of violence. Breaking God’s laws leads to broken lives. Following God’s laws leads to a whole relationship with God.
   Scripture records King Saul pursued David and later David’s son Absalom sought to kill his father. In both circumstances David prayed for them. He wanted to protect them from their violent hearts and from God’s judgment.
   David knew that when violent men repent v 12 the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Yes, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) Peace and fellowship with God belong to the righteous. V 13 Surely the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you.
   You may reject David’s example and Jesus’ commands as, “Impossible!” But look at what is possible in Jesus’ atoning blood. Praying for your enemies opens your heart to release malice toward them. An open heart is more willing and able to love others as yourself. And who knows? God may be using your prayers as his instrument of salvation for the spiritually oppressed. Remember, Jesus prayed for his enemies on the cross, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) The Son prayed to protect the hateful crowd from the Father’s wrath. Our Lord Jesus is your example. He has spoken, commanded and shown you what to do for the benefit of your own heart and for your fellow human beings.

Psalms 138:1-3 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. 2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 3 When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.
 
WHEN David conquered Goliath, we learn of David’s bold, stouthearted faith: 1 Samuel 17:37 “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And 1 Samuel 17:45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied…46d and the whole world will know that there is God in Israel.”
   David boldly exalted God’s name in the sheepfold and on the battlefield. To exalt God’s name is to say, “I trusted in the LORD’s promises. He answered me far above my expectations. And I will make his name known. God is abundantly gracious and kind.” The apostle Paul wrote it this way in Ephesians 3:19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. This is a joyous blessing to your Christian life. Receive it with God’s purpose and power.
   David’s successes became building blocks for a bold, vocal faith. In response to God’s constant help, David stoutly stood on God’s promises, following the LORD’s commands.
   We should all exalt Christ, shouldn’t we? Declaring all he has done for our physical and eternal life will make us more aware of the ways he has abundantly answered our prayers. These answered prayers become our own building blocks to a bolder faith. Boldness exalts Jesus, who God exalted to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. (Philippians 2:9) People who regularly pray see God answer their prayers. As David, they become eager to testify to the church and to the world of the living God’s power.  
   Prayer is a learned means of God’s grace that allows us to communicate with him. Good communication demands regular effort. God wants you to know that persistent prayer will make you bold and stouthearted to exalt his name. 

Psalms 137:7-9 Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations!” 8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us – 9 he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
 
VENGEANCE is one of God’s character traits we’d rather not consider. We find it difficult to consider God retaliates against the sinner. After all we all are born sinners under God’s wrath. It’s much easier to consider his love, isn’t it? God’s vengeance, though, is his only just response to all enemies, and that includes the sinner’s unrepentant heart. Psalm 137 mourns Israel’s captivity in Babylon and prays for God’s vengeance against Edom and Babylon.
   The Edomites descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother. They were Judah’s southern neighbors and often opposed Judah. The Edomites cheered Babylon’s conquest of Jerusalem and caused many Jews to die as they prevented their escape from Babylon’s army. God promised his vengeance: Ezekiel 25:12 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because Edom took revenge on the house of Judah and became very guilty by doing so, 13 therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom and kill its men and their animals. I will lay it waste, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword.”   
   Babylon was also doomed for destruction because God was happy to repay he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. This does not mean God delighted in vengeance. It means God was morally justified for his actions. God promised he would do this: Isaiah 13:16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives ravished.
   How then, do you align this with God is love (1 John 4:8) and forgives all your sins (Psalm 103:3a)? Many mock God as hateful because of his vengeance. And many claim the God, who is love, is not the same as the God of vengeance.
   God’s love is the reason for his vengeance. He has powerfully revealed this in Jesus’ broken body and shed blood. God punishes the sin to bring order to his world. If every judge forgave all sinners who appeared in his court room without just vengeance, our culture would be in chaos. We have seen this become reality in many of our U.S. cities. Law breakers are arrested, and the courts free them without retribution. And the crimes become worse.
   God’s love demands an orderly world. His sovereign authority brings his justice to the crime. In his love and forgiveness, God’s law is based on the law of retaliation – the punishment fits the crime. Edom and Babylon mocked God and killed his children. The psalmist prayed for God to fulfill his Word, and God did.
   God has promised his blessing on his church and his vengeance on those who do evil against his church. Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”  
   The God who avenges is the God who loves. Right and wrong are clear in his law. Rejoice Jesus has paid the high cost of your sin. When you repent and receive Jesus in faith, you are now God’s children, destined for eternal life.  

Psalms 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
 
YOU have likely heard or have said, “God is good.” in response to a happy event – a baby born, a problem solved, a soul saved and many more. And perhaps you’ve said or herd, “God is good.” in response to disappointment – a hard diagnosis, a prodigal child, a devastating storm or another hard thing. Can God be good in both happy times and hard times?
   He can be, and he is. “God is good.” is a humble, worshipful confession of his sovereign authority over all matters. The 26 verses of Psalm 136 extol God’s goodness to bless Israel and defeat Israel’s enemies. God’s goodness, love and understanding is why he  made the heavens, spread out the earth upon the waters, made the great lights, the sun to govern the day, the moon and stars to govern the night. (from Psalm 136:5-9)
   Good is the benediction of Genesis’ creation account. At the end of each day the Word says: And God saw that it was good. Then comes the emphasis to God’s good will accomplishing this magnificent work: Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Yes, his will is true and right; it is very good for a bountiful universe.
   Matthew’s gospel records Jesus teaches 40 good lessons. His wants the world to know the Father is good! Matthew 19:16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” There is only One who can completely fulfill his will on earth. There is only one God of gods and Lord of lords (from verse 2 & 3) whose good enduring love covers you forever.
   Listen to God’s will and be good in him. Hear from heaven and express his will to the world. In Jesus, goodness inhabits your new life. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. There is no law against the Spirit’s fruit because it is the law. It is the expression of God’s character in you. Be good in God.
   Perhaps when people ask, “How are you?” you can respond, “I’m good.” and then remember, “God has called me. He wants me to help the world know, ‘God is good.’”

Psalms 135:1-4 Praise the LORD. Praise the name of the LORD; praise him, you servants of the LORD, 2 you who minister in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. 4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his own, Israel to be his treasured possession.
 
HOW is your heart as you serve Jesus? Hopefully each of you reading this has had an opportunity to be a servant of the LORD who minister in the house of the LORD in the courts of the house of our God.
   What does this service look like? The psalmist seems to refer specifically to the priests who minister the sacrifices and the prayers in the temple. We would relate this to pastors, priests, elders and deacons – the “official” servants of the LORD in the church. This is a good lesson for all who hold such roles. Preparing for worship, those who minister God’s Word in God’s house should enter with praise in their heart expressed with joy on their lips. What good is it for a sad or despondent person to speak God’s Word? Many have tried, using their troubles as an attempt to connect to others’ worried emotions.
   But there is no room for such emotions as we go to worship. The greatest remedy to such distress is to praise the LORD. Why? For the LORD is good - he is beautiful, best, bountiful, joyful, loving and kind. Focus on this goodness as good reasons to sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. The LORD is the reality of perfection and sweetness. The LORD is Adonai, supreme and sovereign. He has received you into his house to tell you of his enduring, saving love. The LORD Who Saves is your minute-by-minute God, who turns your heart to recognize his grandeur. In our day-to-day challenges, it’s quite easy to forget the LORD has chosen you to be his own. He has chosen the church to be his treasured possession. Praise the LORD.
   The psalmist continued with a powerful overview of God’s history to form, save and protect Israel. We have the privilege to look with the same view of God’s wonderful work to form, save and protect his church through two millennium. We should always keep this at the forefront of our minds as we gather to worship. Indeed, we praise God for his magnificent salvation.
   And within the look to the past, the psalm teaches us to look to the future. V 14 For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. Focus on “his”. Israel belonged to God. The church belongs to God. You belong to God when the Spirit quickens your heart to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus’ salvation, God has justified your sins and declared you, “Not guilty!” Surely your heart’s love for your Redeemer must turn your lips to praise! And you will declare to him v 13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, through all generations. All generations will know Adonai.
   Rejoice all you servants of the LORD. Bless his name. Bless his majesty. Bless his eternal home prepared for you. How good to know grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. (2 John 3)

Psalms 133:1-3 A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
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Psalm 134:1-3 Praise the LORD all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. 3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
 
HOW good it is to be joined with others in a common purpose. Few experiences in life are equal to deep true bonds that can exist between husband and wife, parents and children, God and his church. Unified teams win championships. Unified companies succeed above others. A unified country can withstand many assaults even from larger foes.
   This God-ordained unity is the celebration of Psalms 133 and 134. As many other songs of ascent – songs of worship – these were written when the Jews returned from exile in Babylon. For the first time in three generations, God’s people were able to worship as one people under God’s covenant promises. Abundant joy marked the unified worship of a renewed relationship with the One God. In his grace, as Go had brought Israel out of Egypt, God once again brought his people from a foreign nation to worship him.
   This abundant joy is expressed in the illustration of oil over Aaron’s beard. In Exodus 30 God gave a formula for a specific oil for anointing his sacred objects and sacrifices. This oil, too, was to anoint the high priest Aaron and his sons. Exodus 30:30 “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.” This anointing was not a simple touch of a small amount of oil. The vey precisely made perfume was generously poured over Aaron to run down his beard and onto his clothes. The oil expressed God’s power and authority to his representatives on earth. The oil also represented God’s lavish promises that marked Israel to be his people. Israel was the most unique of all nations. With a specific purpose and formula of covenants, God birthed a new nation to live in unity with the God “who formed you.” (Deuteronomy 32:6)
   God emphasized his priests needed to be unified with him. They were his intermediaries, his representatives to convey God’s blessings to Israel. As oil poured over Aaron, God’s unique blessing poured over his priests. How good and sweet it is when God’s chosen leaders are unified with God’s Word.
   God has now lavished his grace upon all Christians. He has poured his knowledge and wisdom into our hearts. Our response is to be a kingdom of priests to convey God’s saving will to the world. 1 Peter 2:5 You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus has poured out his blood over your soul to anoint you with his salvation. May his love pour over you into the world as the sweet aroma of his salvation marks your abundant life in Christ. 

Psalms 132:11-15 The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne – 12 if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” 13 For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: 14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it – 15 I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food.”
 
HAVE you ever considered how remarkable it is that Almighty God speaks to us? Perhaps because the Bible tells us he has spoken to mankind since Creation, we take this as an ordinary reality. But is it not something extraordinary? The Almighty God’s consistent communication with the patriarchs and prophets of old reveal a God whose will is to purposefully direct us toward a face-to-face future with him. He tells us so in such scriptures as Job 33:26 He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God’s face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state. And Isaiah 40:5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
   We live in this glorious hope because God did more than talk with David. God swore an oath to David. Think of this! The LORD spoke a truth that he would not, can not, revoke. With joy we note this oath points to us in the church now and forever.
   God’s oath tells David that his sons – the generations to follow him – will continually sit on Judah’s throne for ever and ever. But not there is one vital condition to this oath: if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them.
   Now, how did God keep his oath? We know some of Judah’s kings rejected God’s covenants and law. After the Babylon exile, no son of David reigned in Judah – only foreigners. How is “forever” true?
   This oath is true because of Jesus. Through the years when there was no king, God kept his oath in the expectation and the consummation in Jesus born on earth as the Son of David: Matthew 1:1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham. And he is born God’s Son. Luke 1:35 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
   Peter explains God’s work in Acts 2:29 “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. In other words, God plainly showed David there would be an eternal king that would come from  his family line. And that son of David would be David’s Lord forever. In power and righteousness, Jesus will reign in Zion – Jerusalem – to establish his eternal resting place. He will bless Jerusalem with the full provision, all they need for eternal life.
   The LORD God has determined and promised the place he will be forever. The LORD faithfully promises you will be with him in the power of his resurrected Son. He has said this on oath that will never be revoked.