Psalm 132:14

EXPOSITION

Verse 14. This is my rest for ever. Oh, glorious words! It is God himself who here speaks. Think of rest for God! A Sabbath for the Eternal and a place of abiding for the Infinite. He calls Zion my rest. Here his love remains and displays itself with delight. "He shall rest in his love." And this forever. He will not seek another place of repose, nor grow weary of his saints. In Christ the heart of Deity is filled with content, and for his sake he is satisfied with his people, and will be so world without end. These august words declare a distinctive choice -- this and no other; a certain choice -- this which is well known to me; a present choice -- this which is here at this moment. God has made his election of old, he has not changed it, and he never will repent of it: his church was his rest and is his rest still. As he will not turn from his oath, so he will never turn from his choice. Oh, that we may enter into his rest, may be part and parcel of his church, and yield by our loving faith a delight to the mind of him who taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in them that hope in his mercy. Here will I dwell; for I have desired it. Again are we filled with wonder that he who fills all things should dwell in Zion -- should dwell in his church. God does not unwillingly visit his chosen; he desires to dwell with them; he desires them. He is already in Zion, for he says here, as one upon the spot. Not only will he occasionally come to his church, but he will dwell in it, as his fixed abode. He cared not for the magnificence of Solomon's temple, but he determined that at the mercy seat he would be found by suppliants, and that thence he would shine forth in brightness of grace among the favoured nation. All this, however, was but a type of the spiritual house, of which Jesus is foundation and cornerstone, upon which all the living stones are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Oh, the sweetness of the thought that God desires to dwell in his people and rest among them! Surely if it be his desire he will cause it to be so. If the desire of the righteous shall be granted much more shall the desire of the righteous God be accomplished. This is the joy of our souls, for surely we shall rest in God, and certainly our desire is to dwell in him. This also is the end of our fears for the church of God; for if the Lord dwell in her, she shall not be moved; if the Lord desire her, the devil cannot destroy her.

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS

Verse 14. This is my rest for ever. Of the Christian church we may affirm with undoubted certainty, that it is God's rest for ever: after this dispensation of his will, there will never succeed another; Christianity closes and completes the Divine communication from God to man; nothing greater, nothing better can or will be imparted to him on this side eternity; and even in heaven itself we shall, through an everlasting duration, be employed in contemplating and adoring the riches of that grace, the brightest glories of which have been realized in the consummations of Calvary, the ascension of the Messiah, the breaking down of all national peculiarity, and the gift and mission of the Divine Spirit. Let the argument of the apostle to the Hebrews be fully weighed, and the conclusion of every mind must be, that God has "removed those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain:" Heb 12:27. --John Morison, in "An Exposition of the Book of Psalms", 1829.

Verse 14. This is my rest for ever. The heart of the saints is the dwelling place of God. He rests in those who rest in him. He rests when he causes us to rest. --Pasquier Quesnel.

Verse 14. Dwell. The word translated "dwell" means originally to sit, and especially to sit enthroned, so that this idea would be necessarily suggested with the other to a Hebrew reader. --Joseph Addison Alexander.

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS

Verse 14-18. Now that he might apparently see how near the Lord is to all them that call upon him in faithfulness and truth, he waiteth not long for an answer, but carries it away with him before he departs. For to David's petition, "Return, O LORD, unto thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength"; God's answer is this, - - "This shall be my resting place, here will I dwell, for I have a delight therein. I will bless her victuals with increase, and will satisfy her poor with bread." To David's petition, "Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and let thy saints sing with joyfulness", God's answer is this: "I will clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall rejoice and sing." Lastly, to David's petition, "For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed", God's answer is this: "There will I make the horn of David to flourish: I have ordained a light for mine anointed. As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame; but upon himself shall his crown flourish." As if he should have said, -- Turn away the face of mine anointed Nay, that will I never do; I will indeed turn away the face of the enemies of mine anointed; their face shall be covered with confusion, and clothed with shame. But contrariwise, I have ordained a light for mine anointed. He shall even have a light in his face and a crown upon his head. "As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame; but upon himself shall his crown flourish." --Thomas Playfere, 1633.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 14.

1. God finding rest in his church.
   1. The three persons honoured.
   2. The divine nature exercised.
   3. Eternal purposes fulfilled.
   4. Almighty energies rewarded.
   5. Tremendous sacrifices remembered.
   6. Glorious attributes extolled.
   7. Dearest relationships indulged.
2. This rest enduring for ever.
   1. There will always be a church.
   2. That church will always be such as God can rest in.
   3. That church will therefore be secure on earth.
   4. That church will be glorified eternally in heaven.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 15.

1. Blessed provision.
2. Satisfied people -- "satisfy her poor."
3. Glorified God -- "I will."
4. Happy place -- Zion.