Psalm 132
A Whole-Body Focus on God!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, September 6.
As part of my sabbatical in 2019, I took a week-long backcountry hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was beautiful as I walked across Fontana Dam, hiked the creek trails to connect with the Appalachian Trail, then ascended to its highest point of elevation – Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet. It was with this goal in my mind that I trekked through many arduous miles over three exhilarating days – the ascent had a breathtaking goal! The same is true for the pilgrims as they ascended to Jerusalem and Mount Zion. They sought the pinnacle of God’s presence on Earth, the place of His habitation, and the footstool of His throne, as Psalm 132:13-16 describes:
For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread. Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, and her godly ones will sing aloud for joy.
Imagine joining me on one of my multi-day backcountry hikes into the beauty of God’s creation, focusing your mind, heart, body, and soul on not only the restorative power of the journey itself, but also anticipating the breathtaking views that awaited at the destination. Now, more importantly, put yourself in the shoes of these ancient pilgrims as they sang these words of the Songs of Ascents on their long journey to Jerusalem, ascending to the Temple Mount on Zion. Consider the transformative power of such a whole-body focus on this one purpose – to experience God’s presence!
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 132, meditating upon the privilege of having the presence of God (Matthew 1:23; 18:20; 28:20). Invest time today to go for a walk with the Lord, focusing your mind, heart, body, and soul on Christ alone.
God bless you!
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YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.