Week 46: Psalms 130-132

Published November 6, 2025

Questions: Psalms 130-132

  • Consider verse 4 of Psalm 130. How does forgiveness relate to the fear (or reverence) of God?
  • Psalm 131 embodies a quiet humility and confidence before God. Pray to God and tell him the things that are “too great and too marvelous” for you; tell him how you trust him with what you don’t understand. If this is difficult, pray that God would work this kind of humility in you.
  • Psalm 132:10 is part of a prayer for the kings of Judah, but it is most fulfilled in Jesus, the Anointed One. The face of Jesus was not turned aside as he approached God’s dwelling place. How is this fulfilled in his earthly ministry (See Luke 9:51)? How is it fulfilled toward the church (See 1 Corinthians 3:16)?

    • Devotion

    Last week we looked at the fear of the Lord and the peace and prosperity that attitude brings to our families and communities.

    Psalm 130, The pilgrims are drawing near Jerusalem, and God turns their attention to their sin. How grievous and serious sin is to our souls. When understood rightly, we cry out of the depths. As shameful and wicked as our sin may be, God’s mercy and loving devotion to His children are even greater. Only through the blood of Jesus can we enter the temple. As a watchman yearns for the morning, we are to yearn for the Lord. How could we not put all our hope in the Lord? He is our redeemer.

    Psalm 131, is the prayer of assurance to our confession of sin in 130. We are now in the right orientation to come into God’s presence. We have humbled ourselves and put off anxiety over the world’s turmoil. Our souls are stilled, we are like a toddler with their mother. What an image of peace. Does your soul know this peace? Have you confessed your sins to God? Do not tarry another minute.

    In Psalm 132, our attention is moved from preparing ourselves to how David prepared a place to worship God. The pilgrims are to remember the oaths David made to build the Lord a temple. Even more, the oath the Lord made to David, to always have a descendant on the throne. Jesus is that descendant. Their journey ended in Jerusalem to worship in the temple; ours ends in Heaven to worship Jesus Christ. There is a present reality when we gather on the Lord’s day, but the image is also of a future reality when we are gathered out of all the nations to join Christ for His glorious return. 

    - Phil Van Sickel