Ascending from Promises to Praise

Sermon Summary

Main Point: The destiny of all creation is dependent upon God’s promises to David’s Son.

Summary: Our final message in the Psalms of Ascents series explores humanity's deep longing for a "happily ever after" destiny, focusing on Psalms 132-134. This week’s sermon reveals that the ultimate destiny of all creation is to be filled with God's presence, uniting all of God's people in wholehearted and never-ending worship. While the world shows glimpses of this longing through graduation speeches about making the world a better place or political campaign promises, we have not yet fully arrived at this destiny. The key to reaching this promised future lies in God's covenant promises to David's son—Jesus Christ! Though Jesus fulfilled these promises in unexpected ways (born in a manger rather than a palace, riding a donkey instead of a war horse, crowned with thorns rather than gold), God always keeps His promises. The path to our eternal destiny requires faith in God's ability to fulfill His promises, specifically His promises to David's son, Jesus, who brings God's presence and power to us now through His Spirit while we await the complete fulfillment of creation's ultimate purpose.

Sermon Outline:

1. What is the destiny of all creation?

2. Are we there yet?

3. How do we get there?

Sermon Text: Psalm 132-134

Psalm 132

A Song of Ascents.

¹ Remember, O Lord, in David’s favor,

all the hardships he endured,

² how he swore to the Lord

and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,

³ “I will not enter my house

or get into my bed,

⁴ I will not give sleep to my eyes

or slumber to my eyelids,

⁵ until I find a place for the Lord,

a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

⁶ Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;

we found it in the fields of Jaar.

⁷ “Let us go to his dwelling place;

let us worship at his footstool!”

⁸ Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place,

you and the ark of your might.

⁹ Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,

and let your saints shout for joy.

¹⁰ For the sake of your servant David,

do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

¹¹ The Lord swore to David a sure oath

from which he will not turn back:

“One of the sons of your body

I will set on your throne.

¹² If your sons keep my covenant

and my testimonies that I shall teach them,

their sons also forever

shall sit on your throne.”

¹³ For the Lord has chosen Zion;

he has desired it for his dwelling place:

¹⁴ “This is my resting place forever;

here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

¹⁵ I will abundantly bless her provisions;

I will satisfy her poor with bread.

¹⁶ Her priests I will clothe with salvation,

and her saints will shout for joy.

¹⁷ There I will make a horn to sprout for David;

I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.

¹⁸ His enemies I will clothe with shame,

but on him his crown will shine.”

Psalm 133

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

¹ Behold, how good and pleasant it is

when brothers dwell in unity!

² It is like the precious oil on the head,

running down on the beard,

on the beard of Aaron,

running down on the collar of his robes!

³ It is like the dew of Hermon,

which falls on the mountains of Zion!

For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,

life forevermore.

Psalm 134

A Song of Ascents.

A Song of Ascents.

¹ Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,

who stand by night in the house of the Lord!

² Lift up your hands to the holy place

and bless the Lord!

³ May the Lord bless you from Zion,

he who made heaven and earth!