Meditation on Psalms 132-134 – Passion and peace

The final video for our church’s week of prayer is from Psalms 132-134 and is called “passion and peace.”

Unity (or peace) does not mean a bland indifference. Zeal (or passion) does not mean trampling on people to fulfill your vision. We are called to both a passion for God’s glory and peace with each other – a united passion for God’s glory.

Below the video is a written summary, if you prefer to read.

“May the Lord bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 134:3)

About six months after becoming a Christian, I began to get into reading books about doctrine. While this was a good thing – we need to know the truth – in my pride I become more passionate about trying to change the minds of other Christians about different aspects of theology than about sharing the gospel.

Passion can be good if it is passion for the right things. When Christ clears the temple of the money changers, John reports that the disciples remembered the scripture: “Zeal (passion) for God’s house will consume me” (John 2:17). We need to follow our Saviour’s example in being passionate for the glory of God and the people of God (who are also God’s house (1 Peter 2:5)).

Psalm 132 is full of passion. It looks back to King David’s desire to build a temple: “I will not give sleep to my eyes… until I find a place for the Lord.” (Psalm 132:4-5)

The rest of the psalm expresses the passionate desire to meet God in His dwelling place and reminds the Lord His promise and passion to meet with His people: “This is My resting place forever; here will I dwell.” (Psalm 132:14).

God’s dwelling place is among His people, not in a building. Nonetheless, we should also have a passionate longing to meet together as His people and to meet with Him.

Psalm 133 calls us to peace with each other – unity – “How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony.” (Psalm 133:1). I do not believe it is a coincidence that these two psalms are placed alongside each other, because a wrong kind of zeal (as I mentioned at the beginning) can destroy peace and ruin fellowship. As we meet together again (God willing, soon), let’s pray for a growing unity and passion for His glory, and that the Lord would “command the blessing, life forevermore.” (Psalm 133:3)

Finally Psalm 134, which concludes these pilgrim psalms, encourages all the servants of the Lord to worship together.

As we move forward as a church, may we be passionate, united worshippers for His glory.