In the Old Testament, God's presence among the Israelites as His chosen nation was established through the covenant God made with the patriarchs of Israel. The content of the covenant was that God would be Lord over Israel and the nation would be His people forever as long as the Israelites steadfastly kept the covenant by obeying God and His will. Unfortunately, we are the ones who are often absent from the covenant. While God is always faithful to His promises. Embracing and loving His people throughout the ages.
Our reading this time is an attempt by the psalmist to remind the faithful of all times of God's promise and faithfulness. The ark of the covenant, a sign of God's presence, has been guarded wholeheartedly by Israel, represented by its leader David. In fact, verses 1-7 describe David's anxiety that he has not been able to build a "house worthy of the Lord". So in the next half of the passage, the psalmist shows God's promise to Israel. God promises, “...A son of your father's house will I set on your throne; if your children keep my covenant, and my statutes ….” Just as God made a promise to the patriarchs of Israel, now the king or leader over Israel must represent the entire nation to continue the covenant. Those who are pleasing to God are those who live out His covenant truly and God's abiding presence over them.
The elements of a covenant are established here. On the one hand there is the promise of God's ever-present presence in the lives of His people, but on the other hand God wants earnestness and responsibility from man. Therefore, what we should strive for is to obey God at all times and live out His covenant with all our hearts.
But we need to realize that the will to obey God as part of honoring the covenant with Him often collides with all our limitations and carnality. Therefore, we need to fully realize that life is ultimately an opportunity to do His will wholeheartedly. At the same time, when challenges and struggles hit, remain confident in God's help because He is a faithful God who never leaves us.
