Psalm 172 from Beyond Psalm 150
After bringing the ark to the temple and dedicating it, the third part of this public ceremony is Solomon’s blessing to God, which emerges as a psalm of praise to him and instruction to the people.
Blessed be Yahweh, who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. There has not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by Moses his servant. May Yahweh our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. Let him not leave us or forsake us; that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our fathers. Let these my words, with which I have made supplication before Yahweh, be near to Yahweh our God day and night, that he may maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel, as every day requires; that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh himself is God. There is no one else.
1 Kings 8:56–61 (WEB)
Let your heart therefore be perfect with Yahweh our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as it is today.
Reflections on Solomon’s Blessing
Serving as a fitting conclusion to Solomon’s celebration of God’s temple, this final passage wraps up with an encouragement to the people to turn their hearts to Yahweh, walk with him, and obey what he says.
How well do we do at attuning our hearts to Yahweh and obeying his commandments?
How should we adjust our perspective or change our actions?
May all that we do and say align with God’s will for us.
Explore the other psalms—sacred songs of praise, petition, and lament—scattered throughout the Bible in Peter’s book Beyond Psalm 150.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.