Martin Luther on Psalms 132:14

Verse. 14. This is my rest for euer: here will I dwell, for I haue a delite therein.

This is a singular promise, and such as God neuer made in any other place. Hereof Esay and the other Prophets seeme to gather, that Ierusalem should endure for euer, that is, vntil the Messias should come, who should make of a temporall, an eternall Ierusalem: As also the Angell sayth vnto Marie: that Christ should sitte vpon the throne of his father Dauid for euer. And here marke the sequele of this promise. Ierusalem at this day is destroyed and gone, and yet this promise doth plainly shew, that this shall be the seate of the Lord for euer. Wherefore it followeth, as an infallible consequence, that he is come which hath established this kingdom for euer. For whereas it was destroyed in the captiuitie of Babylon, yet notwithstanding there were certaine remnants reserued: The time also was appoynted howe long the captiuitie should continue: And moreouer, there were yet both Kinges and Priestes remaining emongst them. But now there is none of all these thinges, as before we haue declared.

This is therefore a notable promise, that this Ierusalem shall be the seate and throne of the Lorde for euer, and shall neuer be abolished. The Iewes presuming of this promise, did crucifie Christ, and committed all iniquitie. For they thoug[illegible: 1 letter]t it not possible that Ierusalem should be destroyed, because of the promise which it had, that it should remaine for euer. But we haue heard that these thinges were promised conditionally: to witte, If they should keepe the couenant of the Lord and his testimonies. Ierusalem therfore continued vnto the comming of Christ. Ierusalem was destroyed: notwithstanding it was builded vp againe by Christ to remaine for euer. Afterward it was plagued for sinne, as other wicked cities and kingdomes were. In like maner the Prophets doe certainly promise that the Gospel should come out of Sion and a newe kingdome of Christe out of Ierusalem. Notwithstanding they say, that this Ierusalem should be greater then the whole earth, and the walles thereof should be the endes of the earth. These thinges can not be vnderstand of the corporall Ierusalem, which notwithstanding was the first occasion of the beginning of the kingdom of Christ: but after wardes it was horribly destroyed: like as also the wicked sorte of Dauids posteritie were rooted out: but the godly remained vntill Christ was borne.

Moreouer, it is euident that this election and choosing began vnder Dauid: For before that time the citie of Ierusalem belonged to the Iebusites: but vnder Dauid it was chosen by the promise of God to be a citie for the Kinges and Priestes, in such sort, that like as before the persons of the Priests did not wander from tribe to tribe, but were alwayes certaine: so the persons and successions of the Kings should not nowe vncertainly wander as the Iudges and the Princes did, which continued not in any certaine tribe, and here againe he vseth the worde of choosing, to confound the presumption & confidence of merite which was so groū ded in their hartes, to the ende they might vnderstand that this citie was appointed by the good pleasure of God to be a seate and harborowe for religion and policie. The Iewes presumed of their owne merites. For this deuilish vice was peculiar vnto the Iewes, that they gloried in their merites, their seruice and ceremonies. For this cause Moses also sharply reproueth them, and warneth them that they should not thinke they had obteyned these great benefites through their owne righteousnes. Not for thy righteousnes (saith he) hath the Lorde brought thee into this land. Deut. 9. The presūption of the Papists. This deuilish presumption we see also to be in the Papacie: but much worse then it was emongest the people of God. For they vsed that worship & seruice which was commaunded of God. But in Popery there is nothing but mans inuentions, which are the worshipping of idolls.

Nowe, whereas the Lord promiseth that he will dwell in Ierusalem, this seemeth to be but a small matter. It is a great benefite of God that he hath appointed a certain place for his seruice. But we must loke to the Maiestie of the inhabitour, and then the place, be it neuer so base and contemptible, shall become glorious. For this did the word promise, that he whom the heauens could not comprehend, should be found in Ierusalem. This is therefore a singular promise, when men may knowe and enioy a certaine place wherein God may be founde, that they wander not in the imaginations of their owne harts, euery man choosing vnto him selfe a God, or a place where he may serue God according to his owne fantasie, as Ieroboam did, which is horrible idolatrie. Wherefore it is the great mercie of God that he hath appoynted a certaine place for his word and his whole seruice, Ierusalem called the holy citie, & why. to the which place the Scripture attributeth this excellent name and title, that it is called the holy citie: not for the holines of the people inhabiting the same, but for the holines of the Lord sanctifying all things by his word.

The glory of ye Church of the new Testament. This glory hath the Church of the newe Testament also, in that she hath for her head, not the Pope, (as the wicked Papists doe most wickedly affirme): but Christ sitting at the right hande of the father, who is present with his word & Sacraments. This is an inestimable glory, which dependeth not vpon our righteousnes, but vpon the great mercie of God accepting, approuing and commending all thinges that we doe for Christ his sonnes sake our head.

But the citie of Ierusalem found Satan her deadly and cruel enemie in this respect also, Satan a continuall and a cruell enemy to Ierusalem. because it was as it were, the workehouse of God, in the which he dayly exercised and wrought all maner of holy workes, blessings & benefites for his people. Yet was it of God notwithstanding meruelously preserued, to this end that his people should not be vncerteine where he would be found, worshipped and heard. And here agayne we are admonished, that all these thinges come of gift and not of merite, of mercie and not of workes. For he hath chosen vnto him selfe this rest, & it hath pleased him to dwell in this place. So it commeth not of our desert that we enioy the Gospell and other great blessings of God. All these are the giftes of God, through his great mercie and goodnes bestowed vpon vs for Christes sake.