THOU THAT DWELLEST BETWEEN THE CHERUBIM

The deep spiritual desire that the Shepherd of Israel should cause His face to shine is repeated three times in this psalm, vv. 3, 7, 19. The background to this desire must be understood. Only a few men were privileged to see the glory of God. Moses saw this when the tabernacle was first reared up, Exod. 40. 35; Solomon saw it when the temple was dedicated, 1 Kings 8. 11; Isaiah saw it when he was cleansed and sent forth in Isaiah 6; Ezekiel saw it by the river Chebar and when the glory left Jerusalem for the mount of Olives, Ezek. chs. 1, 8-11; Peter, James and John saw the Lord’s glory on the mount, Matt. 17. 2, while Paul saw the glory on the Damascus road, Acts 9. 3. But during the time of the judges, this glory was veiled; “there was no open vision”, 1 Sam. 3. 1.

Throughout the lives of Samuel and David, this sad state of affairs remained. Asaph was one of the chief singers appointed by David, 1 Chron. 16. 7, and he felt very keenly the lack of the open manifestation of the glory of God. He knew that God dwelt “between the cherubim” upon mount Zion where David had placed the ark, 15. 25-28, so his desire was that God should “shine forth” as in the days of old. The name “Asaph” means “one who gathers”, typical of believers gathering as a local church, and his desire reflects upon the Lord’s own desire, “that they may behold my glory”, John 17. 24.

The three thoughts in verse 3, “saved”, “thy face to shine” and “turn us again”, reflect upon the three paragraphs that end with this common verse—vv. 3, 7, 19.

1. Verses 1-3. The prayer is that God should “come and save us”, v. 2. Namely, from their enemies that had been the cause of the glory of God withdrawing itself.
2. Verses 4-7. God’s people had “the bread of tears” to mar their own faces, having “tears to drink”, while their enemies’ faces were covered with laughter—all in contrast to the shining forth of God’s face.
3. Verses 8-19. The vine out of Egypt was broken, plucked, wasted and burnt. So they asked God to return to them, and then they would not go back from Him, v. 18. Thus repentance was complete, and glory could shine again.

“We beheld his glory”, John 1. 14.