Psalms Chapter 132 A Song of Ascents.
1 LORD, remember David and all his affliction,
2 how he swore to the LORD, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 "Surely I will not come into the structure of my house, nor go up into my bed;
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids;
5 until I find out a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar:
7 "We will go into his dwelling place. We will worship at his footstool.
8 Arise, LORD, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy!"
10 For your servant David's sake, don't turn away the face of your anointed one.
11 The LORD has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: "I will set the fruit of your body on your throne.
12 If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forever more."
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation.
14 "This is my resting place forever. I will live here, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy.
17 I will make the horn of David to bud there. I have ordained a lamp for my anointed.
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame, but on himself, his crown will shine."
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Psalms Chapter 132 A Song of Ascents. Guide
The pilgrims stand at the very entrance of the Holy City, and their song is one of strong desire, and equally strong confidence.
In the first part the desire is expressed (vv. Psalms 132:1-10). It is for the fulfilment of the God-inspired purpose of David when, through affliction and at cost, he prepared for the building of the sanctuary. The idea of the Theocracy is in mind as they pray, "Arise, O Lord, into Thy resting-place." Jehovah is to be the Centre of gathering, while around Him are priests and saints, and before Him the anointed King.
The desire is answered by the assurance of the fidelity of Jehovah to His word (vv. Psalms 132:11-18). He has sworn to David, and He will not turn from it. The order is then set forth. The faithful Jehovah, the anointed King, the chosen city, the clothed priests, the rejoicing people, the established kingdom, Whatever were the circumstances of the writing of this song, its placing here is significant. The worshipping people are to be conscious of the true order of their life, and the true meaning of their approach. A spacious conception of the purpose of God is ever necessary to a true worship. Lacking this, the exercises of worship may easily degenerate into selfish formalism. Where it is present, every individual is enabled to contribute to the whole, that which makes for the complete realisation of the ideal.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Psalms Chapter 132 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- David's care for the ark. -- (1-10)
- The promises of God. -- (11-18)
Verses 1-10
David bound himself to find a place for the Lord, for the ark, the token of God's presence. When work is to be done for the Lord, it is good to tie ourselves to a time. It is good in the morning to fix upon work for the day, with submission to Providence, for we know not what a day may bring forth. And we should first, and without delay, seek to have our own hearts made a habitation of God through the Spirit. He prays that God would take up his dwelling in the habitation he had built; that he would give grace to the ministers of the sanctuary to do their duty. David pleads that he was the anointed of the Lord, and this he pleads as a type of Christ, the great Anointed. We have no merit of our own to plead; but, for His sake, in whom there is a fulness of merit, let us find favour. And every true believer in Christ, is an anointed one, and has received from the Holy One the oil of true grace. The request is, that God would not turn away, but hear and answer their petitions for his Son's sake.
Verses 11-18
The Lord never turns from us when we plead the covenant with his anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. How vast is the love of God to man, that he should speak thus concerning his church! It is his desire to dwell with us; yet how little do we desire to dwell with him! He abode in Zion till the sins of Israel caused him to give them up to the spoilers. Forsake us not, O God, and deliver us not in like manner, sinful though we are. God's people have a special blessing on common enjoyments, and that blessing puts peculiar sweetness into them. Zion's poor have reason to be content with a little of this world, because they have better things prepared for them. God will abundantly bless the nourishment of the new man, and satisfy the poor in spirit with the bread of life. He gives more than we ask, and when he gives salvation, he will give abundant joy. God would bring to nothing every design formed to destroy the house of David, until King Messiah should arise out of it, to sit upon the throne of his Father. In him all the promises centre. His enemies, who will not have him to reign over them, shall at the last day be clothed with shame and confusion for ever.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.