Psalm 132 — Living in God’s Promises — Reading the Psalms

A Song of Ascents.

1 LORD, remember for David
All his affliction;
2 How he sware unto the LORD,
And vowed unto the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house,
Nor go up into my bed;
4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes,
Or slumber to mine eyelids;
5 Until I find out a place for the LORD,
A tabernacle for the Mighty One of Jacob.
6 Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah:
We found it in the field of the wood.
7 We will go into his tabernacles;
We will worship at his footstool.
8 Arise, O LORD, into thy resting place;
Thou, and the ark of thy strength.
9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness;
And let thy saints shout for joy.
10 For thy servant David’s sake
Turn not away the face of thine anointed.
11 The LORD hath sworn unto David in truth;
He will not turn from it:
Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
12 If thy children will keep my covenant
And my testimony that I shall teach them,
Their children also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore.
13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion;
He hath desired it for his habitation.
14 This is my resting place for ever:
Here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provision:
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 Her priests also will I clothe with salvation:
And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17 There will I make the horn of David to bud:
I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
18 His enemies will I clothe with shame:
But upon himself shall his crown flourish.

This psalm celebrates the royal power and promises of God and the king he appointed, David. The covenants established between God and David are blessings to us, even to this day. When David vowed to make a place for God, seen here inverse 4-5 and found in 2 Samuel 7, God himself turned to David with blessings and promises. While David never got the chance to build a house for God, God made a house for David.

David’s house and dynasty, which ruled in Jerusalem for over 400 years, lasts far longer than the kingship of the city. Even in this psalm we see the implications and hope of the coming anointed one. Vs. 10-13 speak of a blessed rule for an obedient nation. Yet, as we know from the story of the Bible, the people cast their God behind them and suffered the punishment of destruction and exile.

Even so, this psalm speaks of the budding to come forth. Even from the horn of David, seemingly destroyed by Babylon, would this bud spring forth. Jesus the Christ, the longed for Son of David, did indeed come into this world, budding as it were from David’s horn, growing up and flourishing. He is given rule & authority by his Father, God. He wears his crown today.

This psalm unites our present peace and happy hope with the great narrative of the Old Testament. We are a part of God’s promises to David. We are the children of God and blessed by his covenants. Let us praise God for his faithfulness.