Psalms 132King James Version
Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions. A psalm of the ark returning to Zion.
A royal prayer remembering David's vow to find a place for the ark. David swore not to sleep until he found a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. They heard of it at Ephratah; found it in the fields of the wood; worshipped at God's footstool. Then divine speech: I will dwell in Zion forever; I will satisfy her poor with bread; her priests clothed with salvation; saints shouting for joy. The horn of David shall bud; a lamp for his anointed.
David's oath to find God a dwelling place is answered by God's oath to dwell in Zion forever and to sustain the Davidic lamp, creating a mutual covenant of presence.
verse: "For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." Divine desire for the place is the ground of all that follows.
Superscription: 'A Song of degrees.' The finding of the ark at Kirjath-jearim ('fields of the wood') connects to the ark narrative of 1 Samuel 6-7 and 2 Samuel 6. The psalm was likely used at annual renewal ceremonies commemorating the ark's arrival in Jerusalem.
David who swore the vow; God who answers with his own oath; the congregation who went to Ephratah and found the ark; priests clothed with salvation; saints shouting for joy; the Davidic anointed whose lamp is ordained.
Psalm 132 is the longest of the ascent psalms and the most explicitly royal-covenant in the collection. The mutual oath structure (David's vow in vv1-10, God's answer in vv11-18) mirrors the covenant relationship. The 'lamp for mine anointed' (v17) connects to 2 Samuel 21:17 and became a NT image of the messianic light.
For when you want to pray both about your commitment to God's purposes and about God's commitment to his. The psalm holds both sides of the covenant.
1A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:
2How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
3Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;
4I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,
5Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
6Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.
7We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
8Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
9Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
10For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.
11The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
12If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.
13For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
14This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
15I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
18His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.