Psalm 132
God’s moves to Jerusalem
David, as God’s realtor
Road trip song. [1]
1LORD, remember what David was willing to suffer.2He made a promise to the LORD.
It was a solemn vow
To Jacob’s Mighty God.
3David said,
“I will not step foot inside my house,
Lay on my bed,
4Fall asleep,
Or even close my eyes,
5Until I find a home for the LORD,
A place for Jacob’s Mighty God.”
Finding the lost Ark of the Covenant
6Listen, we first heard about it,the Ark of the Covenant, [2] in Bethlehem. [3]
We found it in the fields of Jaar. [4]
7Let’s go to the LORD’s house
And worship at his feet. [5]
8Come, LORD. Rest in your house.
Bring your power, which we’ve seen in the Ark.
9May your priests wear goodness like sacred robes.
May your devoted people sing songs of joy.
A promise to David’s dynasty
10For the sake of David, your servant,Don’t turn your back on your chosen king. [6]
11The LORD made a promise to David.
It was a sacred vow that he won’t break.
“I will make one of your children the next king.
12If your sons obey my laws
And everything I teach them,
Then their sons will reign, too.
And your descendants will take their place
on your throne, forever.”
13The LORD chose Jerusalem. [7]
He wants this to be his home.
14“This is my home,
My resting place forever.
Here is where I will live,
For here is where I want to be.
15I will give Jerusalem lots of food.
Needy people here will have enough to eat.
16I will dress her priests in salvation,
Which they’ll wear like sacred robes.
And devoted people will sing songs of joy.
17I’ll be the power [8]
Behind David’s dynasty.
I’ll present each new king
As a light [9] to the nation.
18I’ll dress David’s enemies in shame,
While David’s crown sparkles in the light.”
Footnotes
The subtitle wasn’t part of the original psalm. Psalms 120-134 are called songs of ascent, possibly because Jewish pilgrims sang these songs while traveling up into the Judean hills to celebrate a Jewish holiday in Jerusalem.
The Ark of the Covenant was a wooden chest plated with gold all over. Inside that chest was a golden jar with some manna, Aaron’s almond wood staff that budded, and stone tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments. Covering the chest was a lid with figures representing glorious celestial beings called cherubim. This was the place where God’s people found forgiveness (Exodus 25:10-22; Hebrews 9:4-5).
Literally “Ephrath.” An ancient tradition connects this location to Bethlehem, about 25 miles (40 km) south of Jerusalem. Some scholars say Ephrath was probably closer to Bethel, about 12 miles (19 km) north of Jerusalem.
Jaar was likely Kiriath-jearim. That’s where 1 Samuel 7:1-2 reports that the Ark of the Covenant was kept for 20 years.
Literally, “footstool.” The Ark of the Covenant was poetically described as his footstool (1 Chronicles 28:2).
Literally, “your anointed.” Kings were anointed with oil to signify that God had chosen him. The king became known as God’s “anointed,” or “the anointed one.”
Literally, “Zion,” a term of endearment for Jerusalem, much like “Big Apple” is for New York City.
Literally “horn.” Horns often symbolized military power in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 29:21).
David is called a lamp for Israel (1 Samuel 21:17).
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