Psalms 132

General context

The speaker asks the Lord to remember David and all his afflictions, how he swore to the Lord and vowed to the mighty God of Jacob that he would not enter his house, go to his bed, or give sleep to his eyes until he found a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. A group says they heard of it at Ephratah and found it in the fields of the wood, and that they will go into his tabernacles and worship at his footstool. They call on the Lord to arise into his rest with the ark of his strength, ask that his priests be clothed with righteousness and his saints shout for joy, and ask, for David's sake, that he not turn away the face of his anointed. The psalm then says the Lord has sworn in truth to David that he will set the fruit of his body on his throne, and that if his children keep the covenant their children will sit on the throne for evermore. The Lord has chosen Zion and desired it for his habitation; he speaks of it as his rest for ever, promises to bless its provision, satisfy its poor with bread, clothe its priests with salvation, make the horn of David bud, ordain a lamp for his anointed, clothe his enemies with shame, and make his crown flourish.

Cited passages: Psalms 132:1, Psalms 132:2, Psalms 132:3, Psalms 132:4, Psalms 132:5, Psalms 132:6, Psalms 132:7, Psalms 132:8, Psalms 132:9, Psalms 132:10, Psalms 132:11, Psalms 132:12, Psalms 132:13, Psalms 132:14, Psalms 132:15, Psalms 132:16, Psalms 132:17, Psalms 132:18

Psalms 132 (KJV)

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Historical context

The source prints no heading for this psalm; verse 1 begins with "Lord, remember David", so no title or author is given and none is asserted. David is named four times and is the only person named. The psalm quotes his vow in verses 3-5 and the Lord's oath in verses 11-12 and 14-18, and it introduces both as sworn words, but it does not narrate when or where either was spoken. "It" in verse 6, heard of at Ephratah and found in the fields of the wood, is not identified in the text; the ark is named in verse 8 and the reader is left to connect the two. Ephratah, Zion and the fields of the wood are the places named, and the psalm does not locate them further. "Thine anointed" in verse 10 and "mine anointed" in verse 17 are not given a name, and the text does not say whether David or a later king is meant. The Lord's promise about the throne is conditional in verse 12, "If thy children will keep my covenant", while the choice of Zion in verses 13-14 is stated without condition. No Selah occurs.

Cited passages: Psalms 132:1, Psalms 132:2, Psalms 132:11, Psalms 132:6, Psalms 132:8, Psalms 132:10, Psalms 132:17, Psalms 132:12, Psalms 132:13

Literary context

The psalm is built as two oaths set against each other. David's vow in verses 3-5 refuses house, bed, sleep and slumber until a place is found for the Lord; the Lord's oath in verses 11-12 promises a throne to David's line. Several words are answered across the halves. David seeks "a place for the Lord, an habitation", and the Lord says of Zion "he hath desired it for his habitation". The group prays "Arise, O Lord, into thy rest", and the Lord answers "This is my rest for ever". The prayer "Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy" is met by "I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy". The plea for "thine anointed" is met by "a lamp for mine anointed". The voice changes from petition and resolve addressed to the Lord (verses 1-10) to a report of what the Lord has sworn and chosen, carrying the Lord's own first-person words (verses 11-18). The psalm ends on clothing again: enemies clothed with shame, the king's crown flourishing.

Cited passages: Psalms 132:3, Psalms 132:5, Psalms 132:13, Psalms 132:8, Psalms 132:14, Psalms 132:9, Psalms 132:16, Psalms 132:10, Psalms 132:17, Psalms 132:11, Psalms 132:18

Key moments

1. Remember David's afflictions (Psalms 132:1). The speaker asks the Lord to remember David and all his afflictions.
2. No sleep until a place is found (Psalms 132:4). David's vow refuses sleep and slumber until he finds a place for the Lord.
3. Found in the fields of the wood (Psalms 132:6). The group says they heard of it at Ephratah and found it in the fields of the wood.
4. Arise into thy rest (Psalms 132:8). The Lord is called to arise into his rest with the ark of his strength.
5. The Lord's oath to David (Psalms 132:11). The Lord has sworn to set the fruit of David's body on his throne.
6. Zion chosen as rest (Psalms 132:14). The Lord calls Zion his rest for ever and says he will dwell there.
7. Horn, lamp and crown (Psalms 132:17). The Lord promises to make David's horn bud and to ordain a lamp for his anointed.

For reflection

David vows to find a place for the Lord, and the Lord answers by choosing a place for himself and promising a throne to David. In the psalm's own wording, which vow depends on the other, and what does the condition in verse 12 do to that exchange?

People in this chapter

• David
• Jacob