Psalm 132

Psa 132:1

SUPERSCRIPTION: "A SONG OF ASCENTS": Or "degrees" (AV).

Suggested outline: Vv 1,2: "Lord, remember David"; vv 3-9: David's psalm -- the ark in Zion; v 10: For David's sake; vv 11-18: Commentary on David's psalm.

Psa 132:2

HE SWORE AN OATH: Implied in 2Sa 7:2.

THE MIGHTY ONE OF JACOB: Quoting Gen 49:24, where "stone" ref the great stone ("sela"), on Ornan's threshingfloor, on which the altar of burnt offering was built.

Add "saying" at the end of this verse (see Psa 9:12n).

Psa 132:3

Vv 3-5: How can David rest until he has prepared a permanent dwelling place for the Ark of God? (2Sa 7:2). Cp sentiment of Haggai (Hag 1:4,5).

Psa 132:5

PLACE: Heb "maqom": commonly meaning a holy place, an altar, or sanctuary (Gen 22:3,4,9,14; 28:11-19; Deu 12:11-21; Psa 24:3; 26:8; Isa 60:13; 66:1).

Psa 132:6

WE HEARD ABOUT IT: The ark of God was the center of David's hopes. Even as a youth, growing up in Bethlehem-Ephrathah (Gen 35:19; 48:7; Rth 4:11; Mic 5:2), he had heard of it in Shiloh (1Sa 1:3). He had known of its being carried away by the Philistines (1Sa 4:17), and its coming at last to Kirjath-jearim, where it abode 20 years (1Sa 6:21; 7:1,2).

EPHRATHAH: Bethlehem-Ephrathah.

WE CAME UPON IT...or FOUND IT: Suggests Saul allowed the Tabernacle to remain in obscurity and neglect.

JAAR: Kirjath-jearim.

Psa 132:7

FOOTSTOOL: // to "ark" in v 8 (cp Psa 99:5; Lam 2:1; 1Ch 28:2; Isa 60:13; 66:1).

Psa 132:8

ARISE, O LORD: The ancient battle-cry of Israel, uttered by Moses in the wilderness (Num 10:35,36). As David brought the ark to Zion, he sang, "Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered" (2Sa 6:1). Similarly, Solomon at the Temple dedication (2Ch 6:41,42).

(NT) "Arise" = the resurrection (sw Mar 5:41), to a new priesthood!

Psa 132:9

MAY YOUR PRIESTS BE CLOTHED WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS: Saints to be kings and priests: Rev 5:10; cp Rev 19:8.

Psa 132:10

FOR THE SAKE OF DAVID YOUR SERVANT: Here starts Hezekiah's psalm, modeled on David's earlier one (vv 1-8). "For David's sake" God had spared the kings of Judah and the nation itself (1Ki 11:12,13; 15:4; 2Ki 8:19,24-26), and Hezekiah was firmly convinced He would do it again.

Psa 132:11

Vv 11,12: Thus, Hezekiah remembers the great Davidic promise: 2Sa 7:8-17; 1Ch 17:7-17. Since at this time Hezekiah had no child (2Ki 20:8; Isa 39:7), the phrase "IF your sons..." (v 12) would have special significance for him!

ONE OF YOUR DESCENDANTS: "Of the fruit of thy body" (AV). The Heb is "belly" (AV mg), or more precisely "womb" (sw 2Sa 7:12). In other places, the standard promise is "out of thy loins", emphasizing the male element in procreation. But here, although spoken to a man, the emphasis is on the female -- hence the Virgin Birth! "Blessed is the fruit of thy womb" (Luk 1:42).

Psa 132:13

ZION: The city of David, the city of the great king (Mat 5:35): Chosen above all others (Psa 48:1,2; 68:16).

A NT doctrine also: Heb 12:22; Rev 14:1-3.

Psa 132:15

Vv 15-18: 6 allusions to the Sanctuary: the shewbread (v 15), the priests (16), choir (16), the horn of the altar (17), lampstand (17), and the high-priestly crown (18).

ABUNDANT PROVISIONS: Hezekiah's "great store" (2Ch 31:10), by which Jerusalem was sustained during the Assyrian siege (cp Isa 33:16,20).

HER POOR WILL I SATISFY: Hezekiah's jubilee? Isa 37:30,31.

WITH FOOD: Or "bread" (AV). The breaking of bread.

Psa 132:16

I WILL CLOTHE HER PRIESTS WITH SALVATION: ...While Israel's enemies are "clothed" with shame (v 18; Isa 37:36,37)!

Psa 132:17

HORN: Sym strength (Psa 18:2; 75:4,5,10; 89:17,24; 92:10; 112:9), and the strength of a man is revealed in his children (Gen 49:3; Jdg 8:21).

GROW: Or "sprout" or "bud", suggesting the great "Branch" prophecies: Jer 23:5,6; Zec 3:8; 6:12 -- applied to Christ: Luk 1:69.

A LAMP FOR MY ANOINTED ONE: Lamp = dignity, joy, prosperity (Psa 18:28; 2Sa 21:17). The continuation of the Davidic line: 1Ki 15:4; 2Ch 21:7; Isa 62:1.

(NT) Christ is the "light" of the world: Joh 8:12; likewise, his followers: Mat 5:14-16.