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Psalm 132 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord Has Chosen Zion

A Song of Ascents.

132 Remember, O Lord, in David’s favor,
  all the hardships he endured,
2 how he swore to the Lord
  and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
3 “I will not enter my house
  or get into my bed,
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes
  or slumber to my eyelids,
5 until I find a place for the Lord,
  a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
  we found it in the fields of Jaar.
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place;
  let us worship at his footstool!”

8 Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place,
  you and the ark of your might.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
  and let your saints shout for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David,
  do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

11 The Lord swore to David a sure oath
  from which he will not turn back:
“One of the sons of your body
  I will set on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant
  and my testimonies that I shall teach them,
their sons also forever
  shall sit on your throne.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion;
  he has desired it for his dwelling place:
14 “This is my resting place forever;
  here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provisions;
  I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
  and her saints will shout for joy.
17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David;
  I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame,
  but on him his crown will shine.”

Reflection

• David wanted to build a magnificent temple for God to glorify Him. And he made great personal sacrifices to prepare for its construction, even though the Lord did not permit him to build the building himself. David’s desire to build God a house resulted in God promising to build David a house or dynasty. The psalmist prayed that God would remember and fulfill His promises to David.
• The Israelite pilgrims who sang this psalm resolved to meet God on Mt. Zion where the ark – God’s footstool rested (v. 7). They asked God to remember His promises to David, His anointed king, “The Lord swore to David a sure oath” (v11).
• Jerusalem, the city of David, was ruled by an unbroken line of his descendants. And one of his descendants would yet be placed on the throne, there to rule “forever”. In addition, God had chosen Zion as the location for his temple. So Israel’s future was secure.
• This psalm should encourage God’s people to believe that He will fulfill His promises. Therefore, we too face a future that is totally secure. We can celebrate, for in Christ God’s oath to David was fulfilled, and a new promise of eternal life made to every person who puts his or her trust in the Lord.
• Have you received this new promise? Do you believe God will fulfill His promise to you?