Psalm One Hundred and Thirty Two

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

Navigate to Verse

A Song of degrees.

Psalm 132:1 LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:

Psalm 132:2 How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;

Psalm 132:3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;

Psalm 132:4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,

Psalm 132:5 Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

Psalm 132:6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.

Ephratah. Ephratah is the same place as Bethlehem. Micah, a contemporary of Hezekiah (Micah 1:1), had prophesied that the Messiah would be born at Bethlehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2), and Hezekiah very likely knew of this prophecy. If Hezekiah wrote this psalm, he may have foreseen by divine inspiration the same great event when the Lord would finally fulfill His promise to David (and therefore also to Hezekiah) that “thine anointed,” or Messiah (Psalm 132:10) would come, and that “their children [that is, those of David and his seed] shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore” (Psalm 132:12). Prophetically, Hezekiah perhaps saw the event which the shepherds would see “at Ephratah, ... in the fields of the wood,” where in a manger, there would be “an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob” (Psalm 132:5).

Psalm 132:7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.

Psalm 132:8 Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

Psalm 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

Psalm 132:10 For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.

thine anointed. “Anointed,” here and in Psalm 132:17 is Messiah, implicitly prophesying of Christ.

Psalm 132:11 The 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.

Psalm 132:12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.

Psalm 132:13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.

Psalm 132:14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

my rest for ever. The prophecy here looks forward to the New Jerusalem, which will be the eternal “habitation” (Psalm 132:13) of the Lord and His people (Revelation 21:2-3).

Psalm 132:15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.

Psalm 132:16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

Psalm 132:17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.

Psalm 132:18 His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.