Bible Commentaries

This psalm is justly ascribed to David. It recites his vow to seek out a place of rest for the ark of the Lord; and the song of praise and prayer on its removal from Kirjath-jearim.

Psalms 132:6. Ephrata, or Ephratha, near to which was Shiloh. So the LXX.— The fields of the wood. Hebrews יער jaar, a wood; hence Kirjath-jearim, “a town in the wood,” where David found the ark.

Psalms 132:9. Let the priests be clothed with righteousness. Job says, I put on righteousness and it clothed me: my judgment was a robe and a diadem. Patriarchs and priests were splendidly arrayed when they officiated at the altar, which suggested the fine idea of moral glory, as the costume of the mind, or the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, and putting on the Lord Jesus Christ, of whose glory the highpriest’s garments were a figure.

Psalms 132:11-12. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David. When his mind was depressed at not being allowed to build the temple, the Lord promised him a glory infinitely better; namely, that he should be, in his posterity, the father of the Messiah, who should sit upon the throne for ever. Here is a promise in which no condition is named. 2 Samuel 7:12. But with his posterity, the Lord speaks otherwise: If thy children will keep my covenant, they also shall sit upon thy throne for ever—if not, if they refuse and rebel, I will cast them off for ever. 1 Samuel 2:30. 1 Chronicles 28:9.

Psalms 132:13-14. The Lord hath chosen Zion—this is my rest for ever. So we read in Psalms 68:16; but the prophet foresaw that the Lord would build another temple, one of living stones, on the tops of the mountains. Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 28:16. This new Jerusalem, and only this, is God’s rest for ever. Micah 4:1.

Psalms 132:17. There will I make the horn of David to bud. Christ is that horn of salvation, whose kingdom shall be made strong, and endure for ever. Luke 1:69.

Suitable reflections on this psalm, which relates to the removal of the ark, will be found on 2 Samuel 6:7. and Psalms 89.