Bible Commentaries

Psalms 132:1 A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, [and] all his afflictions:

Ver. 1. Lord, remember David] Origen holdeth Solomon to have been penman of all these songs of degrees, as hath been before noted. But as that is not likely (see the titles of Psalms 122:1; Psalms 124:1; Psalms 131:1), so divers interpreters conceive this to be his; because much of it is the same with that prayer he made at the dedication of the temple, 2 Chronicles 6:16; 2 Chronicles 6:14; 2 Chronicles 6:42. Here, then, he prayeth God to remember David, that is (not his merits and suffrages, as the monks would have it, but), the promises made unto him (for the which Solomon praised God as well as for the performance to himself, 2 Chronicles 6:10), and his singular solicitude about the house and worship of God, which was so great, as that it affected, yea, afflicted his spirit; whence it followeth here, "and all his afflictions"; for which it is, 2 Chronicles 6:42, the mercies or kindness of David, Ita ut dormire non potuerit (Kimchi.)

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

Ver. 2. How he sware unto the Lord] Out of the abundance of his affections, 1 Chronicles 29:3, {see Psalms 119:106} he solemnly took God to witness; and this he did, say the Rabbis, at that time when he saw the punishing angel, and was terrified.

And vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob] Jacob is mentioned, say the Hebrews, Quia primo vovit. because he first vowed to God, Genesis 28:20, whence he is called, Pater votorum, the Father of vows (Kimchi, Aben Ezra).

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

Ver. 3. Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house] i.e. Of my newly built house, 1 Chronicles 15:1, 2 Samuel 1:2. Those in Malachi were not so well minded, Psalms 1:4.

Psalms 132:4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, [or] slumber to mine eyelids,

Ver. 4. I will not give sleep to mine eyes] viz. With any good content; or, more than needs must.

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

Ver. 5. Until I find out a place for the Lord] The Jewish doctors tell us, that as the earth is in the middle of the world, so is Judea in the middle of the earth, Jerusalem in the middle of Judea, the temple in the middle of Jerusalem, and the ark in the middle of the temple.

An habitation] Heb. habitations; haply because the temple consisted of three parts, or partitions.

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

Ver. 6. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah] At Bethlehem Ephratah, David’s birth place, there we heard of it long since by our progenitors. "Of it," that is, of the ark, saith Chrysostom; of God’s resting place, saith Austin; of the place where Christ should be born, saith Jerome; where the temple should be set, saith Aben Ezra; where the Shechinah, or Divine presence should reside, say other Rabbis, Dicit eam in foemin, i.e. diviuam praesentiam (R. Arama).

We found it in the fields of the wood] At Jerusalem, say some; or at Kirjathjearim, as others will have it. The Chaldee interpreteth it of the wood of Libanus; the place, saith he, where the patriarchs worshipped.

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

Ver. 7. We will go into his tabernacles] We will cheerfully and unanimously frequent his public worship, in the place he hath pitched upon (called his gates, and his courts, Psalms 100:4), saying as Psalms 132:8-10 : επου τω θεω, follow God, was the rule among the very heathens.

We will worship at his footstool] i.e. At his ark, where he uttered oracles and wrought miracles, &c., which yet was but his footstool, to lift his people heavenward, Christward, who was the truth of that type, the ark, the mercy seat.

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

Ver. 8. Arise, O Lord, into thy rest] The place of thy rest; for the ark was transportative till settled in Solomon’s temple; so, till we come to heaven, we are in continual motion.

Thou, and the ark of thy strength] The ark in the temple was the chiefest evidence of God’s presence, and the most principal type of Christ, in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily. The word is aron, which is put for a coffin, coffer, or chest, Genesis 50:26, 2 Kings 12:9. This showeth, that all the counsels of God, all the love and favour of God, all that God accounteth precious, are treasured up in Christ, Colossians 2:3; Colossians 1:13, Isaiah 42:1, Hebrews 10:12.

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

Ver. 9. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness] i.e. With salvation, as Psalms 132:16. No surer sign of God’s gracious presence with a people, than a powerful ministry, clothed with inward purity and holiness, represented by the holy garments.

And let thy saints shout for joy] i.e. Those that are converted by such a ministry, let those that are justified by faith have peace with God, and joy unspeakable, full of glory.

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

Ver. 10. For thy servant David’s sake] For thy covenant’s sake made with him, and for thy Christ’s sake, who is oft called David, as Hosea 3:5, so for the Lord’s sake, Daniel 9:17.

Turn not away the face of thine anointed] Of thy Christ; defer not his coming, or deny not my request, as 1 Kings 2:16-17; 1 Kings 2:20.

Psalms 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.

Ver. 11. The Lord hath sworn in truth] The eternity of Israel cannot lie, 1 Samuel 15:29, yet tendering our infirmity, he sweareth and sealeth to us.

Of the fruit of thy body] David was excellent at making the utmost of a promise, at pressing and oppressing it, till he had expressed the sweetness out of it, Isaiah 66:11. See how he improveth God’s promise, and worketh upon it, 1 Chronicles 17:23-26. Solomon had learned to do the like.

Psalms 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.

Ver. 12. If thy children will keep my covenant] Although God’s covenant is free, yet it is delivered under certain conditions on our part to be observed; which are as an oar in a boat, or stern in a ship, turning it this way or that, &c.

For evermore] For a long season; and Christ, for all eternity.

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

Ver. 13. For the Lord hath chosen Zion] He chose it for his love; and loved it for his choice.

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

Ver. 14. This is my rest for ever] It was so because God was pleased to make it so; he rested in his love; he would seek no farther, Zephaniah 3:17.

For I have desired it] This alone made the difference, as it also did between Aaron’s rod and the rest that were laid with it.

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

Ver. 15. I will abundantly bless her provision] Her stock and her store; so that she shall not want necessaries, which yet she shall hunt for (that is, labour for), as the Hebrew word importeth; and know how she comes by; Viatico eius affatim benedicam (Trem.): therefore it is added,

I will satisfy her poor with bread] Dainties I will not promise them; a sufficiency, but not a superfluity; poor they may be, but not destitute; bread they shall have, and of that, God’s plenty, as they say; enough to bring them to their Father’s house, where is bread enough. Let not, therefore, the poor Israelite fear to bring his offerings, or to disfurnish himself for God’s worship, &c.

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

Ver. 16. I will also clothe her priests, &c.] So that they shall save themselves and those that hear them, 1 Timothy 4:16. Thus God answereth his people’s prayers both for temporals and spirituals; see Psalms 132:9, and that with an overplus of comfort; they shall shout aloud.

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

Ver. 17. There will I make the horn of David to bud] A metaphor from those living creatures, quorum ramosa sunt cornua, which have snags in their heads (as deer have), which are unto them instead of boughs. For "horn," some read beam of David. Confer Luke 1:78.

I have ordained a lamp] i.e. A successor ( - cui lampada tradat), and that a glorious one at length, Christ, who is αυτοφως, light essential, John 12:46. Of Ascanius the son of Aeneas, and likewise of Tullus Hostilius, it is reported, that light flames were seen about their heads when they lay in their cradles; and that thereby was foresignified that they should be kings.

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

Ver. 18. His enemies will I clothe with shame] Shame shall be the promotion of all such fools as set against Christ and his people; yea, they shall be clothed with it; so that it shall be conspicuous to all men.

But upon himself shall his crown flourish] His royal diadem, whereby he is separated (Nezer) and distinguished from other men. Alexander dropped his diadem once into the water, and because he who fetched it out, put it on his own head while he swam out with it, he cut off his head. Our Edward IV hanged one for saying he would make his son owner of the crown; though he only meant his own house (having a crown for the sign) in Cheapside.