Psalm 132, A Closer Look at a Promising Future

 

A Reflection of Where Christians Are Today

A Song of Ascents.

132 Lord, remember David
And all his afflictions;
2 How he swore to the Lord,
And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house,
Or go up to the comfort of 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 [a]the woods.
7 Let us go into His tabernacle;
Let us worship at His footstool.
8 Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place,
You and the ark of Your strength.
9 Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
And let Your saints shout for joy.

10 For Your servant David’s sake,
Do not turn away the face of Your [b]Anointed.

11 The Lord has sworn in truth to David;
He will not turn from it:
“I will set upon your throne the [c]fruit of your body.
12 If your sons will keep My covenant
And My testimony which I shall teach them,
Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion;
He has desired it for His [d]dwelling place:
14 “This is My resting place forever;
Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her [e]provision;
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation,
And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17 There I will make the [f]horn of David grow;
I will prepare a lamp for My [g]Anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame,
But upon Himself His crown shall flourish.”

photo by Vlad Bagacian via Unsplash

This Psalm was written as "A Song of Ascents"; chapters 120 - 134 are also subtitled this way. Ascents in Hebrew means "going up,"(1) as these were songs the people of Israel sang as they traveled to and climbed up the higher elevation of Jerusalem. They were road-trip songs, in a sense. Besides the historical component, these Psalms parallel a Christian's journey in life, one day arriving to our eternal home. 

The author is not known for certain, but many biblical scholars give Solomon, David's son, the credit. For this chapter study, we'll do the same. 

Now that the foundational basics are taken care of, let's roll up our sleeves and get to business:

  • This psalm is a reminder to the Israelites of the promise and intimacy they have been given by God and with God. 
  • The first verse appears to be a request for God to "remember." The Hebrew translation "zakar" (2) is similar to how it's interpreted in English, but it's to remember something actively where a wonderful ripple effect will take place. It reminds me of the teaching to "dwell upon these things" found in Philippians 4:8, which is also an active and intentional choice that brings positive results. So, together, -- the psalmist, the singing Israelites, and God -- things are remembered. 
  • Now, here's a cool finding: God is referred to as "the Mighty One of Jacob." Jacob. Solomon could have given God any title here -- the Mighty One of Abraham, of Moses, of Joseph. However, he chose Jacob, the name before he was Israel. Jacob was his birth name, and God provided for Jacob's family, preparing him, guiding him, promising to him. So, calling God the Mighty One of Jacob acknowledges and appreciates God's works in past lives, or how God doesn't sleep nor slumber; He doesn't waiver. He continuously works in our lives. God is faithful. He always has tomorrow in store. 

This song remembers how David desired to build a beautiful temple for God. David never saw the completion of the temple before he died, but his son Solomon did. 

Solomon carried the same passion and vision as his dad. Therefore, David did not die in regret. David knew God continuously works in our lives. When our old bodies find rest, our faithful God still has tomorrow in store.

  • The depth of Solomon's faith is revealed in another name for God in verse 10: "Your Anointed," which translates to Messiah, the One who is to come. Solomon wants Jesus to see how the faithful Israelites have prepared and worked toward preparing for their Savior. They tried to do what pleased the eyes of God. They didn't know when the sacrificial lamb was coming, but they remembered God in their lives and in their rich heritage of God's guidance. They faithfully waited for their Savior.  

The chapter dwells on an abundance of good things of God. In God's own words as quoted, He promises to satisfy, to dwell, to bless, to strengthen, and He has. He promises in verse 17, "I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed." We know He did. 


We now, as Solomon did, look back to see how God prepared for the day of the birth of Jesus. Our Savior did come. He was born. Now, we secure, as Solomon did, the past in our understanding and wisdom, and await the second return of Jesus.  

It's living in the present with assurance from the past and strengthened faith for tomorrow, all at the same time. Psalm 132 as the inspired word of God includes all believers. Can you see yourself in this chapter? 




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