Psalms 132

KJV · Chapter 132/150

1Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions:

2How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;

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

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

5Until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

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

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

8Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

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

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

11The 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.

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

13For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.

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

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

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

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

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

📖 Chapter study

Summary

A long song recalling David's commitment to find a fixed place (the temple) for the ark of the covenant, and God's reciprocal promise that David's line would have an eternal throne, especially linked to Zion.

Explanation

This thirteenth 'Song of Degrees' was likely sung at temple-related celebrations, recalling both David's effort to bring the ark to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6) and the promise of the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7), including mention of Ephrathah (Bethlehem, David's hometown) and Kirjath-jearim, where the ark was kept for a time. The promise that the Messiah would come from David's line (v.11, 17 — 'I will make the horn of David to bud... I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed') is a central foundation of biblical messianic hope. The application for today is that commitments of faith made sincerely, like David's pursuit of a place to worship God, tend to bring blessings that outlast the life of the one who made them.

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