Psalm 132
I. Introduction
The intensity of David’s determination to establish a place where God’s covenant faithfulness can be acknowledged and celebrated by the entire elect community arises from the faithfulness of God. The promise of a forever-King from the loins of David was made in 2 Samuel 7:12–17. It is likely that Solomon wrote this Psalm, bringing to mind David’s desire for a house of God, which Solomon built, and God’s promise that He would build a house for David, fulfilled in Jesus, “born of the seed of David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3). The “place for the Lord” was to be a fitting abode for the ark of the covenant described in Exodus 25:10–22.
II. Remembering David’s Determination
A. Solomon calls on God to “Remember David.”
“Remember” connotes the covenantal faithfulness of God (Genesis 8:1; 19:29; Exodus 2:24; 6:5). He appeals to the covenant God made with David, “I will build you a house” (2 Samuel 7:11, 27). This Psalm deals with the throne of the descendants of David, the temple built by Solomon, and the church built through the perfect offering of Christ on the altar of his body (1 Timothy 3:15, 16).
B. David’s desire for a place for the Lord was intense.
“Swore” and “vowed” are used to describe David’s conscious plan to give the ark a central place in the worship of Israel. It dwelt in “tent curtains” while David had a house of cedar (2 Samuel 5:11, 12). The tabernacle of “tent curtains” is described in Exodus 26. It was portable and went where the people of Israel went during the days of wandering. Now that God had given stability to the people, secured their land, secured their king, and promised a king forever from David’s loins, David wanted this symbol of covenantal mercy to have fitting prominence in Jerusalem. Had not God told Moses, “And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel” (Exodus 25:22 NKJV).
C. His desire is presented as tireless, sustained, and preeminent.
The symbols of no rest, no sleep, and no repose show the intensity of David’s desire for the Lord’s honor to be set forth as the Redeemer and Protector of Israel—”the Mighty One of Jacob” (5; cf. Genesis 49:8–10).
D. David’s desire to build a house for the ark was met with approval by Nathan (2 Samuel 7:3) until God revealed to him that the house would be built by a son of David.
Solomon now prays in this Psalm in light of David’s desire to find a location for God’s redemptive presence in the ark.
III. David’s Recovery of the Ark
A. The ark, built by Moses per God’s instructions (Exodus 25), was lost in a battle with the Philistines in an audacious move by the sons of Eli, Phineas and Hophni, in bringing the ark into battle (1 Samuel 4:1–11).
They were treating it in a completely unwarranted manner, using it superstitiously as a protective charm.
B. When the Philistines housed the ark in the temple of Dagon, the ark destroyed the Philistine god and destroyed many of the inhabitants of Ashdod and other cities of the Philistines (1 Samuel 5).
They panicked and devised a means to send it away, giving close observation to conclude if these disasters were mere chance or were in some manner manifestations of the ark’s power. They discovered that the latter was true.
C. The ark was sent on a cart pulled by cows to Israel to the village of Beth-Shemesh.
After receiving the ark with joy and presentation of sacrifices, their curiosity and irreverence resulted in the death of over 50,000. So, they moved the ark of God to Kirjath Jearim into the house of Abinadab. It remained there for twenty years (1 Samuel 7:2). This sequence of events prior to its resting at Kirjath Jearim could be highly compressed in the narrative and cover decades. This could explain why it rested there before David regained it for carriage to Jerusalem as well as the indication that David searched for it (verse 6 of Psalm 132).
D. After more than seven years of David’s reign in Hebron and for some years into his reign in Jerusalem, David gathered 30,000 “choice men” to find the ark and bring it back to Jerusalem.
When the ark was brought out of the house of Abinadab (2 Samuel 6:1–3), great celebration including multi-instrument music marked each step of the journey. At Nachan’s threshing floor, a stumble caused Uzzah to touch the ark to steady it, and God struck him dead. The entire event began with improper conveyance (cf. Deuteronomy 25:12–15) and resulted in the death of Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:7; 1 Chronicles 13:9–13).
E. After three months, David brought the ark to Jerusalem in the right manner and with energetic celebration.
This resulted in solicitation for a fitting recognition of the ark’s presence and its prophetic meaning for God’s blessing of Israel and his redemptive promises.
IV. David’s Eternal Successor (10–18)
Solomon was his immediate successor. The kingdom split after Solomon’s death and the 10 tribes with a non-Davidic king were overwhelmed by Assyria in 722 BC. The Davidic kings reigned over Judah and Benjamin and the half-tribe of Manasseh until the attacks of Babylon. These attacks began in 607 BC when many, including Daniel, were taken into exile. They culminated in 587 BC, in which invasion the southern kingdom, maintaining the Davidic line of kings, ceased to exist. But God had not forsaken his promise.
A. Solomon appealed to the promise made to David in 2 Samuel 7.
One promise was conditional (12) which ended in 587. Verse 10 points to Solomon’s awareness of his own reign by God’s choice. Verse 11 reiterates that conviction but also extends to the eventual reign of the Christ.
B. Verses 13 – 16 refer immediately to the construction of the temple and its being the place that the ark was located and the ministration of the priests was executed.
By extension of type, it foreshadows the New Jerusalem (“my resting place forever” cf. Revelation 21:9–27), the priesthood of believers, and the true spiritual heirs of Israel (Revelation 21:12) reflecting the redemptive grace of Jesus Christ (Revelation 21:22–27).
C. Verses 17 – 18 give more specific prophecy to the unconditional promise to David (2 Samuel 7:16).
He is the “horn of David, … mine anointed” and “his crown shall shine.” By revelation, Solomon has seen what was promised to David as the true construction of a place built for celebration of sacrifice, forgiveness, of sin, reconciliation, and redemption. “The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple, … the Lamb is its light” and those who inhabit it and worship there are “those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:22, 23, 27).
Based on Psalm 132
Let us like David work with zeal
To see the righteous king enthroned,
Untiringly by prayer, appeal
That Christ the Lord may claim his own.
The word is sure that he will reign;
In glory, we will find a place.
He makes us priests in his domain,
In righteous joy we view his face.
That face first smiled in “House of Bread,”
When strength of David claimed the earth.
He’s born! The king who’s evil’s dread,
A righteous ruler, angels’ mirth.
He is the tune to David’s song;
He is the priest who makes us clean.
His word defines the right, the wrong;
His rule is joyful and serene.
His enemies are clothed with shame,
Even as he lies in weakness.
They know that they must fear his name,
Holy One who came in meekness.
Shout aloud for joy all nations!
David’s horn has come this hour.
Holiness brings celebration.
Zion’s king now reigns in pow’r.
