Psa 132:13-16 | KingComments | STEP | In this section, the LORD answers the prayer of the previous verses. He begins with an answer to David’s oath in . The answer to David’s oath is an oath of the LORD Himself, followed by a denial ever to turn back from this oath, which reinforces the oath: He “swore to David a truth” and “from which He will not turn back” ( ; cf. ). And what did He swear to David, to which He will not be unfaithful? “Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne” (cf. ). Peter quotes this verse during his preaching on the day of Pentecost and applies its fulfillment to the Lord Jesus ( ; cf. ). The LORD does attach conditions to the succession to the throne by the son of David and the sons of his son ( ; ). They must listen to the teaching of God. He will teach them to observe His covenant and His testimonies. If they do, they will sit on His throne. However, they have not done that. As a result, the house of David has fallen to ruin. God will raise up that house again because there is one Son of David, Who did observe His covenant and His testimonies. That Son has not only observed His covenant and His testimonies, but He renews the covenant by taking away, as Mediator, the curse of the old covenant. For this He shed the blood of the new covenant and on that basis secured the blessing of the new covenant. One of its blessings is the restoration of the house of David. Inseparable from the promise of David’s everlasting kingship is the election of Zion by the LORD ( ). In the historical narrative in 2 Samuel 6-7 we find only David’s point of view. Here in the prayer of Psalm 132 we also find the LORD’s point of view. The LORD did it because He chose Zion and because He desired a dwelling place. Zion is the place the LORD has chosen “to establish His Name there for His dwelling” ( ). Prayer deepens our spiritual life; for we come to know the heart of God. The place that David searched for and found has long since been chosen by God. That place He has “desired it for His habitation”. There is with God not only election of that place, but also a desire to dwell there. The dwelling place of the king is also the dwelling place of God. Temple and kingship belong together. Nor is it a temporary resting place for God, but His “resting place forever” ( ). The promise of entering into the rest of God is still there today. Its meaning is explained in Hebrews 3-4. The reason it is forever is that by the power of the blood of the new covenant, the people and their princes will receive a renewed heart, through which they will remain faithful to the LORD ( ). ‘Forever’ here means the period of the realm of peace. During that entire time, Zion is His permanent dwelling place (cf. ). He will no longer have to travel with the people through the wilderness, for the people live in security and peace in the land. Nor will He have to forsake His people again, for they serve Him in faithfulness. These aspects make it clear that He has longed to dwell there. As a result of God taking His place in the midst of His people, there will be an abundance of food, so that the poor will be satisfied with bread ( ). Where He dwells, there He richly blesses those who come to Him. The “needy” are especially in need of protection and care from the LORD (cf. ). The Lord Jesus made Himself one with the afflicted and needy ( ). More than bread for the body, He gives bread for the soul. The needy are not so much the poor in material terms as the poor in spirit ( ). They are not full of themselves, but empty; they have no high pretensions. This allows them to be satisfied inwardly with peace. In it is prayed that the LORD will cause His priests to be clothed with righteousness and that He will cause His godly ones to rejoice. In we hear the LORD’s promise that He will do just that. He will do even more, for He will clothe the “priests … with salvation”. Salvation is salvation in the fullest sense of the word, including righteousness. It is the enjoyment of the full blessing of God’s presence. The godly ones of Zion respond, not with singing “for joy”, as has been requested, but with singing “aloud for joy”. When the LORD answers a prayer, He does so according to the riches of His grace and therefore abundantly. In , which connects to , the LORD speaks of “a horn” that He will cause to spring forth for David. Zechariah speaks of “a horn of salvation” in his song, referring to the Lord Jesus ( ). A horn is a symbol of victorious power (cf. ; ). ‘Spring forth’ indicates the sprouting of the Sprout, the Messiah ( ; ; ). The LORD also speaks of “a lamp” that He will prepare for His anointed. David is spoken of as a lamp ( ). His son is also spoken of as a lamp ( ). The preparing of a lamp has the meaning that the light of the house of David will never go out. There will always be a descendant of David who will reign as king. This has become a reality in the Lord Jesus, the true Anointed. The enemies of God’s King and God’s people are always out to prevent God from being honored and served ( ). The Messiah will “clothe them with shame”. In contrast, on the Anointed His crown will shine. The word for crown is literally “consecration” and is associated with the diadem on the head of the high priest as a sign of his consecration ( ; ). The King, the Messiah, over Israel is consecrated to God and is at the same time Priest ( ). This latter aspect is the subject of the following psalm, which speaks of the Lord Jesus as the High Priest.

‏ Psalms 132:13-16

God’s Response

In this section, the LORD answers the prayer of the previous verses. He begins with an answer to David’s oath in Psa 132:2. The answer to David’s oath is an oath of the LORD Himself, followed by a denial ever to turn back from this oath, which reinforces the oath: He “swore to David a truth” and “from which He will not turn back” (Psa 132:11; cf. Heb 6:16-18).

And what did He swear to David, to which He will not be unfaithful? “Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne” (cf. 2Sam 7:12-13). Peter quotes this verse during his preaching on the day of Pentecost and applies its fulfillment to the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:30-31; cf. Lk 1:31-33).

The LORD does attach conditions to the succession to the throne by the son of David and the sons of his son (Psa 132:12; 2Sam 7:14-15). They must listen to the teaching of God. He will teach them to observe His covenant and His testimonies. If they do, they will sit on His throne. However, they have not done that. As a result, the house of David has fallen to ruin. God will raise up that house again because there is one Son of David, Who did observe His covenant and His testimonies.

That Son has not only observed His covenant and His testimonies, but He renews the covenant by taking away, as Mediator, the curse of the old covenant. For this He shed the blood of the new covenant and on that basis secured the blessing of the new covenant. One of its blessings is the restoration of the house of David.

Inseparable from the promise of David’s everlasting kingship is the election of Zion by the LORD (Psa 132:13). In the historical narrative in 2 Samuel 6-7 we find only David’s point of view. Here in the prayer of Psalm 132 we also find the LORD’s point of view. The LORD did it because He chose Zion and because He desired a dwelling place. Zion is the place the LORD has chosen “to establish His Name there for His dwelling” (Deu 12:5). Prayer deepens our spiritual life; for we come to know the heart of God.

The place that David searched for and found has long since been chosen by God. That place He has “desired it for His habitation”. There is with God not only election of that place, but also a desire to dwell there. The dwelling place of the king is also the dwelling place of God. Temple and kingship belong together.

Nor is it a temporary resting place for God, but His “resting place forever” (Psa 132:14). The promise of entering into the rest of God is still there today. Its meaning is explained in Hebrews 3-4. The reason it is forever is that by the power of the blood of the new covenant, the people and their princes will receive a renewed heart, through which they will remain faithful to the LORD (Heb 13:20).

‘Forever’ here means the period of the realm of peace. During that entire time, Zion is His permanent dwelling place (cf. Psa 68:16). He will no longer have to travel with the people through the wilderness, for the people live in security and peace in the land. Nor will He have to forsake His people again, for they serve Him in faithfulness. These aspects make it clear that He has longed to dwell there.

As a result of God taking His place in the midst of His people, there will be an abundance of food, so that the poor will be satisfied with bread (Psa 132:15). Where He dwells, there He richly blesses those who come to Him. The “needy” are especially in need of protection and care from the LORD (cf. Psa 86:1). The Lord Jesus made Himself one with the afflicted and needy (Psa 109:22).

More than bread for the body, He gives bread for the soul. The needy are not so much the poor in material terms as the poor in spirit (Mt 5:3). They are not full of themselves, but empty; they have no high pretensions. This allows them to be satisfied inwardly with peace.

In Psa 132:9 it is prayed that the LORD will cause His priests to be clothed with righteousness and that He will cause His godly ones to rejoice. In Psa 132:16 we hear the LORD’s promise that He will do just that. He will do even more, for He will clothe the “priests … with salvation”. Salvation is salvation in the fullest sense of the word, including righteousness. It is the enjoyment of the full blessing of God’s presence. The godly ones of Zion respond, not with singing “for joy”, as has been requested, but with singing “aloud for joy”. When the LORD answers a prayer, He does so according to the riches of His grace and therefore abundantly.

In Psa 132:17, which connects to Psa 132:12, the LORD speaks of “a horn” that He will cause to spring forth for David. Zechariah speaks of “a horn of salvation” in his song, referring to the Lord Jesus (Lk 1:68-69). A horn is a symbol of victorious power (cf. Psa 92:10; Rev 13:1 ; Rev 5:6). ‘Spring forth’ indicates the sprouting of the Sprout, the Messiah (Isa 4:2; Jer 23:5 ; Jer 33:15; Zec 3:8 ; Zec 6:12).

The LORD also speaks of “a lamp” that He will prepare for His anointed. David is spoken of as a lamp (2Sam 21:17). His son is also spoken of as a lamp (1Kgs 11:36). The preparing of a lamp has the meaning that the light of the house of David will never go out. There will always be a descendant of David who will reign as king. This has become a reality in the Lord Jesus, the true Anointed.

The enemies of God’s King and God’s people are always out to prevent God from being honored and served (Psa 132:18). The Messiah will “clothe them with shame”. In contrast, on the Anointed His crown will shine. The word for crown is literally “consecration” and is associated with the diadem on the head of the high priest as a sign of his consecration (Exo 29:6 ; Exo 39:30; Lev 8:9). The King, the Messiah, over Israel is consecrated to God and is at the same time Priest (Zec 6:12-13). This latter aspect is the subject of the following psalm, which speaks of the Lord Jesus as the High Priest.