Psa 132 | EE | STEP | This is a song for climbing. LORD, remember David and all his troubles.

Psalms 132

The House of God

This is a song for climbing.

1 LORD, remember David and all his troubles.

2 He promised the LORD.

He made this special promise to the Mighty One of Jacob.

3 ‘I will not go into my house or get into my bed.

4 I will not shut my eyes or go to sleep

until I find a place for the LORD.

5 It will be a place where the Mighty One of Jacob will live.’ ^{▼▼132:5 Verses 1-5: These verses tell us that David wanted to bring the ark of God into Jerusalem. The ark was a special box that was very important to the Jews. After a war with the Philistines, who lived near the Jews, they left the ark in a place called ‘Kiriath-Jearim.’ David had a lot of trouble when he brought it into Jerusalem. He also wanted to build a house to put it in. But God would not let him. ‘The Mighty One of Jacob’ is another name for God. ‘LORD’ is a special name for God that his people use. It is his covenant name. A covenant is when people agree to do something. God agrees to give his people help; his people agree to love and obey him.}

6 We heard that it was at Ephratah.

And we found it in the fields of Jaar.

7 We will go into the place where he lives.

And we will worship at his feet.

8 Get up, LORD. And go into the place where you can rest.

Go in yourself, with the ark.

The ark shows that you are strong.

9 I pray that all your priests will be righteous

and all your saints will shout.

They will shout because they are so happy.

10 Remember your servant David

and do not turn away the face of your messiah. ^{▼▼132:10 Verses 6-10: tell us that the Jews found ‘it’ (the ark) in the country round Kiriath-Jearim (or Jaar). It was in a place called Ephratah. The ark was a special box that Moses made from wood. After they brought the ark into Jerusalem, they said the words in verses 7-10. ‘The place where you can rest’ is the house of God. ‘Rest’ means ‘not work’ and ‘priests and saints’ are servants of God. Christians believe that the Messiah is Jesus. But here it means the King of Israel. ‘Worship God’ means ‘tell God that you love him.’}

11 The LORD promised David what would happen.

He will not turn from it.

‘I will put the fruit of your body on your throne.

12 Your children should obey my rules.

And they should do what I will teach them.

Then their children will always sit on your throne.’

13 The LORD chose Zion.

He wants it for a place to live in.

14 ‘This is where I will always rest. This is what I want.

So I will live here’, he said.

15 ‘I will do a lot of good things for her.

I will give food to the poor people in her.

16 All her priests will be safe and her saints will shout aloud.

They will shout because they are so happy.

17 There I will make David very strong.

The light of my Messiah will never go out.

18 His enemies will be ashamed.

But his crown will shine and be bright!’ ^{▼▼132:18 Verses 11-18: tell us about God’s promises. Many Christians believe that they happened when Jesus came to the earth. ‘Messiah’ is the Hebrew word for ‘Christ.’ The Jews spoke the Hebrew language and wrote the psalms in Hebrew. ‘Messiah’ means ‘anointed’, or ‘oil poured on.’ Look at the notes on Psalm 133 in this set of psalms. In verse 11, ‘the fruit of your body’ means ‘your children.’ The ‘throne’ in verse 12 is a special chair that a king sits on. His ‘crown’ in verse 18 is the ‘special hat that he wears.’ The light of the messiah will never go out because Jesus will always be the Light of the World.}