THE LORD SWORE AN OATH

Psalm 132:1-18 / Keywords 132:11

The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: "One of your own descendants I will place on your throne—

 

 A song of ascents.

132:1 Lord, remember David

    and all his self-denial.

2 He swore an oath to the Lord,

    he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

3 “I will not enter my house

    or go to my bed,

4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes

    or slumber to my eyelids,

5 till I find a place for the Lord,

    a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

6 We heard it in Ephrathah,

    we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:[a]

7 “Let us go to his dwelling place,

    let us worship at his footstool, saying,

8 ‘Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place,

    you and the ark of your might.

9 May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;

    may your faithful people sing for joy.’”

10 For the sake of your servant David,

    do not reject your anointed one.

11 The Lord swore an oath to David,

    a sure oath he will not revoke:

“One of your own descendants

    I will place on your throne.

12 If your sons keep my covenant

    and the statutes I teach them,

then their sons will sit

    on your throne for ever and ever.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,

    he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,

14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;

    here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.

15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;

    her poor I will satisfy with food.

16 I will clothe her priests with salvation,

    and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.

17 “Here I will make a horn[b] grow for David

    and set up a lamp for my anointed one.

18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,

    but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”

Footnotes

a. Psalm 132:6 Or heard of it in Ephrathah, / we found it in the fields of Jearim. (See 1 Chron. 13:5,6) (And no quotation marks around verses 7-9)

b. Psalm 132:17 Horn here symbolizes strong one, that is, king.

1. David was king, and as such, he could have sought power and glory for himself. Instead, he denied himself and sought the LORD. He made a vow to bring the ark of the LORD back to Jerusalem—where all of the Israelites could worship the LORD, where the priests and Levites could serve, and where the LORD could dwell among his people. David brought the ark to Jerusalem and prayed that God would accept his heart’s desire.

 

2. God blessed David and his vow. He made an oath to place one of David’s descendants on his throne forever. It was an everlasting oath. The LORD’s vow saw its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. The LORD made an oath he would not revoke, that he would be with his people as their abundant source of blessing for ever and ever. The LORD would be their true king. He would rule over even the powers of sin and death to bring salvation. He blessed David by bringing the horn of salvation through him.

 

Prayer Lord, the beauty of your salvation is more than I can conceive of. Come dwell with me today and be my great hope.

One Word The LORD is our salvation