Words - the Holy Bible
Picture:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon%27s_Temple#/media/File:Temple_of_Solomon.jpg
https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/first-temple-crowning-achievement-king-solomon-and-home-legendary-ark-covenant-021683
Psalm 132 is a very interesting Psalm. It is another Song of Degrees and makes this plea to God in verse one, “LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions.” Yet the Psalm is not written by David and does not seem to be written during his lifetime. The Psalm can be divided into three sections – David’s Promise, God’s Promise, God’s Blessing. The Psalm is both historical and prophetic. This little study will look at the first section of the Psalm – David’s Promise.
David’s Promise
During David’s reign as king, he began to realize that he had a very nice house, but God’s house (the tabernacle) was just a tent and could be moved from place to place. He longed to make God a permanent place. He specifically mentions that he has a dwelling place of cedar but the ark of God dwells within curtains. The story can be read in II Samuel chapter seven. You might like to take a moment to read the chapter that tells about David’s desire and God’s answer to him.
David loved God so much and cared so much for the ark of His covenant that he wanted to make a permanent dwelling for it. Psalm 132:2-5 says, “2) How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; 3) Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; 4) I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, 5) Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.” David vowed to the Lord that he would not even go into his house again or sleep on his bed until he found out a proper place for God to have for His habitation. This vow is not recorded in II Samuel chapter seven. However, God’s answer to the vow is recorded there. God sent the prophet Nathan to speak to David. God said that He did not need a dwelling place made with hands. He had been content to dwell in the tent and move with the children of Israel. However, because of the sincerity of David’s desire, God blessed him. God promised to make David a house and establish his seed as the one to rule over the kingdom forever. God would not take His mercy from the house of David. Evidently, Psalm 132 was written during a time that Israel was troubled and going through afflictions because it pleads with God to remember this promise. While God did not allow David to build Him a house, He did promise David that David’s son would build a house and He (God) would plant and establish Israel. David was glad when God made this promise and he made much preparations for the temple, “And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.” (I Chronicles 22:5)
Word spread about David’s desire to build a house for God. As people heard, they became excited and began to develop a desire for this temple to be built, “6) Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. 7) We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.” (Psalm 132:6,7) A permanent dwelling place for the ark of God was a thing of joy. It was something greatly desired, “8) Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. 9) Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.” (verses 8 and 9)
For some reason, it seems that the author or authors of this Psalm were not able to go into the house of God as they desired. This first section ends the way it starts, with a plea to God to remember His promise to David, “For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.” (verse 10) They wanted God to remember what He had promised David so that they could go up into the temple and worship there. They longed to see the ark where it should be and the priests clothed in their garments of righteousness and the saints of the Lord shouting with joy. “LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions.”