A song of ascents.
Psalms 120-134 are called “the psalms of ascents.” A better name would be “the songs of the pilgrim caravans.” These pilgrimage songs were sung when Israel traveled upwards to Jerusalem (usually in caravans) during the Jewish feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Four of these songs were attributed to David. Solomon wrote one of these songs. The other ten songs are anonymous. The author of Psalm 132 is unknown. Many scholars believe that Solomon is the author, but this is speculation.
132:1 O Lord, for David’s sake remember all his strenuous effort,
David was different than other kings. He ruled his kingdom by the will of God. When he sinned, he at least confessed it. The other kings in history committed sins like David every day, but their conscience was seared. They were not at all interested in serving God. Most kings and political leaders in history are servants of Satan. They have sold their souls to become a puppet king of the devil. Many of the modern politicians of today wear these same shoes.
David was a man after God’s own heart. Of all of the kings in history, he was the only one who was chosen to be given an eternal dynasty. He is the only king who will sub-rule over Israel during the Millennial Kingdom.
132:2 and how he made a vow to the Lord, and swore an oath to the powerful ruler of Jacob. 132:3 He said, “I will not enter my own home, or get into my bed. 132:4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep, or my eyelids to slumber, 132:5 until I find a place for the Lord, a fine dwelling place for the powerful ruler of Jacob.”
David wanted to make a vow to God and build His temple. The Lord refused this request, because David’s hands were too bloody. However, God said that He would build a house for David. It would be an eternal house. King Messiah would be born into this house. This promise of God was the Davidic Covenant. God promised that one of David’s descendants would sit upon the throne of Israel forever. The Lord Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of this prophecy. He will sit upon David’s throne during the Millennial Kingdom.
132:6 Look, we heard about it in Ephrathah, we found it in the territory of Jaar.
Ephrathah was the territory of Bethlehem. As a boy, David was a shepherd in this territory. The Lord Jesus Christ would be born in Bethlehem. Shepherds from Ephrathah would visit Jesus at His birth. Shepherds would understand the Messiah coming as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,” because they raised the sheep to be slaughtered in the temple.
Jaar was the same city as Kiriath Jearim. The Ark of the Covenant was kept in Kiriath Jearim for twenty years. It was later moved to Jerusalem. Where is the Ark of the Covenant today? It was probably destroyed by the Babylonians. Jewish tradition recorded that it was hidden underground by the Levitical priests.
132:7 Let us go to his dwelling place! Let us worship before his footstool!
Heaven is God’s throne. The tabernacle is his footstool. The people of Israel worshiped at the feet of Jehovah.
132:8 Ascend, O Lord, to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength!
Jehovah will ascend to His resting place in heaven. The ark of the covenant was the strength of Israel in battle. The ark of the covenant was not magical, as displayed in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark. Instead, its physical appearance reminded the Jewish soldiers that God was in their camp. God was on their side. The battle belonged to the Lord.
132:9 May your priests be clothed with integrity! May your loyal followers shout for joy!
The priests were to be clothed with righteousness. This means they were to study and teach the Word of God at the deepest level. The loyal followers were those who studied and applied the Word of God at the deepest level. The loyal followers were blessed for keeping the Mosaic Covenant. The disloyal followers were cursed for not keeping the Mosaic Covenant. The curses and blessings were listed in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible).
132:10 For the sake of David, your servant, do not reject your chosen king!
David was the anointed king of Israel. Jesus was the descendant of David. Jesus will become the anointed King of Israel during the Millennial Kingdom.
It is important to note that Jesus was a prophet while He was upon this earth. After His resurrection, He became a priest who sits at the right hand of God the Father. He is continually praying for the believers. During the Millennial Kingdom, He will return to earth as the Messianic King from the line of David.
132:11 The Lord made a reliable promise to David; he will not go back on his word. He said, “I will place one of your descendants on your throne.
Jehovah promised the Davidic Covenant to David. During the Millennial Kingdom, God the Father will place God the Son on the literal throne of Israel. God will keep this promise, even if the amillennialists and postmillennialists disagree.
132:12 If your sons keep my covenant and the rules I teach them, their sons will also sit on your throne forever.”
The sons of David will sit on the thrones of Judah, but most of them will become rebellious kings. Only five of David’s descendants actually lead a revival back toward God.
132:13 Certainly the Lord has chosen Zion; he decided to make it his home.
Out of all of the cities in the world, Jehovah chose Jerusalem to become His capital city during the Millennial Kingdom.
132:14 He said, “This will be my resting place forever; I will live here, for I have chosen it.
During the Millennial Kingdom, Jerusalem will become the permanent home of King Messiah.
132:15 I will abundantly supply what she needs; I will give her poor all the food they need.
During the Millennial Kingdom, there will be no poverty or drought. The world will return to its Garden-of-Eden conditions.
132:16 I will protect her priests, and her godly people will shout exuberantly.
During the Millennial Kingdom, the priests of God will not be hunted down and killed by members of the satanic world system. The earth will be filled with nations who worship God. The Bible will not be banned in public schools. The government will not be run by greedy and wicked men of the satanic world system. Murderers, rapists, child molesters, homosexuals, lesbians, feminists, liberals, and thieves will not walk around on the earth looking for innocent victims.
132:17 There I will make David strong; I have determined that my chosen king’s dynasty will continue.
During the Millennial Kingdom, the dynasty of King David will continue for 1,000 years. The Lord Jesus Christ will be the King of the earth. David will sub-rule over Israel.
132:18 I will humiliate his enemies, and his crown will shine.
The enemies of King Messiah will be the Antichrist and his followers. They will be humiliated by the seven seals, trumpets, and bowls of the Great Tribulation. The Lord Jesus Christ will return with a rod of iron. He will purge all wicked men out of the world. During the Millennial Kingdom, the crown of King Messiah will shine.