Psalms 132:1

PSALM 132

A PRAYER FOR THE SANCTUARY OF JEHOVAH

Dummelow stated that, "This is the most difficult of the Pilgrim Songs."[1] The only reason for this evaluation, however, was, as Dummelow stated it, that, "According to accepted literary criticism, it must be a post-exilic Psalm."[2] To us, there is no difficulty at all. It is the radical literary criticism of the mid-20th century which is wrong. It is simply impossible to fit this psalm into a post-exilic occasion.

As Delitzsch observed, "This Psalm belongs to a time in which the Davidic throne was still standing, and when the sacred ark of the covenant was not as yet irrecoverably lost."[3] Any person able to read will note that the psalm states these facts. Ballard agreed with this, writing that, "There seems to be no alternative to assigning it to a time when a scion of David was ruling in Jerusalem."[4]

Leupold also dated the psalm "near the times of David," adding that, "We are not impressed with arguments that lead some interpreters to claim for the psalm a post-exilic date."[5]

The fact is that, in all probability, this psalm was used at the dedication of Solomon's temple, as proved by the quotation of some of it in 2 Chronicles 6:41f. "This shows that the psalm existed early enough in the reign of Solomon to be ready for the dedication of his temple."[6]

We shall follow the paragraphing suggested by Leupold: "(1) A Prayer Offered at the Dedication of the Temple (Psalms 132:1-10); and (2) God's Answer of the Prayer (Psalms 132:11-18)."[7]

Psalms 132:1-10

THE DEDICATORY PRAYER

"Jehovah, remember for David

All his affliction;

How he sware unto Jehovah,

And vowed unto the Mighty One of Jacob:

Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house,

Nor go up into my bed;

I will not give sleep to mine eyes,

Or slumber to mine eyelids;

Until I find out a place for Jehovah,

A tabernacle for the Mighty One of Jacob.

Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah:

We found it in a field of the wood.

We will go into his tabernacles;

We will worship at his footstool.

Arise, O Jehovah, into thy resting-place;

Thou and the ark of thy strength.

Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness;

And let thy saints shout for joy.

For thy servant David's sake.

Turn not away the face of thine anointed."

Jehovah, remember for David all his afflictions. This, as it stands, appears to be a prayer for David who was at the time of this psalm deceased. God is here petitioned to "remember on behalf of David" his many afflictions. To us this appears as a very strange and foreign teaching in the light of the rest of the Bible; and, although we cannot claim any authority for the approval of Dahood's rendition of these words, we are definitely inclined to accept them. His translation is, "Remember Yahweh, O David."[8] This writer would appreciate further authentic information about this verse. Certainly, an indication of the legitimacy of prayers for the dead must be considered antithetical to the rest of the Holy Scriptures.

"How he sware unto Jehovah" (Psalms 132:2). "The oath mentioned here is an addition,"[9] to what is revealed elsewhere in the Bible on this subject. This, however, is fully in keeping with many other similar instances in which inspired writers give additional details of events referred to. Yates thought that, "The psalmist may have been drawing from an independent tradition";[10] and Leupold suggested that, "The psalmist made a rather free recasting of the facts of that event."[11] Either of these views is acceptable if the inspiration of what is here written is accepted.

"Vowed unto the Mighty One of Jacob" (Psalms 132:2). This ancient title of God is also found in Genesis 49:24 and in Isaiah 41:16.

"I will not come into my house ... nor into my bed ... nor give sleep ... or slumber to my eyes" (Psalms 132:3-4). This can hardly be taken literally. It is rather "A common figure of speech (Proverbs 6:4)."[12] It simply means that, "The house of the Lord will be his first concern."[13]

"Ephrathah" (Psalms 132:6) is an ancient name for Bethlehem.[14] In time, it came to refer to the district around Bethlehem. Addis gave the meaning here as, "We heard of it (the ark) in the district of Ephrathah and found it in the town of Kiriath-jearim." `The field of the wood' is a contemptuous reference to Kiriath-jearim, carrying the meaning that, "We found it in the sticks'!

"Arise, O Jehovah" (Psalms 132:8). "This was the invocation `whenever the ark set out' in the days of Moses (Numbers 10:35)";[15] and it was most appropriate that the same words should have been used by Solomon as the ark of the covenant was brought into the Temple which he had prepared to receive it. The words of this verse were quoted by the author of 2Chronicles as having been spoken by Solomon on that occasion. "This is the only mention of the ark of the covenant in the Psalter."[16]

"For thy servant David's sake" (Psalms 132:10). Spurgeon called attention to another very significant use of this expression in the days of Hezekiah. The great and terrible army of the Assyrians, led by Sennacherib, was ready to destroy Jerusalem; and God sent a message to Hezekiah, saying, "I will defend this city, to save it, for Mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake" (2 Kings 19:32-34). "What a respect is shown to David's name by its being thus put on a level with God! Mine own sake, and David's sake."[17]

"Turn not away the face of thine anointed" (Psalms 132:10). The "anointed one" here is one of the Davidic kings who succeeded David. It is not impossible at all that the king was Solomon, although most interpreters suppose it was another one of David's successors.