Psalm 132
by Pastor David Groendyk

This psalm reflects heavily on the covenant that God made with King David in 2 Samuel 7:6–14. Despite the first five verses focusing on David’s intention to build the temple, the attention quickly switches to God’s intentions. The Davidic covenant was where God promised that David’s offspring would reign on the throne of Israel forever and that God would give them rest from all their enemies. However, it is generally understood that this psalm was being sung during the time of exile when Israel was not in their own land and did not have a king. What then was the purpose of this psalm? Singing and/or praying these words would’ve been an act of declaring, exercising, and building faith even when it looked like all hope was lost.

You can hear simultaneously confessions of great confidence that God has and will keep his promises regarding the Davidic king and his covenant (vv. 11, 13–18) as well as the requests for God to keep his word (vv. 1, 8–10). This is a great declaration of faith at a time when there was no earthly reason to have hope. It reminds me of the quip that I read a lot this past Saturday all over social media, the day in between Good Friday and Easter: “Just because God is silent doesn’t mean he’s absent.” That Saturday was a day of great silence, but it didn’t mean the story was over. Likewise for Israel, exile didn’t mean the story was over. The Jews knew something more was coming, and they prayed that God would do it. Eventually, that fulfillment came in the coming of Jesus Christ, the ultimate Davidic king whose reign will never end and who has conquered every enemy of God’s people. This is a psalm meant to be sung as a cry that God would give his people rest, protection, and blessing on account of Christ’s victory for us. Can you—will you—sing this song in times of God’s silence?

Notice also the way in which the stability of the kingdom as a whole depends on the stability of the king himself. Hence, the prayers and requests of God’s people to establish the Davidic king (vv. 10–11). For New Testament Christians, the kingdom is found in the Church, and the stability of the Church depends on our Davidic king, Jesus Christ. Now, think about it: how stable and steadfast of a king is Jesus? Fully and perfectly. The kingdom which Christ reigns over can never be lost or defeated. What energy and confidence that fact should inspire! Jesus sits on the throne and watches over everything (v. 11), Jesus practices perfect righteousness and justice (v. 12), Jesus dwells with his people and is intimately close to and with them (vv. 13–14), Jesus abundantly supplies every need of his people (v. 15), Jesus clothes his people with salvation and joy (v. 16), and Jesus conquers and shames enemies while giving glory and honor to his people (v. 18). The ESV Study Bible remarks: “Singing these words enables the worshipers to delight in their privileges, and not to take them lightly.” Beware of taking these privileges and promises lightly! Remind your own self and each other often of the privileges and promises you have, and let them spur you on in your spiritual walk.