Skip to main content
Psalmlog Logo

Psalm 132

Psalm 132 joins David’s vow to seek God’s dwelling with God’s oath to sustain David’s throne and dwell in Zion.

Worshipers ask YHWH to remember David’s affliction and his vow to find a dwelling place for God. This Song of Ascents recalls the search for the ark and asks God to enter his resting place, bless his priests, and receive his anointed king. The speaker then recounts God’s oath to David and God’s choice of Zion. The psalm’s author and original occasion are unnamed; its closing words declare God’s promises of provision and royal strength.

praise and worshipfear for the futuresermon or Bible study notes
Read
1A Song of Ascents. LORD, remember David and all his affliction,
2how he swore to the LORD, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3“Surely I will not come into the structure of my house, nor go up into my bed;
4I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,
5until I find out a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar.
7“We will go into his dwelling place. We will worship at his footstool.”
8Arise, LORD, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength.
9Let your priests be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy!
10For your servant David’s sake, don’t turn away the face of your anointed one.
11The LORD has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: “I will set the fruit of your body on your throne.
12If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forever more.”
13For the LORD has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation.
14“This is my resting place forever. I will live here, for I have desired it.
15I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16I will also clothe her priests with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy.
17I will make the horn of David to bud there. I have ordained a lamp for my anointed.
18I will clothe his enemies with shame, but on himself, his crown will shine.”
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected. Tap a number for its page.
Key verses
Psalm 132:11God’s sworn promise answers the earlier recollection of David’s vow and anchors the hope for David’s royal line.
Psalm 132:13God’s own choice of Zion explains why this place becomes the focus of worship and promised blessing.
Psalm 132:18The closing contrast between enemies’ shame and the king’s shining crown declares God’s commitment to uphold his anointed.
Where this chapter reaches

2 Chronicles shares the prayer for God to enter his resting place with the ark, while 1 Kings recounts the ark’s arrival at the temple. Luke shares the promise of David’s throne, announcing that Jesus will receive that throne and reign without end.

Psalm 132's chapter linksAll strongest linksHover or tap a book
Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What changes in the psalm when David’s vow gives way to God’s oath?

Write on this

How do bread for the poor and salvation for priests shape your understanding of God’s blessing here?

Write on this

Questions people ask about Psalm 132

Who wrote Psalm 132?

Psalm 132 does not name its author. Its heading identifies it as a Song of Ascents, and its words recall David rather than identify him as the speaker. The ark, priests, and anointed king suggest a setting of public worship, but the text does not establish a specific date or occasion.

What does the horn of David mean in Psalm 132?

The horn is an image of strength, here tied to David’s royal line. God promises to make that strength grow in Zion. The nearby images of a lamp and a shining crown reinforce the promise that God will sustain his anointed king and bring shame upon the king’s enemies.

Is God’s promise to David conditional in Psalm 132?

Verse 11 declares God’s sworn commitment to place a descendant of David on his throne. Verse 12 then states a condition for succeeding generations: David’s children must keep God’s covenant and teaching. The psalm holds God’s firm oath alongside the royal descendants’ duty to obey, without explaining every implication for later history.

Read it. Now write it.

Start an entry on Psalm 132. Your words go beside the text, and you get one next step for the week.

Psalms · 150 chapters
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150
What the Bible says about worship →What the Bible says about fear →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).