Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Psalms 132:11

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Psalms 132:11. The Lord hath sworn — As David sware to the Lord, so the Lord swears to David, that he will establish his throne, and place his posterity on it: and that he had respect to David's Antitype, we learn from St. Peter, Acts 2:30, where see the note. This verse with the following refers to the spiritual David, and the Christian Church.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Psalm 132 -134 A house of prayer for Israel

A visit to the temple is a fitting occasion to recall the origins of the temple. David, with much difficulty, brought the ark (or covenant box) to Jerusalem with the aim of building God a house (132:1-5; cf. 2 Samuel 6:3-13; 2 Samuel 7:1-3; see also introductory notes to Psalms 24:0). Previously the ark had been at Kiriath-jearim, also known as Baale-judah and here called ‘the fields of Jaar’. David therefore went from Bethlehem (Ephrathah) to Kiriath-jearim to collect the ark and bring it to Jerusalem (6-9; see 2 Samuel 6:2,2 Samuel 6:14-19; 1 Chronicles 13:5; 1 Chronicles 13:5).

Although David wanted to build God a house in Jerusalem, God wanted to do something far greater for David. God wanted to build David a house in Jerusalem; not a house of stone, but a line of royal descendants to rule from Zion where the living God dwelt (10-14; cf. 2 Samuel 7:4-16). God would give his people all they needed for healthy lives, physically and spiritually (15-16). He would give the Davidic king power, prosperity, victory and glory (17-18).

The psalmist rejoices to see Israelites from all parts of the country worshipping together in unity in Jerusalem. He considers it a precious sight, having a pleasantness that he likens to the perfume of the sweet-smelling oils used to anoint Israel’s high priest. It has a freshness like the dew that falls on Mount Hermon (133:1-3).
At the end of the day’s festival activities, the worshippers wish the priests and Levites good-night on a note of praise to God (134:1-2). The priests and Levites respond by wishing the worshippers God’s blessing (3). This concludes the fifteen Songs of Ascents.

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

GOD'S ANSWER TO THE PRAYER OF DEDICATION

"Jehovah hath sworn unto David in truth; He will not turn from it: Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. If thy children will keep my covenant And my testimony that I shall teach them, Their children also shall sit upon thy throne forevermore. For Jehovah hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for his habitation. This is my resting-place forever: Here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. Her priests also will I clothe with salvation; And her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies shall I clothe with shame; But upon himself shall his crown flourish."

This paragraph is the inspired psalmist's announcement of God's answer to the dedicatory prayer; and, as inspired men often did, he used material already in the Bible (2 Samuel 7:11-16), supplementing it with inspired revelations of his own.

"Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne" "If thy children shall keep my covenant… their children also shall sit upon thy throne" (Psalms 132:12). These are the inspired words of the psalmist; and they make a distinction between the Messiah, spoken of in Psalms 132:11, which is an unconditional promise; and the earthly Davidic dynasty mentioned in Psalms 132:12, whom God promised to perpetuate upon the throne of David, if they kept his covenant and the Lord's testimonies. This promise was terminated, due to the wickedness of David's successors, in the person of Jeconiah (Jeremiah 22:30).

Miller pointed out that, "The unconditional nature of the Davidic covenant applied to only one of David's descendants (Psalms 132:11),"C. M. Miller, co-author with Anthony L. Ash, p. 412. and not to, "The continuation of the political dynasty (Psalms 132:12)."Ibid.

That only one was none other than Jesus Christ the Holy Messiah. He was the one who would enter the world through the posterity of David, an everlasting successor, a king, "of whose government and peace there shall be no end." "The apostle Peter applied this to Christ, telling us that David himself so understood it (Acts 2:30)."Matthew Henry's Commentary, Vol. III, p. 744.

God's covenant with David was indeed fulfilled, and is operative at this very moment, and eternally. God did exactly what he promised. When the holy angel of God made the announcement of Jesus' birth to the Virgin Mary, he said:

"Thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:31-33).

"Their children also shall sit upon thy throne forevermore" Although this promise was made to David's earthly successors provided that, "they should do God's will," the promise also was made good for Christ himself. We are indebted to Matthew Henry for pointing this out.

Although David's political successors did not keep the covenant, Jesus Christ did keep it. "He did the Father's will, and in all things pleased Him; and therefore to Christ and his spiritual seed, God made the promise good."Ibid.

Jesus' children who are they? They are all true and obedient believers, and, behold, what Christ himself has promised them, "He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:21).

This is positively the greatest promise in all the Bible, that Christians (along with the true believers of the Old Testament) will actually be "with Christ" in the midst of the throne of Almighty God himself. Where is there anything else, even in the Word of God, that can be compared with this?

"This is my resting-place forever" This answers to Psalms 132:8 in the dedicatory prayer, indicating that this portion of the psalm is God's answer to that prayer.

"Her priests will I clothe with salvation" This is God's answer to the petition in Psalms 132:9, "Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness.

"And her saints shall shout for joy" This is God's answer to the petition in Psalms 132:9, "And let thy saints shout for joy."

"The horn of David… a lamp for the anointed… his crown shall flourish" "These three terms, horn, lamp and crown scarcely need comment with their evident implications of strength, clarity and royal dignity."Derek Kidner, op. cit., p. 451. However, there is a very significant variation in the word "crown." "The word used here (in the Hebrew) is exactly the same word used for the mitre of the high priest."Ibid. This, of course, makes the passage a reference to Him who is forever a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Psalms 110), being both High Priest and King. This double meaning of "crown" in this passage cannot be applied to David, for it belongs to the Greater Son of David, Jesus Christ the Lord.

"Upon himself shall his crown flourish" The true and final Davidic King is Christ, who `remaineth a king forever' (Psalms 29:10). Upon Him will the crown ever flourish."The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 8-C, p. 260.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David - He has made a gracious promise, confirmed by an oath, which we may plead in our present necessities. That promise was made “in truth,” that is, sincerely - so that it will certainly be carried out - so that we may appeal to God, on the ground of his faithfulness, to keep his word.

He will not turn from it - We may be certain that he will carry it out. We may appeal to him on the basis of that promise with the utmost confidence.

Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne - Margin, as in Hebrew, “of thy belly.” The throne would descend to his posterity, 2 Samuel 7:12; see the notes at Psalms 89:3-4.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

11.Jehovah sware unto David. ⁽¹³⁵⁾ Here he brings out the idea still more clearly, that the only thing he had respect to in David was the free promise which God had made to him. He takes notice of the fact, as confirmatory to his faith, that God had ratified the promise by oath. As to the particular words used, he speaks of God having sworn in truth, that is, not fallaciously, but in good faith, so that no doubt could be entertained of his departing from his word. The thing promised was a successor to David of his own seed; for though he did not want children, he had already almost despaired of the regular succession, from the fatal confusions which prevailed in his family, and the discord which internally rent his household, and might eventually ruin it. Solomon was particularly marked out, but the promise extended to a continuous line of successors. This arrangement affected the welfare of the whole Church, and not of David only, and the people of Godare encouraged by the assurance, that the kingdom which he had established amongst them was possessed of a sacred and enduring stability. Both king and people needed to be reminded of this divine foundation upon which it rested. We see how insolently the sovereigns of this world often deport themselves ­ filled with pride, though in words they may acknowledge that they reign by the grace of God. How often, besides, do they violently usurp the throne; how rarely do they come to it in a regular manner. A distinction is therefore drawn between the kingdoms of this world and that which David held by the sacred tenure of God’s own oracle.

(135) Compare Psalms 89:48. The sacred histories make no mention of such an oath, but a promise to the same effect is recorded in 2 Samuel 7:12; 2 Kings 8:25.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Psalms 132:1-18

LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions: How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God 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 my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, until I find out a place for the LORD, a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob ( Psalms 132:1-5 ).

David had determined that he was going to build a house for God. He said, "I'm not going to rest until I build a house for God. It's not fair. I'm living in this beautiful palace and we still are worshipping God in a tent. God should have a temple. A beautiful house to worship Him in. So it's not right, I'm not going to rest until I build a house for God." Great zeal. Lord, remember David. All of his afflictions and how he had determined to build a house.

Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. We will go into his tents: we will worship at his footstool. Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; 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. The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne ( Psalms 132:6-11 ).

God had sworn to David by an oath that from the fruit of his body there would sit one upon the throne forever. Going back to the prophecy of Isaiah that we studied this morning, Isaiah 6:1-13 , or Isaiah 9:6-7 ,"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. And of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it in judgment and in justice from henceforth even for ever." It's going to happen. God has sworn to David that from the fruit of David's loins there would be one who would sit upon the throne. "From the fruit of thy body I will set one upon the throne." Jesus came from David. As the angel said unto Mary, "He shall be great. He shall be called the Son of the Highest: and He shall sit upon the throne of His father David" ( Luke 1:32 ). Because Mary was a direct descendant of David. And the promise that Jesus would sit upon the throne of David is yet to be fulfilled and will be fulfilled when He returns again and establishes the Kingdom Age. He will sit then upon the throne of David and God's oath will be fulfilled.

If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore ( Psalms 132:12 ).

Jesus gave the promise actually to the church. "Unto him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me upon My throne in My kingdom, even as I have overcome, and have sat down with My Father on His throne" ( Revelation 3:21 ). So to the faithful is the promise made.

For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place ( Psalms 132:13 ).

God chose Jerusalem; God desires it. And it is interesting, I don't think that Jerusalem is that beautiful a city. You know, you go to some cities, Seattle, beautiful city. Some cities on the lakeshores or on the ocean, Jerusalem is just in a rocky crate. So many rocks you can't grow too many trees. And yet God has chosen it. Why He chose it, I don't know. But it is His choice. He chose it. When He dwells upon the earth, that's where He's going to dwell. That's where He's going to reign. Of all the places on the earth, I probably would have chosen somewhere in Kauai or somewhere, you know, Hanalei Bay. But He's chosen Jerusalem. And because He has chosen it, it becomes special. Not because it is special. It's only because He chose it that it's special. He didn't choose it because it was special; but because He chose it, it has become special. It all lies in His choice. That's what made it special.

Now God answers at this point, verse Psalms 132:14 , God now is talking and God declares,

This is my rest for ever ( Psalms 132:14 ):

Talking about Jerusalem.

here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish ( Psalms 132:14-18 ).

Now here is God speaking, and in the last two verses He's referring, actually, His anointed is His Messiah, or is Jesus. "There will I make the horn of David to bud," as Jesus sits upon the throne of David. "I have ordained a lamp for Mine anointed." Or My Messiah. "And His enemies will be clothed with shame, but His crown, His reign will flourish." "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 132

The writer of this psalm led the Israelites in praying that God would bless Israel for David’s commitment to the Lord.

"Because of its emphasis on the temple and on God’s election of Zion, the psalm is here classified as a Song of Zion. The Songs of Zion have much in common with the royal psalms, as they celebrate the glories associated with Jerusalem: temple and kingship. Unlike the royal psalms, the Songs of Zion proclaim the glories of Zion in universal and eschatological terms . . ." [Note: VanGemeren, p. 804.]

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

God promised David-the oath being a poetic equivalent of a sure promise-that He would raise up a dynasty of David’s descendants that would follow him on Israel’s throne (2 Samuel 7:12-16). If they were faithful to the Lord, He would give them an unbroken succession. Of course this did not happen, because David’s descendants did not all follow God faithfully. Nevertheless God preserved David’s dynasty as He said He would.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

3. The Lord’s promises to David 132:11-18

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

The Lord hath sworn [in] truth unto David,.... By Nathan the prophet; when he assured him that his house, kingdom, and throne, should be established for ever, 2 Samuel 7:5; and though there is no mention made of the oath of God, no doubt there was one; or however his word was his oath, as Kimchi observes: besides, the Apostle Peter is express for it that there was one, which was added to his word for the confirmation of it; who is said to swear by himself, because there is no greater; and sometimes by one or other of his perfections, as by his holiness elsewhere; so here in or by his truth, his faithfulness, being the God of truth that cannot lie. Or it may be rendered, "the Lord hath sworn truth unto David" x; that which is truth: and we may be assured he could not possibly assert or swear anything else; see

Psalms 89:3;

he will not turn from it; change his mind, repent of his oath; make it void, or not fulfil it; for he is unchangeable in his perfections, purposes, and promises; whatever he says and swears to he will certainly perform;

of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne; a king upon thy throne, as the Targum: meaning not Solomon; though it is true that the Lord chose him, above all the sons of David, to be his successor in the kingdom, and did place him upon his throne before his death; but a greater than Solomon is here, even the Messiah; as is clear from the testimony of the Apostle Peter, Acts 2:30, by which it appears not only that this promise and oath relate to the Messiah; but that David knew they did, and so understood them; and which have been fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth: who, as he was notoriously the fruit of David's body according to the flesh, or his human nature; or was of his seed, being born of the Virgin Mary, who lineally descended from him; so he was set upon the throne of David, as it was foretold both by the prophet Isaiah, and by the angel to the virgin, he should, Isaiah 9:6 Luke 1:32; not in a literal sense; for though he was no doubt right heir to the throne of David so understood, yet his kingdom was not of this world; but he was set as King over God's holy hill of Zion, the church; and reigned over the house of Jacob, the whole Israel of God; the mystical and spiritual Israel, consisting of Jews and Gentiles: his throne, or the seat of his kingdom, is the church; his sceptre the Gospel; his crown the glory true believers in him give him; his laws, by which he rules, are its his word, and written in the hearts of his subjects; and his kingdom shall continue for ever.

x נשבע-אמת "juravit veritatem", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.   12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.   13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.   14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.   15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.   16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.   17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.   18 His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

      These are precious promises, confirmed by an oath, that the heirs of them might have strong consolation,Hebrews 6:17; Hebrews 6:18. It is all one whether we take them as pleas urged in the prayer or as answers returned to the prayer; believers know how to make use of the promises both ways, with them to speak to God and in them to hear what God the Lord will speak to us. These promises relate to the establishment both in church and state, both to the throne of the house of David and to the testimony of Israel fixed on Mount Zion. The promises concerning Zion's hill are as applicable to the gospel-church as these concerning David's seed are to Christ, and therefore both pleadable by us and very comfortable to us. Here is,

      I. The choice God made of David's house and Zion hill. Both were of divine appointment.

      1. God chose David's family for the royal family and confirmed his choice by an oath, Psalms 132:11; Psalms 132:12. David, being a type of Christ, was made king with an oath: The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, will not turn from it. Did David swear to the Lord (Psalms 132:2; Psalms 132:2) that he would find him a house? The Lord swore to David that he would build him a house; for God will be behind with none of his people in affections or assurances. The promise made to David refers, (1.) To a long succession of kings that should descend from his loins: Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne, which was fulfilled in Solomon; David himself lived to see it with great satisfaction, 1 Kings 1:48. The crown was also entailed conditionally upon his heirs for ever: If thy children, in following ages, will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them. God himself engaged to teach them, and he did his part; they had Moses and the prophets, and all he expects is that they should keep what he taught them, and keep to it, and then their children shall sit upon thy throne for evermore. Kings are before God upon their good behaviour, and their commission from him runs quamdiu se bene gesserint--during good behaviour. The issue of this was that they did not keep God's covenant, and so the entail was at length cut off, and the sceptre departed from Judah by degrees. (2.) To an everlasting successor, a king that should descend from his loins of the increase of whose government and peace there shall be no end. St. Peter applies this to Christ, nay, he tells us that David himself so understood it. Acts 2:30, He knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; and in the fulness of time he did so, and gave him the throne of his father David,Luke 1:32. He did fulfill the condition of the promise; he kept God's covenant and his testimony, did his Father's will, and in all things pleased him; and therefore to him, and his spiritual seed, the promise shall be made good. He, and the children God has given him, all believers, shall sit upon the throne for evermore,Revelation 3:21.

      2. God chose Zion hill for the holy hill, and confirmed his choice by the delight he took in it, Psalms 132:13; Psalms 132:14. He chose the Mount Zion which he loved (Psalms 76:68); he chose it for the habitation of his ark, and said of it, This is my rest for ever, and not merely my residence for a time, as Shiloh was. Zion was the city of David; he chose it for the royal city because God chose it for the holy city. God said, Here will I dwell, and therefore David said, Here will I dwell, for here he adhered to his principle, It is good for me to be near to God. Zion must be here looked upon as a type of the gospel-church, which is called Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22), and in it what is here said of Zion has its full accomplishment. Zion was long since ploughed as a field, but the church of Christ is the house of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15), and it is his rest for ever, and shall be blessed with his presence always, even to the end of the world. The delight God takes in his church, and the continuance of his presence with his church, are the comfort and joy of all its members.

      II. The choice blessings God has in store for David's house and Zion hill. Whom God chooses he will bless.

      1. God, having chosen Zion hill, promises to bless that,

      (1.) With the blessings of the life that now is; for godliness has the promise of them, Psalms 132:15; Psalms 132:15. The earth shall yield her increase; where religion is set up there shall be provision, and in blessing God will bless it (Psalms 67:6); he will surely and abundantly bless it. And a little provision, with an abundant blessing upon it, will be more serviceable, as well as more comfortable, than a great deal without that blessing. God's people have a special blessing upon common enjoyments, and that blessing puts a peculiar sweetness into them. Nay, the promise goes further: I will satisfy her poor with bread. Zion has her own poor to keep; and it is promised that God will take care even of them. [1.] By his providence they shall be kept from wanting; they shall have provision enough. If there be scarcity, the poor are the first that feel it, so that it is a sure sign of plenty if they have sufficient. Zion's poor shall not want, for God has obliged all the sons of Zion to be charitable to the poor, according to their ability, and the church must take care that they be not neglected,Psalms 6:1. [2.] By his grace they shall be kept from complaining; though they have but dry bread, yet they shall be satisfied. Zion's poor have, of all others, reason to be content with a little of this world, because they have better things prepared for them. And this may be understood spiritually of the provision that is made for the soul in the word and ordinances; God will abundantly bless that for the nourishment of the new man, and satisfy the poor in spirit with the bread of life. What God sanctifies to us we shall and may be satisfied with.

      (2.) With the blessings of the life that is to come, things pertaining to godliness (Psalms 132:16; Psalms 132:16), which is an answer to the prayer, Psalms 132:9; Psalms 132:9. [1.] It was desired that the priests might be clothed with righteousness; it is here promised that God will clothe them with salvation, not only save them, but make them and their administrations instrumental for the salvation of his people; they shall both save themselves and those that hear them, and add those to the church that shall be saved. Note, Whom God clothes with righteousness he will clothe with salvation; we must pray for righteousness and then with it God will give salvation. [2.] It was desired that the saints might shout for joy; it is promised that they shall shout aloud for joy. God gives more than we ask, and when he gives salvation he will give an abundant joy.

      2. God, having chosen David's family, here promises to bless that also with suitable blessings. (1.) Growing power: There, in Zion, will I make the horn of David to bud,Psalms 132:17; Psalms 132:17. The royal dignity shall increase more and more, and constant additions he made to the lustre of it. Christ is the horn of salvation (denoting a plentiful and powerful salvation) which God has raised up, and made to bud, in the house of his servant David. David had promised to use his power for God's glory, to cut off the horns of the wicked, and to exalt the horns of the righteous (Psalms 75:10); in recompence for it God here promises to make his horn to bud, for to those that have power, and use it well, more shall be given. (2.) Lasting honour: I have ordained a lamp for my anointed. Thou wilt light my candle,Psalms 18:28. That lamp is likely to burn brightly which God ordains. A lamp is a successor, for, when a lamp is almost out, another may be lighted by it; it is a succession, for by this means David shall not want a man to stand before God. Christ is the lamp and the light of the world. (3.) Complete victory: "His enemies, who have formed designs against him, will I clothe with shame, when they shall see their designs baffled." Let the enemies of all good governors expect to be clothed with shame, and especially the enemies of the Lord Jesus and his government, who shall rise, in the great day, to everlasting shame and contempt. (4.) Universal prosperity: Upon himself shall his crown flourish, that is, his government shall be more and more his honour. This was to have its full accomplishment in Jesus Christ, whose crown of honour and power shall never fade, nor the flowers of it wither. The crowns of earthly princes endure not to all generations (Proverbs 27:24), but Christ's crown shall endure to all eternity and the crowns reserved for his faithful subjects are such as fade not away.