David's Vow
A song of ascents.
The people ask our Father to remember David's oath: no sleep until he found a dwelling for the ark. The answer is a larger oath in return — a lasting throne, Zion chosen as a resting place, and bread for her poor.
132 1Remember, our Father, for David's sake, all the hardships he endured, 2how he swore to our Father and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: 3"I will not enter the tent of my house or climb onto my bed; 4I will not let my eyes sleep or my eyelids slumber, 5until I find a place for our Father, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
6Look—we heard of the ark in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. a a v6 Ephrathah is the region around Bethlehem; Jaar refers to Kiriath-jearim, where the ark of the covenant had rested before David brought it to Jerusalem. 7Let us come to his dwelling place; let us bow down at his footstool. 8Arise, our Father, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength. 9May your priests be clothed with righteousness, and may your faithful ones sing for joy.
10For the sake of David your servant, do not turn away from your anointed one.
11Our Father swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One who comes from your own body I will set on your throne. b b v11 Peter declared at Pentecost that our Father kept this oath by raising Jesus, the descendant of David, to sit on David's throne forever. 12If your sons keep my covenant and the testimony I will teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne forever."
13For our Father has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling:
14"This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15I will richly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her faithful ones will sing aloud for joy.
17"There I will make David's power rise; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one. 18His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine."
