Artwork: Baruch Nachshon, Israel
Psalm 132 (ESV)
The Lord Has Chosen Zion
A Song of Ascents.
We do not know who wrote this psalm. One possible viewpoint: It was composed by Solomon when he brought the ark of the covenant to its proper place in the newly-constructed temple in Jerusalem. The first ten verses, then, are Solomon’s prayer that the Lord will descend in the Shekinah (the glory cloud) and dwell above the ark . . .
Remember, O Lord, in David’s favor,
all the hardships he endured,
2 how he swore to the Lord
and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
3 “I will not enter my house
or get into my bed,
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
5 until I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
Ephrathah is an ancient name for Bethlehem. In time, it came to refer to the district around Bethlehem.
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool!”
8 Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
This is the only mention of the ark of the covenant in the Psalter.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
and let your saints shout for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not turn away the face of your anointed one.
. . . Verses 11 and 12 reaffirm the covenant that God made with David . . .
11 The Lord swore to David a sure oath
from which he will not turn back:
“One of the sons of your body
I will set on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant
and my testimonies that I shall teach them,
their sons also forever
shall sit on your throne.”
. . . And the last six verses contain specific promises from God corresponding to Solomon’s specific requests.
–William MacDonald
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion;
he has desired it for his dwelling place:
14 “This is my resting place forever;
here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provisions;
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
and her saints will shout for joy.
17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David;
I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame,
but on him his crown will shine.”
“Resplendent” acrylic on canvas by Canadian artist Melani Pyke
The head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now!
Heaven’s royal diadem adorns
The mighty Victor’s brow!–Thomas Kelly
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Music:
Recently David and I spent some time with a dear friend, Carole McCutcheon. One morning as we had our devotions together, David read Psalm 132 and Carole mentioned this song. Thank you, Carole!
HERE is Steve Fry and his musical version of Psalm 132, “O the Glory of Your Presence.”
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DWELLING in the Word 
Reblogged this on Dem Bones.