PSALM 132

During the winter months, there is a Jewish tradition of studying a special set of psalms  - "tehilim" - on Shabbat afternoons. These psalms, #120-#134, are known as the Shir HaMaalot/Songs of Ascent psalms, as that is the first phrase in each psalm.  Each week, one of these psalms will be presented here.  We have so far covered Psalm 104, the Psalm for the New Month, and Psalms 120-131. This week, we look at Psalm 132, which we can find in Sefaria at https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.132.1?lang=bi&with=Steinsaltz&lang2=en

Psalm 132 is the longest of the Songs of Ascent. It focuses on worship, which the nation of Israel modeled on the experiences and prayers of its greatest king and prayer leader, David. It reviews his history as a basis for our liturgy, and recalls both David’s vow to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (verses 1-10) and G-d’s covenantal promise to David regarding how his descendants will be kings henceforth (verses 11-18); these are also both covered in prose in 2 Samuel 6-7. The psalm is both retrospective and prospective.

Below is a presentation of the psalm, along with the Steinsaltz commentary on each verse (see my description of this source in the immediately prior posting for Psalm 131); the psalm’s own text is emboldened:

PSALM 132

A song of ascents. Remember, Lord, all of David’s afflictions. After this brief reminder of David’s many trials and tribulations, the psalm goes on to praise him:

Remember how he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Champion of Jacob, an unusual expression referring to the Almighty.

This is the vow that David undertook: I will not enter the roof of my house nor lie on my bed,

I will not give sleep to my eyes nor slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Champion of Jacob. In David’s time, the Ark of the Covenant had no permanent abode, but was transferred from place to place. David’s great dream was to build the Temple, which would house the ark.

The people of Israel speak next: Indeed, we heard it, the good tidings that the Temple would be built, while David was still in Efrat, or Bethlehem. We found it, the actualization of this plan, in the fields of the forest, referring to the granary of Aravna the Yevusite, the site that David consecrated for the building of the Temple

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The psalmist continues, full of passion: Let us go to His dwelling place; let us bow down toward His footstool, the Temple.

Arise, Lord, to Your resting place. This verse is similar to the words recited when the Ark of the Covenant was moved from one place to another in the wilderness. You and the ark of Your strength, the symbol of the revelation of the Divine Presence.

In the Temple, the service of God will return to its rightful place: Your priests will be clothed in righteousness; Your devoted ones will sing for joy.

All this will come to pass for the sake of David, Your servant, because of his great efforts to bring the ark to a permanent place and to build the Temple. For his sake, do not turn away the face of Your anointed one.

And David is indeed rewarded: The Lord has sworn a true oath to David and will not recant for all time: From the fruit of your loins I will establish a throne for you. God promised David that the monarchy would be passed on to his descendants for all generations to come.

But this promise carries a proviso: Only if your sons follow My covenant and My precept, which I will teach them, then their sons too shall sit upon your throne forever.

For the Lord has chosen Zion; He desired it for His dwelling.

Here the psalmist speaks in the name of God: This is My resting place forever. I have chosen Jerusalem as My eternal dwelling place. Here I will settle, for I desired it.

I will bless its provisions abundantly; I will satisfy its needy ones with bread.

I will clothe its priests with salvation. The priests will be clothed in the priestly garments, and God will ensure that they enjoy respect and stature in the Temple: Its devoted ones will truly sing for joy.

There I will make the horn of David spring forth. This image is a figurative way of describing greatness that is perceived by all. God promises to grant David extraordinary strength and power. I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one. This verse teaches that it was customary to light a lantern in honor of kings and other important individuals.

I will clothe his enemies in humiliation; on him a crown will glitter. God will humiliate David’s enemies while bringing glory to his monarchy.