Psalms 132-134
We reach in these three psalms the close of the "songs of degrees"—songs of the upward, homeward (Zionward) journey of the redeemed of Israel.
Psalm 132 speaks of David, but it is not difficult to see that David's great Son, Jehovah's Anointed One was in the mind of the Holy Spirit in writing this psalm.
David had wished to see the ark of God put in a worthy place. (See 2 Samuel 6:2-52And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. 3And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. 4And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 5And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. (2 Samuel 6:2‑5) and 12-17; 7:1, 2; 1 Chronicles 13: 1-8; 15:1-16; 16:1,1And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. 2Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever. 3And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord unto his place, which he had prepared for it. 4And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites: 5Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty: 6Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty: 7Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty: 8Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred: 9Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore: 10Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve. 11And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, 12And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. 13For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. 14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord. 16And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. (1 Chronicles 15:1‑16)
1So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God. (1 Chronicles 16:1) and chapter 22.
Ephratah, verse 6, is Bethlehem (Ruth 4:1111And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: (Ruth 4:11); Micah 5:22But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)) where both David, and his Son, Jesus, the Son of God, as to His earthly life, and His humanity, were born. "The fields of the wood" may be a reference to Kirjath-jearim (meaning city of forests), where the ark long remained after the Philistines had carried it away in battle (1 Samuel 7:1, 21And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. 2And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. (1 Samuel 7:1‑2)). What then do these places signify in the psalm? Is it not to set forth the lowly birth of the Messiah of Israel, and the place which Israel gave Him when He was here in grace? "They received Him not" (John 1:1111He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11)).
Verses 8, 9 and 10 is the language of Solomon at the dedication of the temple in 2 Chronicles 6:41, 4241Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. 42O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant. (2 Chronicles 6:41‑42). Solomon's magnificent temple long ago disappeared, but a greater dwelling place for God will yet adorn the hill of Zion.
Verse 11 is the divine answer to verse 10. Verses 13, 14 remind us of God's election, all of His own grace. He has chosen Zion, there will He dwell. So has He chosen poor sinners and provided most wonderfully for them.
Verses 15, 16: He will abundantly bless and cause Zion's saints to shout for joy in the scene where sin and death have reigned.
The closing verses of Psalm 132 refer to the Lord Jesus; He is the horn or strength of David, as well as the Anointed One, and the crowned One.
Blessed Lord! How our rapturous hearts and tongues will sound forth Thy praise in that day!
Psalm 133 speaks of the unity of Israel, at length brought about after so many centuries of division. The fullest earthly blessing will then have been granted.
Psalm 134 closes the chain of songs with the blessing of Jehovah by His servants, and His blessing them out of Zion—the mighty God, maker of the heavens and earth making His dwelling place among the favored sons of Israel.
Looking back over the 15 psalms called songs of degrees which we have just finished studying, can we not see in them the believer's journey (although in detail and circumstance the language is Jewish) from sin's dark valley, and a world of enmity, toward God, to our heavenly portion with Christ.
May God put more into our hearts the spirit and desire of the little verse,
"O, how we thirst the chains to burst,
That weight our spirits downward;
And there to flow, in love's full glow,
With hearts like Christ's surrounded."
Messages of God’s Love 1/10/1932