"If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever. For the Lord has chosen Zion...I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy."

Psalm 132:12-16

In this Psalm, verses 2–9 record David’s oath to the Lord and what happened next; verses 10–16 record the Lord’s irrevocable oath to David and what that would involve. Finally, the pledge of verses 17 and 18 abundantly fulfills the plea of verse 1. Pause to renew your trust and hope that God will fulfill his promises to you beyond your expectations and imaginings.

God’s promise outstrips David’s dedication. We can count up to ten things that the Lord says he will do to/for David. How wonderful that God’s worshippers are what he desires. There is a ‘horn’ (v. 17; symbolizing a strong one, a king) and a lamp and a splendid crown—bringing to an end David’s ‘self-denial’ (v. 1) forever. The next two psalms, Psalms 133 (the glorious unity of the saints) and 134 (their constant worship) bring this mini collection of pilgrimage psalms, the ‘Songs of Ascent’, to a sumptuous close—but there are greater glories to follow for Christian worshippers as they hail ‘great David’s greater Son.’

Closing Prayer

Almighty God, not one of your promises has failed. Thank you for the assurance that you will be faithful to all of your promises into eternity (edited from Encounter with God).