Day 13: Psalm 132

The longest of the Psalms of Ascent, Psalm 132 is a royal psalm that helps us to understand the faithfulness of the Lord who chooses us first! Much of the background for this psalm can be found in 2 Samuel 6 and 7 involving King David’s finding of the Ark of the Covenant, and his desire to find/build a permanent place for it. We know from that story that it would not be David that would do this; but, rather, it would be Solomon. Yet, there is more to this psalm than simply history being repeated. Rather, it is a beautiful prayer that speaks of the faithfulness of the Lord and the hints of an “anointed” one or a Messiah to come!

The first part of the psalm (verses 1-10) is a prayer offered for the king, David’s representative. It centers on the oath that David swore to the Lord to find a place for the Ark of the Covenant. It also alludes to the transfer of the Ark to Jerusalem. What is interesting is the phrase “Go up” or Arise O Lord. This harkens back to the Exodus and the trust in the Lord to take action on behalf of the Chosen People: God’s faithfulness!

The second part of the psalm (verses 11-18) considers the promises made by the Lord to David and His descendants, to Zion, His chosen place to reside, to his faithful servants, and to the king himself, his anointed. The use of the word “anointed” makes this one of the main Messianic psalms. Anointed in this psalm would mean not only David but also a descendant of his, someone for whom the Lord’s favor is sought. For Christians, this is fulfilled by Jesus.

What makes this psalm even more intriguing is to see in it the Lord’s choice of a people first and then the earthly dwelling. Abbot Gregory Polan OSB calls this “election” theology. He states that God is the one who chooses Israel first despite it being the smallest among the nations as stated in Deuteronomy 7:7. God also chooses David from among Jesse’s sons even though he is the youngest. David is the one who will become king and ancestor to Jesus, the Messiah! Lastly, God chooses Sion, one mountain among many others as His dwelling place. Moreover, those whom God chooses, He remains faithful! Thus, despite our unfaithfulness to His choosing us, God remains faithful. We, in turn, are invited to imitate that faithfulness in our lives. It is the way that we can best respond to His faithfulness to us.

For the pilgrim on the ascent, according to the Navarre Bible, this psalm is said as a prayer for the king and for Jerusalem. In the times when the monarchy was no more, this psalm would have nourished the pilgrim’s hope in a future Messiah. For us on the way to the Heavenly Kingdom, it might be said as a prayer of longing to see the Messiah who lives and reign in that Kingdom, now and forever!

Pray Psalm 132 in your bible using the steps of Lectio Divina as shared in  praying with the scriptures on the St. Joseph Retreat Center website blog.

How has God’s faithfulness impacted the psalmist?
 
Think of the times of the Lord’s faithfulness to you. How have you responded to that faithfulness in your life?
 
What words or phrases stood out to you in this psalm? Write them down in your journal, or memorize them so that they can give your courage on the journey to the Heavenly Jerusalem!