Commonplace –
“If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore” (Psalm 132:12).
In this Song of Ascent, the author begins by telling the story of the the covenant between God and David. The first ten verses of the Psalm delve into David’s request that the Lord remember their covenant. He reminds the Lord that he swore not to sleep until a place was found for the ark of the covenant to rest. Later, this covenant was realized when the Lord allowed Solomon, David’s heir, to build the temple in Jerusalem. As the pilgrims marched towards Jerusalem singing this psalm, they were reminded of the fulfillment of this covenant. What David looked forward to, they were able to see fulfilled.
In the second half of Psalm 132, verses 12-18, the Lord’s reply to David is recorded. The Lord promised David that if David’s children would remain true and keep the covenant and testimonies of the Lord, David’s line would remain on the throne and be blessed by God. In singing this psalm, the pilgrims are reminded of their place in the covenant as children of Israel. They also will receive blessing from God as heirs of David, if they remain true to God.
As the pilgrims were heirs of the covenant, so are believing Christians, who have become heirs through faith in Christ. When we sing this psalm, we, too, are reminded of our role in the covenant. If we remain true to God, we, like the pilgrims, are recipients of His blessings, too.
Matthew Henry notes that it has been suggested Solomon was the author of this psalm, which was in two parts:
“1. [Solomon] pleads David’s piety towards God (v. 1-7).
2. [Solomon] pleads God’s promise to David (v. 11-18).
The former introduces his petition: the latter follows it as an answer to it” (607).
Henry states, “In singing this psalm we must have a concern for the gospel church as the temple of God, and a dependence upon Christ as David our Kin, in whom the mercies of God are sure mercies” (607).
Works Cited
Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 132.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.
Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.
© 2025 Angela Hormberg
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