Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 132

1 LORD, remember David , and all his afflictions .

Either, 1. thy Covenant made with David: or rather, 2. Davids eminent piety and zeal for thy service, amplified by the following clause.

All his sufferings for thy sake, all the solicitude of his mind, all his hard and wearisom labours for thy service and glory, and for provisions towards the building of thy Temple, and for the establishment of thy people in peace and tranquillity, that so way might be made for that great work.

2 How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob .

He made a solemn vow, and confirmed it with an oath. Which he undoubtedly did, although no mention be made of it 2 Sam. 7. Thus many historical passages which were omitted in their proper places, are afterwards recorded upon other occasions; of which examples have been formerly noted.

Of Israel, Iacob and Israel are frequently put for their posterity, as hath been frequently observed.

3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up to my bed .

This and the following clauses are not to be understood strictly and properly, as if he would never come into his house or bed till this was done, which is confuted by the history, 2 Sam. 11. 2. but figuratively, as an hyperbolical expression, such as are usual both in Scripture and in all other Authors, to signifie his passionate desire of doing this work, which was so earnest, that neither his house nor bed nor sleep could give him any content till this work was done or in some forwardness.

5 Until I find out a place for the LORD , an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

Either, 1. until I can understand from God what place he hath chosen for his house to be built in. Or rather, 2. until I have fitted or raised an house in which the Ark may be put, an habitation, as this is explained both in the next clause, and in v. 7. and Act. 7. 46. For this and not the former was the matter both of Davids desire, and of Gods answer delivered by Nathan, 2 Sam. 7.

Marginal references: Heb. habitations.

6 Loe, we have heard of it at Ephratah : we found it in the fields of the wood .

Of the place or habitation for the Lord last mentioned.

Either, 1. in Bethlehem, which is called Ephratah, Gen. 35. 19. & 48. 7. Mich. 5. 2. So the sence is either this, We heard a rumour at Bethlehem among Davids relations, that the Ark should be removed to a new place, and that David had pitched upon it; or this, We heard that Bethlehem would be the place for it, because it was the City of David. Or rather, 2. in the Tribe of Ephraim, which was called also Ephratah or Ephrathah, as is manifest, because the men of Ephraim were called Ephrathites, as Iudg. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. 5. in the Hebrew Text, though in the English it be Ephraimite. So Ieroboam is called an Ephrathite, 1 Kings 11. 26. So the sence is, We heard it from our fathers, that the ancient place of it was Shiloh, which was in the land of Ephraim. Whereby he covertly intimates that God rejected and forsook that place, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim, as it is said Psal. 78. 67. that so he might make way for Zion, which was the place chosen by God for it, as it follows here v. 13.

Afterwards we found it elsewhere.

i. e. In a field or in one of the fields of the wood, for that little spot of ground in which the Tabernacle or Temple was built, was not likely to be in several fields. Thus Iepthah was buried in the cities of Gilead, Iudg. 12. 7. i. e. in one of them. This is meant either, 1. of the Mount Moriah, which might possibly be called the field of the wood, as being anciently a place full of wood, Gen. 22. 13. or of the threshing-floor of Araunah, of which see 2 Sam. 24. 28. which before the building of the Temple is said to have been a woody place. Or rather, 2. of Kiriath-jearim, which signifies a city of woods, in the field or territory whereof the Ark was seated for twenty years, as we read 1 Sam. 7. 1, 2. And from this place it was removed to Zion, 2 Sam. 6. 1, &c.

7 We will go into his tabernacles : we will worship at his footstool .

Seeing the Ark is now fixed in a certain place, we will go to it more generally and constantly than formerly we did.

Into his Tabernacle or Temple, the Plural number put for the Singular, as Psal. 43. 3. & 46. 4, &c.

Either the Temple: or rather the Ark, so called 1 Chron. 28. 2. Lament. 2. 1. because God is oft said to sit between the Cherubims, which were above the Ark.

Marginal references: Psal. 99. 5.

8 Arise , O LORD, into thy rest : thou, and the ark of thy strength .

i. e. Arise and come. One word put for two, as Gen. 43. 33. marvelled (i. e. marvelled looking) one at another; and v. 34. he took messes, i. e. he took and sent messes, as our Translation renders it. And this word is very proper in this place, because it was to be used by Gods appointment when the Ark was to be removed from one place to another, Numb. 10. 35. as now it was from the Tabernacle in Zion to the Temple in Moriah, upon which occasion this and the two following verses were used by Solomon, 2 Chron. 6. 41, 42.

Into thy resting place, the Temple so called Isa. 66. 1. where thou hast now a fixed habitation.

The seat of thy powerful and glorious presence, from whence thou dost put [illegible: 1+ letters]orth and manifest thy strength on the behalf of thy people when they desire and need it.

Marginal references: Num. 10. 35. 2 Chr. 6. 41, 42.

9 Let thy priests be cloathed with righteousness ▪ and let thy saints shout for joy .

Not onely with those outward Sacerdotal garments of glory and beauty which thou hast appointed for them, but especially with those inward ornaments of righteousness and true holiness, that so their persons and services may be accepted by thee both for themselves and for all thy people, and they may be cloathed with salvation, as it is expressed here below v. 16. and 2 Chron. 6. 41. which is the effect or consequent of the former clothing.

Let all thy people have cause of rejoycing in the tokens of thy goodness▪ which they eminently had at the dedication of the Temple, as is noted 1 Kings 8. 66.

Marginal references: Ver. 16.

10 For thy servant Davids sake , turn not away the face of thine anointed .

In regard of thy singular kindness and promises vouchsafed to David, as this is explained in the following verses. And this verse makes it more than probable, that David was not the Penman of this Pslam, who never used to beg mercies from God for his own sake, but constantly for his names sake, and for the sake of his truth, mercy, goodness or righteousness, as will be evident to any one that reads this Book.

Cast me not out of thy presence, do not reject or deny my request, as this phrase is expounded, 1 Kings 2. 16.

Of me whom thou hast anointed to be King over thy people. He speaks of himself in the third person, as is usual.

11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David, he will not turn from it, Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

Not falsly or deceitfully, as men sometimes do, but sincerely and faithfully, what he will inviolably observe and fulfil, as the next clause expounds this.

Some of thy posterity.

Marginal references: Psal. 89. 3, 4. [illegible: 1+ letters]3. &c.; 2 Sam. 7. 12. 1 Kings 8. 25. 2 Chr. 6. 16. Luke 1. 69. Acts 2. 30.; Heb. thy belly.

13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion : he hath desired it for his habitation.

Not strictly, but largely taken either for the whole mountain, whereof Zion and Moriah were two parts or tops, or for Ierusalem, which was in a great part built upon Mount Zion, whence it is oft called Zion, as hath been noted again and again. For he speaks here of that place which he chose to be his rest for ever, as it follows v. 14. which unequestionably was the Temple: whence also it appears that this Psalm was not written by David, nor before the building of the Temple.

14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell , for I have desired it.

I will no more wander to several places as I have done, but here I have fixed my abode.

Marginal references: Psal. 68. 16.

15 I will abundantly bless her provision : I will satisfie her poor with bread.

I will plentifully provide for Ierusalem and all that live in her or resort to her for Worship: nor shall they seek my face in vain.

Marginal references: Psal. 147. 14.; Or, surely.

16 I will also cloath her priests with salvation : and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

With my saving graces and blessings, with righteousness, as thou didst desire v. 9. and moreover with that protection and benediction which by my promise belongs to righteous persons.

Marginal references: 2 Chr. 6. 41.

17 There will I make the horn of David to bud : I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.

In Ierusalem, the seat of the Kingdom, and, which is no small advantage to that family, the onely place of my presence and worship in the world.

His power and glory to flourish and increase and to be propagated to his posterity.

A successor or succession to continue for ever in his family, as this phrase is expounded 1 Kings 11. 36. & 15. 4. and particularly one eminent and glorious light, to wit, the Messias, who shall come out of his loyns, and revive and vastly enlarge his Kingdom.

Marginal references: Ezek. 29. 21. Luke 1. 69.; Or, candle. See 1 Kings 11. 36.

18 His enemies will I cloath with shame : but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

For the shameful and unexpected disappointment of all their vain hopes and wicked designs.

Upon him and his posterity, which are nothing else but a mans self multiplied.