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Illustration for Psalm 132: God's Promise to David

Psalm 132

God's Promise to David

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This psalm remembers David's deep desire to build a home for God. David wasn't allowed to build the temple, but God made him a wonderful promise instead: David's family would rule forever, and the Messiah would come from his line.

  1. 1O LORD, remember David and all his afflictions.
  2. 2How he swore an oath to the LORD and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
  3. 3"I will not enter my house or go to my bed—
  4. 4I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,
  5. 5till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
  6. 6We heard it in Ephrathah; we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:
  7. 7"Let us go to His dwelling place; let us worship at His footstool."
  8. 8Arise, O LORD, and come to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might.
  9. 9May Your priests be clothed with righteousness; may Your saints sing for joy.
  10. 10For the sake of Your servant David, do not reject Your anointed one.
  11. 11The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath He will not revoke: "One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.
  12. 12If your sons keep My covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever."
  13. 13For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling:
  14. 14"This is My resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
  15. 15I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food.
  16. 16I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy.
  17. 17Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for My anointed one.
  18. 18I will clothe his enemies with shame, but His anointed one will shine."

What it means

David badly wanted to build God a house, and God said no — and then made him a far bigger promise instead. Sometimes God says no to a good plan because He has something in mind that is much larger than the thing you asked for.

A little prayer

God, when You say no to something I really want, help me trust that You see further than I do. Thank You that You keep Your promises for ever. Amen.

Memory verse

“The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath He will not revoke: "One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.”

Psalm 132:11 (BSB)

It is the promise God made in place of the thing David wanted to do.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. David badly wanted to build God a house and was told no. How do you take a no like that?
  2. God's answer was to build David a lasting family instead. Has a no ever turned into something better?
  3. The psalm remembers a promise made long ago. What promises does your family remember?
  4. What have you wanted to do that you were not allowed to?

Try this

The better no

Each person names a time they did not get what they asked for. Talk about what happened instead. Some will still be disappointing — say so honestly.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)