Psalms 132:11 - Meaning and Application

These are precious promises, confirmed by God’s oath, so the heirs of them may have strong comfort (Hebrews 6:17-18). It makes little difference whether we treat them as reasons used in prayer or as God’s answer to prayer. Believers know how to use promises both ways, speaking to God through them and hearing what the Lord says through them.

These promises concern both the kingdom and the church, both David’s throne and Israel’s worship centered on Mount Zion. The promises about Zion’s hill fit the gospel church as fully as the promises about David’s line fit Christ. For that reason, both are open to us and full of comfort.

First, look at the choice God made of David’s house and Zion’s hill. Both were chosen by God himself. God chose David’s family for the royal line and confirmed that choice with an oath, in verses 11 and 12. David, as a picture of Christ, was made king with an oath: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind.” David had sworn to the Lord that he would find a house for him (Psalm 132:2). The Lord answered by swearing to David that he would build David a house. God never leaves his people short, either in love or in promises.

The promise to David points, first, to a long line of kings from his family: “One of your own sons I will set on your throne.” This was fulfilled in Solomon, and David lived to see it with great joy (1 Kings 1:48). The crown was also promised to his descendants on a condition, if they kept God’s covenant and his testimony that God would teach them. God himself promised to teach them, and he did his part. They had Moses and the prophets, and God expected them to hold to what he taught and keep to it. If they had done that, their children would have sat on David’s throne forever. Kings stand before God on good behavior, and their rule lasts only while they serve him faithfully.

The result was that they did not keep God’s covenant, so the promise line was cut off in time, and Judah lost the scepter little by little. But the promise also pointed to one lasting King, one who would come from David’s family and whose rule and peace would never end. Peter applies this to Christ, and says David himself understood it that way (Acts 2:30). God had sworn to David that from his own body, in the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. In the fullness of time, God did this and gave him the throne of his father David (Luke 1:32).

Christ kept the condition of the promise. He kept God’s covenant and testimony, did his Father’s will, and pleased him in all things. Therefore the promise will stand firm for him and for his spiritual family, all believers. He and the children God has given him will sit on the throne forevermore (Revelation 3:21).

Second, God chose Zion hill for his holy hill and confirmed that choice by the delight he took in it (verses 13-14). He chose Mount Zion, which he loved (Psalm 78:68). He chose it for the place where his ark would stay, and said, “This is my resting place forever,” not just for a time like Shiloh. Zion was David’s city, so he chose it as the royal city because God had chosen it as the holy city.

God said, “Here I will dwell,” and David echoed that same thought, because he knew it is good to be near to God. Zion here points to the gospel church, which is called Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22). In that church, all that is said here about Zion finds its fullest meaning. Zion was later plowed like a field, but Christ’s church is the house of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15). It is his resting place forever, and his presence will remain with it to the end of the world. The fact that God delights in his church and stays with it is the comfort and joy of all its members.

Second, consider the blessings God has stored up for David’s house and Zion hill. Those whom God chooses, he also blesses. Having chosen Zion hill, God promises to bless it with the blessings of this life, because godliness has promise for the life that now is (verse 15). “I will bless her with abundant food,” is the thought. The land will give its increase. Where true worship is set up, there will be provision, and God will surely bless it (Psalm 67:6). Even a little provision, if God blesses it, is better and sweeter than much without his blessing.

God’s people have a special blessing on ordinary gifts, and that gives them a deeper sweetness. The promise goes further: “I will satisfy her poor with bread.” Zion has its own poor, and God promises to care even for them. By his providence, they will not lack what they need. When there is shortage, the poor feel it first, so if they have enough, it is a good sign of plenty.

Zion’s poor will not want, because God has required all the children of Zion to be generous to the poor according to their means, and the church must see that they are not neglected (Acts 6:1). By his grace, they will also be kept from complaining. Even if they have only plain bread, they will be satisfied. Zion’s poor have strong reason to be content with little in this world, because better things are prepared for them.

This can also be taken in a spiritual way. God provides for the soul through his word and ordinances. He will richly bless that food for the nourishment of the new life within us, and satisfy the poor in spirit with the bread of life. What God sets apart for our good, we can be satisfied with.

God also blesses Zion with the blessings of the life to come, the things that belong to godliness (verse 16), which answers the prayer in verse 9. It was asked that the priests might be clothed with righteousness. Here God promises to clothe them with salvation, meaning he will not only save them, but also make them and their ministry useful for the salvation of his people. They will save themselves and those who hear them, and they will help bring saved people into the church.

The lesson is plain, those whom God clothes with righteousness, he will also clothe with salvation. We should pray for righteousness, and with it God will give salvation. It was also asked that the saints might shout for joy. God promises that they will shout for joy indeed. He gives more than we ask, and when he gives salvation, he gives rich joy with it.

God also promises to bless David’s family with fitting blessings. “There I will make the horn of David sprout up” (verse 17). The royal dignity will keep growing, with fresh honor added to it. Christ is the horn of salvation, meaning a strong and abundant salvation, which God has raised up and caused to sprout in the house of his servant David.

David had promised to use his power for God’s glory, to bring down the strength of the wicked and lift up the strength of the righteous (Psalm 75:10). In return, God promises to make David’s power grow. When God gives people power and they use it well, he gives them more.

God also promises lasting honor: “I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.” “You light my lamp” (Psalm 18:28). The lamp that God appoints will burn steadily. A lamp can also mean a successor, because when one lamp is almost gone, another can be lit from it. In that way, David would not lack a man to stand before God. Christ is that lamp and the light of the world.

God also promises complete victory. David’s enemies had made plans against him, but God says he will cover them with shame when those plans fail. All enemies of good rulers should expect shame, and this is especially true of the enemies of the Lord Jesus and his rule. In the great day, they will rise to everlasting shame and contempt.

Finally, God promises lasting prosperity. “His crown will flourish” means that David’s rule will grow in honor. This promise reaches its fullest meaning in Jesus Christ, whose crown of honor and power will never fade, and whose blossoms will never wither. Earthly kings do not keep their crowns forever (Proverbs 27:24), but Christ’s crown lasts forever, and the crowns kept for his faithful people do not fade either.