Psalms 132

A Song of degrees.

The authorship of this psalm is not positively known. That it was written while the throne of David still remained, and before the ark was irrecoverably lost, Delitzsch has well supposed must be admitted. But who wrote it? Was it David, or Solomon, or some contemporary of his? That the substance of Psalms 132:8-10, are found in the prayer of 2 Chronicles 6:41-42, is no proof against its Davidic authorship, because it would be perfectly natural for Solomon to quote from his father’s writings, in a case so apropos. That David is everywhere spoken of in the third person is not decisive against his being the author, for such examples are not infrequent in poetry. More forcible is the objection of Psalms 132:10, where the “anointed” is undoubtedly the king himself, and the blessing on him is invoked for “David’s sake.” See the notes. But still more forcibly, on the other side, is Psalms 132:6 decisive against any other than David as author, where the great historic fact of the psalm is directly referred to the writer himself. See the note. Then consider that the great points of the psalm are but recited incidents of David’s experience facts belonging to his reign: as Psalms 132:1-5 of his earnest and painful care for the ark and worship of God: Psalms 132:6, the place where it was found and from whence taken; Psalms 132:7-9, a prayer that Jehovah may be pleased to take his abode between the cherubim as in ancient days, whither also the people would repair to worship; Psalms 132:10-12, the rehearsal of the promises made to David through Nathan the prophet, (2 Samuel 7:12-17;) Psalms 132:13-18, the confirmation of Zion as the abode of the ark and the political capital of the nation, which confirmation is certified in abundant spiritual and temporal blessings. Indeed, the freshness and earnestness of the psalm could proceed only from the standpoint of personal and recent experience. The composition and spirit are in the style of David. It is a prayer for the stability and perpetuity of his throne. Against the postexilic date given to it by some, it is enough to say that no such attempt to restore the throne of David was made by the new colony. Zerubbabel, though of David’s line, was not proposed as king. Solomon probably used the psalm at the dedication of the temple, and the exiles at the dedication of the second temple. Its place as שׁיו המעלות , a Song of Degrees, or, “Pilgrim Song,” is due undoubtedly to its highly national and Davidic type, its devout and cheerful strain, and its strong theocratic character. We must place it, therefore, in connexion with the second removal of the ark, namely, from the house of Obed-edom to Zion. 2 Samuel 6:12-19