1.
LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:
1-5. This vow is not elsewhere
recorded. It expresses, in strong language, David's intense desire to
see the establishment of God's worship as well as of His kingdom.
remember David—literally,
"remember for David," that is, all his troubles and
anxieties on the matter.
2.
How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
3.
Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;
4.
I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,
5.
Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
5. habitation—literally,
"dwellings," generally used to denote the sanctuary.
6.
Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.
6. These may be the "words
of David" and his pious friends, who,
at Ephratah—or
Beth-lehem (Genesis 48:7), where he
once lived, may have heard of the ark, which he found for the first
time
in the fields of the wood—or,
Jair, or Kirjath-jearim ("City of woods")
(1 Samuel 7:1; 2 Samuel 6:3;
2 Samuel 6:4), whence it was brought
to Zion.
7.
We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
7. The purpose of engaging in
God's worship is avowed.
8.
Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
8, 9. The solemn entry of the
ark, symbolical of God's presence and power, with the attending
priests, into the sanctuary, is proclaimed in the words used by
Solomon (2 Chronicles 6:41).
9.
Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
10.
For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.
10-12. For thy servant David's
sake—that is, On account of the promise made to him.
turn . . . anointed—Repulse
not him who, as David's descendant, pleads the promise to perpetuate
his royal line. After reciting the promise, substantially from (compare Acts 2:30,
&c.), an additional plea,
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.
12.
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.
13.
For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
13. is made on the ground of
God's choice of Zion (here used for Jerusalem) as His dwelling,
inasmuch as the prosperity of the kingdom was connected with that of
the Church (Psalms 122:8; Psalms 122:9).
14.
This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
14-18. That choice is expressed
in God's words, "I will sit" or "dwell," or sit
enthroned. The joy of the people springs from the blessings of His
grace, conferred through the medium of the priesthood.
15.
I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16.
I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17.
There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
17. make the horn . . . to
bud—enlarge his power.
a lamp—the figure of
prosperity (Psalms 18:10; Psalms 18:28;
Psalms 89:17). With the confounding
of his enemies is united his prosperity and the unceasing splendor of
his crown.
18.
His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
14-18. That choice is expressed
in God's words, "I will sit" or "dwell," or sit
enthroned. The joy of the people springs from the blessings of His
grace, conferred through the medium of the priesthood.