Psalm 132 1

Psalm 132:1 kjv

Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions:

Psalm 132:1 nkjv

A Song of Ascents. LORD, remember David And all his afflictions;

Psalm 132:1 niv

A song of ascents. LORD, remember David and all his self-denial.

Psalm 132:1 esv

Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured,

Psalm 132:1 nlt

LORD, remember David
and all that he suffered.

Psalm 132 verses

Psalm 132 1 Meaning

Psalm 132:1 is an earnest prayer, likely offered by a king or priest, entreating the Lord to recall and respond to the dedicated efforts and profound sufferings of King David. It calls upon God to remember not only David’s person but specifically the intensity of his self-imposed toil and humility, often manifested as affliction, in his fervent pursuit to establish a permanent dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant, and thus for the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem. This remembrance implores God to uphold His covenant promises concerning David and his lineage.

Psalm 132 1 Context

Psalm 132 is a "Song of Ascents" (Pss 120-134), sung by pilgrims on their way up to Jerusalem, possibly during the great festivals. This specific psalm is a prayer for God's blessings upon His chosen King and His dwelling place. Verse 1 initiates this prayer by drawing the worshiper's mind back to David’s deep commitment and arduous labor concerning the establishment of a sacred space for the Lord in Jerusalem.

Historically, this psalm refers to the time when King David expressed his earnest desire and took steps to bring the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's presence, to Jerusalem. David initially housed the Ark in a tent, then later dedicated himself to the planning and gathering of materials for a permanent temple, a task eventually completed by his son, Solomon. This context highlights David’s personal struggle with the incongruity of his dwelling in a grand palace while the Ark resided in a mere tent (2 Sam 7:1-3). The "afflictions" or "troubles" here likely encompass the various personal trials, zealous efforts, and self-sacrificing labors David undertook for God’s honor, culminating in the establishment of God’s dwelling in Zion and securing God’s covenant promises for his dynasty.

Psalm 132 1 Word analysis

• Lord (Hebrew: יְהוָה, YHVH, the Tetragrammaton): This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with His people and His faithfulness to His promises. The address is to the sovereign, ever-existing God, who acts on behalf of those in covenant with Him.

• remember (Hebrew: זְכוֹר, zə·ḵōwr, imperative verb from zakhar): More than just intellectual recollection, in biblical Hebrew, zakhar signifies an active, covenantal remembrance by God, implying bringing to mind with the intent to act, deliver, fulfill, or preserve. It's an appeal for God to recall David's devotion and, in response, to demonstrate His faithfulness to the Davidic covenant.

• David (Hebrew: לְדָוִד, lə·ḏā·wiḏ): The name of Israel’s great king, the focus of God’s eternal covenant. The prayer invokes God’s remembrance of His relationship with David, highlighting the enduring nature of that bond, not merely a past historical figure.

• and all his afflictions (Hebrew: וְכָל־ עֻנּוֹתוֹ, wə·ḵōl ‘un·nō·w·ṯōw): This phrase is pivotal.

  • וְכָל־ (wə·ḵōl): "and all," signifying the totality and breadth of David’s struggles or zealous efforts.
  • עֻנּוֹתוֹ (‘un·nō·w·ṯōw): Derived from the root עָנָה (anah), meaning "to humble," "to afflict," "to be poor," or "to labor." It captures the spectrum of David's experiences. While KJV translates as "afflictions," suggesting passive suffering, many scholars interpret this word in this context as "humility," "zealous toil," "striving," or "devoted exertions" in service of the Lord's cause. It reflects the pains, discomfort, and persistent effort David underwent in his fervent quest to honor God by providing a permanent dwelling place for the Ark. This active sense is preferred by many as it fits the narrative of David's energetic and often costly pursuit of bringing God's presence central to Israel's life (e.g., dancing before the Ark to his own potential dishonor).

• Words-group analysis:

  • Lord, remember David: This forms a direct plea to God, not just for passive recollection but for active intervention and demonstration of His covenant loyalty, initiated by recalling David's status as His chosen servant and covenant partner.
  • and all his afflictions/zealous toil: This part of the verse specifies what about David God should remember. It's not just David's person, but the depth of his devotion expressed through his arduous efforts and trials. It reminds God of the sacrifice and dedication David exhibited, particularly concerning the Ark and the Temple, creating a basis for divine favor and continued blessings upon David’s line.

Psalm 132 1 Bonus section

The active meaning of עֻנּוֹתוֹ as "zealous toil" or "humble striving" offers a profound theological insight: divine remembrance is often connected to human effort, particularly effort directed at God's honor and kingdom. This challenges any notion of passive faith or unearned favor divorced from obedient exertion. David’s willingness to humble himself and labor for God, even after becoming king, sets him apart. This also implicitly acts as a subtle polemic against the idea that royal grandeur alone warranted divine favor; rather, it was the king's humble and zealous service to God that was pivotal. The prayer, then, isn't just about preserving a dynasty for David's sake, but for God's sake—to uphold His own word and secure His presence among His people through the lineage He promised.

Psalm 132 1 Commentary

Psalm 132:1 serves as the opening plea of a powerful royal psalm, foundational to understanding the deep intertwining of the Davidic covenant with God's presence in Jerusalem. It's not simply a lament about suffering but an invocation of God's covenantal memory, spurred by David's immense personal sacrifices and tireless endeavors (his "afflictions" or "zealous toil") to ensure God had a fitting dwelling place. This speaks volumes about David's fervent piety and profound reverence for the Lord. He counted the costs and endured hardships, including personal indignities (as with Michal's disdain in 2 Sam 6), all for the sake of honoring God. This verse calls upon God to remember these specific acts of devoted service and suffering for God's glory and in turn, to fulfill the grand promises made to David about his everlasting dynasty and a descendant who would build God’s house (2 Sam 7). It grounds the expectation of future blessings and the enduring reign of the Davidic line, culminating in the Messiah, in the costly obedience and humble dedication of King David. Practically, this verse illustrates that genuine devotion and sacrificial service do not go unnoticed by God; they are etched in His eternal memory and form a basis for His responsive grace and fulfillment of His promises. It also teaches us the principle that significant divine blessings are often connected to human toil and persistent, humble service towards God's kingdom.