Prayer for the House of God and the House of David
A song of degrees, showing that the mercies of God, so richly promised to David, 2 Sam. 7, 12-29, would find their real fulfilment in the Messiah, the blessings of the Gospel thereby being dispensed to all believers.
V. 1. Lord, remember David and all his afflictions, the troubles, anxieties, and vexations which attended his efforts for the welfare of the Church; v. 2. how he sware unto the Lord and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob, compare Gen. 49, 24: v. 3. Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house nor go up into my bed, himself enjoying good fortune and taking his ease; v. 4. I will not give sleep to mine eyes or slumber to mine eyelids, denying himself all rest, v. 5. until I find out a place for the Lord, a permanent sanctuary, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob, that is, a place where God might dwell in the midst of Israel.
The historical reference is the following: The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant, 1 Sam. 4, 17, but had been glad to get rid of it again. Since the time of Samuel it had been in the house of Abinadab at Kirjath-jearim, 1 Sam. 7, 1. During the time of Saul it had not been missed, but David felt differently about it. He wanted to provide a permanent resting-place for the ark, a sanctuary for all Israel. He erected a tabernacle on Mount Zion and brought the Ark of the Covenant to this tabernacle, 2 Sam. 6. But when he proposed to build a Temple to Yahweh he was told that this boon would not be granted him, but that his son would be given permission to erect the Temple.
The psalmist now continues in the name of the congregation: v. 6. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah, that is, at Bethlehem, where David had grown up; we found it in the fields of the wood, at Kirjath-jearim, for there the ark had been stored all these years, until David took it up to the capital.
V. 7. We will go into His tabernacles, to the Sanctuary, or Temple, now completed; we will worship at His footstool, that is, facing the place where the Ark of the Covenant was resting, since on its lid the Lord revealed Himself to His servants, Ex. 25, 22; Num. 7, 89.
Their summons to worship is now seconded by the cry of Moses, Num. 10, 35: v. 8. Arise, O Lord. into Thy rest, to occupy the finished Temple as His Sanctuary, Thou and the ark of Thy strength, as the central object of His worship.
V. 9. Let Thy priests, who were ordinarily clothed in white linen, to typify the purity which should characterize their office, be clothed with righteousness, that imputed to them by virtue of their faith in the Messiah; and let Thy saints shout for joy, singing hymns of praise to the Lord for the blessings of grace imparted to them through the work of the priests.