Brian Maloy

Psalm 132 had me excited for this week. Admittedly, I did not have as much time to prep and stew on it as I love — I returned from Colorado feeling unusually sick—tired, weak, migraine-ridden, and worn down, with a shorter time chunk on Saturday afternoon. Nevertheless, I was excited for Psalm 132 for the very fact that it was NOT a Psalm I knew in my heart and mind. Thus far, I have had deep love already for the Psalms we’ve covered in Sunday School (Psalm 1 & 119), Psalm 132 offered a fresh look at a less familiar passage. Unsurprisingly, it’s a treat in many ways!

I will copy & paste the text at the BOTTOM of this post, since it’s long — but be sure to give it a read before reading the notes and reflection below.

In looking at this Psalm, I was struck with the themes of Covenant, Kingship, and Worship — unavoidably woven through it all. But as I reminded my class this morning, when studying God’s Word, we must always remember to consider what we learn of God’s Character, how He is revealing Himself in this place, and then how does that call us to worship? That said, we see God’s commitment to the Covenant set forth with David, not just for physical means, but for the eventual spiritual Kingdom of Jesus. We see David’s deep desire to bring the Lord (Ark of the Covenant) into the presence of God’s people, to dwell among them in Jerusalem. We see a King who deeply longs to be among His people, He desires and has chosen to dwell in Zion among His people. And in the end of this Psalm, we get a glimpse of the beautiful restoration to come when all is made right. Truly, a blessing to study this Psalm this morning in class. Praise be the Lord.

In one of my Study Bibles, this breakdown of the Psalm was included, I thought it framed it really well:
I. Israel’s First Prayer (132:1)
II. David’s Vow to God (132:2-9)
III. Israel’s Second Prayer (132:10)
IV. God’s Vow to David (132:11-18)
I love the lens of seeing this in light of David’s Vow to God, then God’s to David. It’s a beautiful call and answer.

God’s Character in Psalm 132

Below is a list of the attributes of God’s Character I noticed in studying Psalm 132, I am always curious if you notice more — please share!

1. Faithful to His Promises  “The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which He will not turn back…” (v.11)
   • Yahweh is a covenant-keeping God. His promises are not fragile—they are rooted in His unchanging nature.
2. Desires to Dwell with His People  “For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place.” (v.13)
   • God is not distant. He delights to be near His people, to make His presence known among them.
3. Generous and Abundant in Provision  “I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.”(v.15)
   • He is not stingy, nor JUST meeting needs —He provides richly, abundantly, especially for the vulnerable.
4. Righteous and Just  “Her priests I will clothe with salvation…” (v.16)
   • God’s presence brings not just righteousness but salvation. He upholds justice and holiness.
5. Sovereign and Victorious  “I will make a horn to sprout for David… His enemies I will clothe with shame.”(vv.17–18)
   • Yahweh raises up leaders and defeats enemies. His purposes cannot be thwarted.

Verse 7 Note

I just read this week in Chronicles where David told Nathan the Prophet of his desire to build a temple, and his heart behind it all — which is fun, because this connects beautifully into that storyline. 

That moment is found in 1 Chronicles 17:2, where Nathan initially tells David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” David had just expressed his desire to build a house for the ark of the covenant, feeling it wasn’t right for him to live in a house of cedar while the ark remained in a tent.

But then—almost like a narrative twist—God speaks to Nathan that very night, redirecting the plan. God tells Nathan to inform David that he is not the one to build the temple; instead, God promises to build David’s house—a covenantal promise pointing to a lasting dynasty and, ultimately, the Messiah.

It’s a surprising example of how even well-intentioned plans can be redirected by divine wisdom. Fun segue in our little reflection on Psalm 132 today. Even if those little tidbits are necessarily big topics, I like making the little connections through the whole of scripture.

A Life of Worship “Let Us Worship at the Footstool”

In verse seven, we see that phrase, “Let us worship at the footstool of His feet”. It is coming off the recollection of David’s deep desire to build a temple for God’s Dwelling among His people. Psalm 132 is a beautiful picture of the divine mystery we find in the physical things reflecting the spiritual realities. We know we worship in Spirit and Truth, through the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to worship only at the Temple in Jerusalem, closest to the place of physical representation. Jesus taught the Samaritan woman this at Jacob’s well in Sebastia (John 4). But that is not the point we’re digging into here. What we would be wise to consider in Psalm 132 of course would be our own heart regarding our worship of the Lord. We see the heart of David, the sincerity, and the devotion to ensuring God is rightly worshiped. How ought we worship Yahweh?

Romans 12 has long shaped my view of worship and the idea of our lives as a Living Sacrifice, Living Worship, has always struck me. It is good to sing songs of praise in corporate church settings, but what else? Well I am glad you asked! I compiled some thoughts… (all verses NASB95). No doubt, many of these are ones that would come to your mind too — but I never think having a nice list is a bad thing to help jog our remembrance.

• Worship in Spirit and Truth 
  • John 4:23–24 – “But a time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
  • Jesus redefines worship as not bound to a location but rooted in sincerity and the Spirit.
• Worship Through Daily Living and Sacrifice 
  • Romans 12:1 – “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
  • Every act of obedience, service, or self-denial can be worship when done unto the Lord.
• Worship in Nature and Creation 
  • Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens tell of the glory of God; and their expanse declares the work of His hands.”
  • Creation itself worships, and we join in when we marvel, give thanks, and glorify the Creator outdoors.
• Worship Through Song and Music (Even Alone) 
  • Psalm 100:2 – “Serve the Lord with jubilation; come before Him with rejoicing.”
  • Whether in the car, on a walk, or in your kitchen—singing is a powerful form of worship.
• Worship in Acts of Service and Love 
  • Hebrews 13:16 – “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
  • Serving others becomes an offering of worship when done in Christ’s name.
• Worship in Suffering and Surrender 
  • Job 1:20–21 – “Then Job got up, tore his robe, and shaved his head; then he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’”
  • Worship in pain is one of the most profound declarations of trust and reverence.
• Worship in Prayer and Thanksgiving 
  • Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
  • Gratitude and dependence expressed in prayer are acts of worship.
• Worship in Silence and Awe  (This has quietly become one of my favorite forms of worship)
  • Habakkuk 2:20 – “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.”
  • Stillness before God—especially in a noisy world—is a sacred form of reverence.
• Worship in Community and Fellowship 
  • Acts 2:46–47 – “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.”
  • Worship happens around dinner tables, in shared stories, and mutual encouragement.
• Worship in Confession and Repentance 
  • Psalm 51:17 – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.”
  • Worship happens around dinner tables, in shared stories, in honest confession, and mutual encouragement.

Verse 13-16 –> Yahweh has chosen Zion

These verses really got me. I don’t have as many notes written down to share, like I said, less prep time than normal being unexpectedly under the weather this week. But I could have happily spent the whole lesson right here, it’s just so exciting and encouraging.

Yahweh has chosen Zion, Psalm 132:13–14 is breathtaking in its love:

> “For the Lord has chosen Zion; > He has desired it as His dwelling place. > ‘This is My resting place forever; > Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.’” (NASB)

These verses reveal something astonishing: Yahweh doesn’t just tolerate being near His people—He desires it. He chooses Zion not out of obligation, but out of delight. This isn’t a temporary visit; it’s a declaration of permanent presence. “This is My resting place forever.” It’s so unfathomable, so unlike us and the way we tend to treat the world. I often settle for tolerating things, rather than truly desiring them. What a heart of God it reveals.

So consider two things here — what does this reveal about God’s Character, and how does/should it shape our response?

What This Reveals About God’s Character:

1. He is Near and Personal God desires to dwell with His people—not out of duty, but delight. → Exodus 25:8 – “Have them construct a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.” → John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us…”
2. He is Faithful and Unchanging His choice of Zion is not temporary. “Forever” speaks to His covenantal constancy. → Psalm 89:34 – “I will not violate My covenant, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.” → Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.”
3. He is Holy Yet Welcoming Though He is the Holy One, He chooses to rest among His people. → Isaiah 57:15 – “I dwell in a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit…”
4. He is the Initiator of Relationship God’s desire to dwell is not a response to human effort—it originates in His own heart. → Deuteronomy 7:7–8 – “The Lord did not set His affection on you… because you were numerous… but because the Lord loved you…”

How This Shapes Our Response:

1. Awe and Reverence If the Creator of the universe says, “This is My resting place,” we respond with holy fear. → Hebrews 12:28 – “Let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.”
2. Confidence and Rest We don’t strive to earn His nearness—we live from it. → Zephaniah 3:17 – “The Lord your God is in your midst… He will rejoice over you with joy…”
3. Holiness and Preparation If we are now His temple (1 Cor. 3:16), we prepare our lives like a sanctuary. → 2 Corinthians 7:1 – “Let us cleanse ourselves… perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
4. Joyful Worship Worship becomes a response to His presence, not a means to summon it. → Psalm 16:11 – “In Your presence is fullness of joy…”
5. Mission and Witness We carry His presence into the world, embodying His desire to dwell among all peoples. → Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Wrap Up Thoughts from Class

Psalm 132 pulses with the reality of a God who chooses to dwell, and a people invited to respond in reverence and trust. Inviting us to recognize that the God who once filled the tabernacle with glory now fills you with His Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). That demands more than weekly ritual—it calls for daily habitation. Even just to identify one way you could respond differently this week—whether it’s silent worship during their commute, or trusting God with something unresolved—can transform abstract theology into embodied faith.

Remember, Psalm 132 reveals a God who desires to dwell—not just in the past, in Zion, but even now among His people through Christ (John 14:23; 2 Cor. 6:16). His promises are not abstractions—they’re invitations.

> “This is My resting place forever…” (Ps. 132:14) > Are we creating space for Him to rest in us?

Reflection Thoughts to Ponder

• 1. What promise of God are you being called to rest in today?
  • → Is it His faithfulness, His presence, His provision? (see Heb. 10:23; Matt. 28:20)
• 2. How would your daily rhythms change if you lived from the reality that God dwells with you?
  • → Think about your morning routines, your inner dialogue, your attention during stress or joy, time spent in the Word (Psalm 119:105).
• 3. In what small way can you offer worship this week beyond Sunday?
  • → Through song, silence, service, gratitude, confession? (Consider Rom. 12:1; 1 Thess. 5:18)
• 4. What does it mean for you to become a “dwelling place” for God in your school, your home, your community?
  • → Reflect on holiness, hospitality, humility.

PSALM 132 (LSB):
Yahweh Has Chosen Zion
A Song of Ascents.

1 Remember, O Yahweh, on David’s behalf,
All his affliction;
2 How he swore to Yahweh
And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
3 “Surely I will not come into my house,
Nor lie in the comfort of my bed;
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes
Or slumber to my eyelids,
5 Until I find a place for Yahweh,
A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah,
We found it in the fields of Jaar.
7 Let us come into His dwelling place;
Let us worship at the footstool of His feet.
8 Arise, O Yahweh, to Your resting place,
You and the ark of Your strength.
9 Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
And let Your holy ones sing for joy.
10 For the sake of David Your servant,
Do not turn away the face of Your anointed.
11 Yahweh has sworn to David
A truth from which He will not turn back:
“Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne.
12 If your sons keep My covenant
And My testimony which I will teach them,
Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forever.”
13 For Yahweh has chosen Zion;
He has desired it for His habitation.
14 “This is My resting place forever;
Here I will inhabit, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provision;
I will satisfy her needy with bread.
16 Her priests also I will clothe with salvation,
And her holy ones will sing loudly for joy.
17 There I will cause the horn of David to spring up;
I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame,
But upon him, his crown shall blossom.”