1 Lord, remember David

and all his self-denial.

2 He swore an oath to the Lord,

he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

3 “I will not enter my house

or go to my bed,

4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes

or slumber to my eyelids,

5 till I find a place for the Lord,

a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

6 We heard it in Ephrathah,

we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:

7 “Let us go to his dwelling place,

let us worship at his footstool, saying,

8 ‘Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place,

you and the ark of your might.

9 May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;

may your faithful people sing for joy.’”

10 For the sake of your servant David,

do not reject your anointed one.

11 The Lord swore an oath to David,

a sure oath he will not revoke:

“One of your own descendants

I will place on your throne.

12 If your sons keep my covenant

and the statutes I teach them,

then their sons will sit

on your throne for ever and ever.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,

he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,

14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;

here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.

15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;

her poor I will satisfy with food.

16 I will clothe her priests with salvation,

and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.

17 “Here I will make a horn grow for David

and set up a lamp for my anointed one.

18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,

but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”

This is a psalm for David that longs for the dwelling place and the presence of God. Verses 1-5 explain the promise of David that he would build a place of dwelling for God. We can read the earnest desire that David had that the Lord would dwell in a majestic and in a permanent place of God’s holy presence in 2 Samuel 7. It is David’s desire that he had for the Lord, and it is easy to understand why he is called as a man after God’s own heart. David cares for the things of God and he’s concerned about God’s dwelling place. 

The presence of God is significant. And it makes the blessings even more evident for the lives of his people. The priests are clothed with righteousness. God’s people are singing for joy. Jesus would be the ultimate fulfillment of God’s presence in the lives of his people. We being the priesthood of God are clothed with the righteousness of God and according to Revelation we will sing aloud to the Lord in worship. 

And based on the loyalty and earnest desire that David has for the Lord, God makes a long-lasting covenant with David and his people that David’s kingdom would be established. One of David’s son would be on the throne and would rule forever. David’s faithfulness and loyalty to God is incredible, but it’s interesting that most of David’s sons and his descendants would remain disobedient and disloyal to God. But Jesus does fulfill the covenant obligations, and so God does indeed establish the kingdom of Jesus who is called the son of David. 

This is a psalm that foreshadows Jesus Christ and his eternal reign!