Psalms 132:1-18.-David's zeal for building Yahweh's house is the plea that Yahweh should remember him and his race now in affliction (Psalms 132:1-5); his zeal appeared in his bringing the ark of God's strength from the fields of the wood (the forest town, Kirjath-jearim) to Zion. At its dedication he prayed that Yahweh might make Zion His rest, and that His priests might be clothed with righteousness, and His saints have cause for joy (Psalms 132:6-9); Yahweh, in answer to Israel's prayer in affliction, promises for David's sake to quicken David's royal line to life again (Psalms 132:10-12); because He hath chosen Zion, and, echoing David's prayer, will make it His rest forever, and clothe her priests with salvation, and make her saints shout for joy, and make David's crown to flourish, while his foes shall be clothed with shame (Psalms 132:13-18). Like the other anonymous pilgrim-songs, it belongs to the period of the return from Babylon, when David's kingdom and race were depressed, (cf. Psalms 89:1-52.)
Lord, remember David, (and) all his afflictions - from the prayer of Solomon at the consecration of the temple, 2 Chronicles 6:42, "O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed (cf. Psalms 132:10 here); remember the mercies (Hebrew, the pious deed; as in 2 Chronicles 35:26, margin) of David thy servant." David's affliction at the time was concerning the sacred tabernacle which was without the ark of the covenant, a body without a soul. The ark, the symbol of the Lord Himself, was in Kirjath-jearim almost forgotten, and without any order of worship (Psalms 78:60-61; 1 Chronicles 13:3). Compare 1 Chronicles 22:14. He earnestly desired to have the ark of God in his capital, yet feared lest God's wrath against Israel might not yet have passed away; especially so when the Lord 'made a breach upon Uzzah' for his presumption (2 Samuel 6:7; 2 Samuel 6:9). At last his eager wish prevailed over fear. He brought up the ark to Zion. Then a new desire took possession of him, to raise a temple of stone for the ark. Though God denied his wish until Solomon's reign, He was so pleased with David's zeal for the house of God, that He gave him a promise of perpetuity to his own house and kingdom. Now the people and the posterity of David plead this premise at a time when God seemed to forget it and the pious earnestness of David. As primarily it was the plea of the depressed Jews after the return from Babylon, so ultimately it shall be the plea of the Jews after their long-continued dispersion, when the Lord shall by His spirit turn them to Himself.