A Song of degrees.

Whether this psalm was penned by David when he brought up the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim, 2Sam. 6, or for Solomon’s dedication of the temple, 1Kings 8, is uncertain. It contains, (1.) A representation of David’s pious and earnest care to provide a proper lodging for God’s ark, ver. 1-7. (2.) Earnest prayers for God’s presence and blessing to attend his ark, ver. 8-10. (3.) David’s care to provide an habitation for God; and God’s promises to David relating to the prosperity and establishment of his family, especially in the Messiah, are pleaded as arguments to enforce these requests, ver. 1-5, 10-18.

While I sing, let my soul, with ardour, go out after God, the living God. Let nothing less than his presence in his ordinances satisfy my desires. Let the welfare of his ministers and people be matter of my deep concern. Let me admire the kindness of God, that I have so many exceeding great and precious promises to plead upon. While I sing them, let me grasp, let me believe them, with my whole heart.

1 David, and his afflictions all,
Lord, do thou think upon;
2 How unto God he sware, and vowed
to Jacob’s mighty One.

3 I will not come within my house,
nor rest in bed at all;
4 Nor shall mine eyes take any sleep,
nor eyelids slumber shall;

5 Till for the Lord a place I find,
where he may make abode;
A place of habitation
for Jacob’s mighty God.

6 Lo, at the place of Ephratah
of it we understood;
And we did find it in the fields,
and city of the wood.

7 We’ll go into his tabernacles,
and at his footstool bow.
8 Arise, O Lord, into thy rest,
th’ ark of thy strength, and thou.

9 O let thy priests be clothed, Lord,
with truth and righteousness;
And let all those that are thy saints
shout loud for joyfulness.

10 For thine own servant David’s sake,
do not deny thy grace;
Nor of thine own anointed one
turn thou away the face.

11 The Lord in truth to David sware,
he will not turn from it,
I of thy body’s fruit will make
upon thy throne to sit.

12 My cov’nant if thy sons will keep,
and laws to them made known,
Their children then shall also sit
for ever on thy throne.

13 For God of Zion hath made choice;
there he desires to dwell.
14 This is my rest, here still I’ll stay;
for I do like it well.

15 Her food I’ll greatly bless; her poor
with bread will satisfy.
16 Her priests I’ll clothe with health; her saints
shall shout forth joyfully.

17 And there will I make David’s horn
to bud forth pleasantly:
For him that mine anointed is
a lamp ordained have I.

18 As with a garment I will clothe
with shame his en’mies all:
But yet the crown that he doth wear
upon him flourish shall.