Symmetry in the Psalms

I was reading last night in the Psalms and came across an absolute delight of literary construction. The Psalms are special that way - they are a unique collection of what might be called journal entries - songs and snippets, with some "diary days" thrown in where the psalmist simply opens his heart and spills it all out. But there are a special few that are a delight because the very purposeful structure adds additional layers to the message. Psalm 132 is one of these "purposeful poems".

Psalm 132

A song of ascents.

O LORD, remember David
and all the hardships he endured.

He swore an oath to the LORD
and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
"I will not enter my house or go to my bed-
I will allow no sleep to my eyes,
no slumber to my eyelids,
till I find a place for the LORD,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."

We heard it in Ephrathah,
we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:
"Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool-
arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
May your priests be clothed with righteousness;
may your saints sing for joy."
For the sake of David your servant,
do not reject your anointed one.

The LORD swore an oath to David,
a sure oath that he will not revoke:
"One of your own descendants
I will place on your throne-

if your sons keep my covenant
and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
on your throne for ever and ever."

For the LORD has chosen Zion,
he has desired it for his dwelling

"This is my resting place for ever and ever;
here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it-

I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor will I satisfy with food.

I will clothe her priests with salvation,
and her saints will ever sing for joy.

"Here I will make a horn grow for David
and set up a lamp for my anointed one.

I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but the crown on his head will be resplendent."

Watch what happens when you divide this poem and sit the first and second half side by side.

This psalm becomes a conversation between David and God. In verse 2, it says "He [David] swore an oath to the Lord..." and verse 11 responds, "The Lord swore an oath to David..."

Verse 5 speaks of David's search for "a place for the Lord" and verse 13 assures him "the LORD has chosen Zion ..."

Verse 8 invites God to come to his resting place and verse 14 answers "This is my resting place for ever and ever..."

Verse 9 expresses David's hope for God's home "May your priests be clothed with righteousness, may your saints sing for joy" and God answers "I will clothe her priests with salvation and her saints will ever sing for joy."

Verse 10 asks for God to remember David; Verse 17 assures him the promises God made to him will be filled.


What does this psalm demonstrate to us? Through its form and through its theme, it is a reminder to us that will we are asking, hoping and praying for God's will in our lives, He is also at work to fill the many promises he has made us.

Psalm 132 is undeniably a thing of beauty.

A thought for the day(s)

Saw this in a friend's tag line and loved it:

Love Generously,
Care Deeply,
Speak Kindly

& Leave the Rest to God

In a nutshell

Sometimes we make faith complicated. But there are two simple principles that can govern every action, every thought, every motive of our every day lives. It's this:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. One these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37

That's it. Easy to do? No. Not if I hold every thought, every action, every motive up to this standard. But it's hard to say I don't understand when it's been made this simple, isn't it?