“His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself His crown shall flourish” (Ps 132:18).
We’ve noticed that Psalm 132 is in two parts. The first part (vv 1-10) is a Request; the second part (vv 11-18) is the Reply. We see the covenant with David has two aspects— some of it was conditional, some unconditional. “The Lord has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: ‘I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body’” (v 11). That section is clearly unconditional. We know it will be ultimately fulfilled when the Great Son of David takes the throne in Jerusalem at the beginning of His thousand-year reign. But listen to this: “If your sons will keep My covenant and My testimony which I shall teach them, their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore” (v 12). That “If” makes it conditional. God’s purpose for establishing an eternal kingdom will be realized in spite of the failures of men. But the ones in David’s lineage could disqualify themselves from reigning for God through ignoring or rejecting His “covenant and…testimony.” Nonetheless, little Jerusalem has been given the highest honors. “For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: ‘This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it’” (vv 13-14). This is a hint of what is to come. In the light of the failures of Israel’s rulers, how is it possible that He can say the following? “I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy” (vv 15-16). Doesn’t that sound like the ministry of the One who was mocked as a king and executed as a priestly sacrifice in that very city? Yes! So He continues, “I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed (Messiah)” (v 17). When the Lord Jesus appeared, the light of truth shone on us all (Mt 4:16)!