Psalm 132:13 Study Bible: For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling.

◄ Psalm 132:13 ►

For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home:

For the LORD
The phrase begins with a direct reference to "the LORD," which in Hebrew is "Yahweh." This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises. In the context of Psalm 132, it underscores the divine authority and intentionality behind the actions described. Yahweh is not a distant deity but one who is actively involved in the affairs of His people, Israel.

has chosen
The Hebrew word for "chosen" is "bachar," which implies a deliberate and purposeful selection. This choice is not arbitrary but is based on God's sovereign will and purpose. In the biblical narrative, God's choosing often involves a covenant relationship, as seen with Abraham, Israel, and David. This choice reflects God's grace and His desire to establish a people for Himself.

Zion
Zion is a term that originally referred to a specific hill in Jerusalem but came to represent the entire city and, symbolically, the people of God. It is a place of divine dwelling and worship, central to Israel's identity and faith. Zion is often associated with God's presence, protection, and blessing. Historically, it is the site of the Davidic kingdom and the temple, making it a focal point of Jewish worship and expectation of the Messiah.

He has desired
The word "desired" in Hebrew is "avah," which conveys a deep longing or delight. This is not a mere preference but a profound affection and commitment. God's desire for Zion reflects His love and intention to dwell among His people. It highlights the relational aspect of God's covenant, where He seeks to be with His people and for them to be with Him.

for His dwelling
The term "dwelling" is translated from the Hebrew "mishkan," which means a habitation or tabernacle. This word evokes the imagery of the tabernacle in the wilderness, where God's presence was manifest among the Israelites. It signifies a place where God resides, indicating His nearness and accessibility to His people. In the broader biblical context, it points to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who "tabernacled" among us (John 1:14) and the future hope of God's eternal dwelling with humanity in the new creation.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is sovereign and chooses according to His divine will.

2. Zion
A term often used to refer to Jerusalem, the city of David, and the spiritual center of Israel. It symbolizes God's chosen dwelling place among His people.

3. Davidic Covenant
The promise God made to David, ensuring that his lineage would continue and that his throne would be established forever, which is a backdrop to this Psalm.

Teaching Points

God's Sovereign Choice
God chooses Zion as His dwelling place, demonstrating His sovereign will and purpose. Believers can trust in God's choices and plans for their lives, knowing He desires to dwell with His people.

The Significance of Zion
Zion represents God's presence and His covenant faithfulness. Christians are called to be spiritual "Zion," where God dwells through the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of living as a holy and dedicated people.

Desiring God's Presence
Just as God desired Zion for His home, believers should cultivate a desire for God's presence in their lives. This involves regular prayer, worship, and obedience to His Word.

Covenant Faithfulness
The choice of Zion is a reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises. Christians are encouraged to remain faithful to God, trusting in His promises and His eternal plan.

Eternal Perspective
The earthly Zion points to the heavenly reality. Believers should live with an eternal perspective, focusing on the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in the New Jerusalem.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding God's choice of Zion enhance your view of His sovereignty and purpose in your life?

2. In what ways can you make your life a "spiritual Zion" where God is pleased to dwell?

3. How does the Davidic Covenant and its fulfillment in Christ impact your understanding of God's faithfulness?

4. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a deeper desire for God's presence in your daily life?

5. How does the concept of Zion as both a physical and spiritual reality influence your perspective on eternity and your current walk with God?

Connections to Other Scriptures

2 Samuel 7
This chapter details the Davidic Covenant, where God promises David that his house and kingdom will endure forever. This covenant is foundational to understanding why Zion is significant.

1 Kings 8
Solomon's dedication of the temple in Jerusalem, which highlights Zion as the chosen place for God's dwelling.

Isaiah 2
This passage speaks of the future glory of Zion, where all nations will come to learn God's ways, emphasizing its role as a spiritual center.

Revelation 21
The New Jerusalem is described, connecting the earthly Zion to the heavenly reality, where God will dwell with His people eternally.

Sermons

A Prayer for the House of David	T. W. Chambers, D. D.	Psalm 132:1-18
Spiritual Worship	C. Short	Psalm 132:1-18
The House of God	J. Stalker, D. D.	Psalm 132:1-18
The Song of the Builders	A. Maclaren, D. D.	Psalm 132:1-18
Zion of the Lord Beloved	S. Conway	Psalm 132:13-15
God's Choice of Zion	D. Dickson.	Psalm 132:13-16
Zion and Her Provision	C. Parvey.	Psalm 132:13-16

People

David, Ephratah, Ephrath, Jacob, Psalmist

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Chosen, Desired, Desiring, Dwelling, Fixed, Habitation, Heart, Lord's, Resting-place, Seat, Zion

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Psalm 132:13

5832 desire
6640 election, privileges

Psalm 132:13-16

7271 Zion, as symbol

Psalm 132:13-18

7470 temple, significance

Library

An Examination of Post-Millennialism.
Post-millennialists teach that the only Kingdom over which Christ will ever reign is a spiritual and celestial one. They say that those Jews who expected their Messiah to set up a visible and material Kingdom on the earth were mistaken, that they erred in the interpretation of their prophetic Scriptures and cherished a carnal and unworthy hope. Let us examine this assertion in the light of God's Word. In Psalm 132:11 we read "The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it: Of the …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

Vive Jesus. Preface.
THE Holy Ghost teaches that the lips of the heavenly Spouse, that is The Church, resemble scarlet and the dropping honeycomb, [15] to let every one know that all the doctrine which she announces consists in sacred love; of a more resplendent red than scarlet on account of the blood of the spouse whose love inflames her, sweeter than honey on account of the sweetness of the beloved who crowns her with delights. So this heavenly spouse when he thought good to begin the promulgation of his law, cast …
St. Francis de Sales—Treatise on the Love of God

Promises and Threatenings
'And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do. 2. That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared unto him at Gibeon. 3. And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before Me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put My name there for ever; and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of Its Author
In Isaiah 41:21-23 we have what is probably the most remarkable challenge to be found in the Bible. "Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen; let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods." This Scripture has both a negative …
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

Emmaus. Kiriath-Jearim.
"From Beth-horon to Emmaus it was hilly."--It was sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem.--"To eight hundred only, dismissed the army, (Vespasian) gave a place, called Ammaus, for them to inhabit: it is sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem." I inquire, whether this word hath the same etymology with Emmaus near Tiberias, which, from the 'warm baths,' was called Chammath. The Jews certainly do write this otherwise... "The family (say they) of Beth-Pegarim, and Beth Zipperia was out of Emmaus."--The …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Manner of Covenanting.
Previous to an examination of the manner of engaging in the exercise of Covenanting, the consideration of God's procedure towards his people while performing the service seems to claim regard. Of the manner in which the great Supreme as God acts, as well as of Himself, our knowledge is limited. Yet though even of the effects on creatures of His doings we know little, we have reason to rejoice that, in His word He has informed us, and in His providence illustrated by that word, he has given us to …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Promise in 2 Samuel, Chap. vii.
The Messianic prophecy, as we have seen, began at a time long anterior to that of David. Even in Genesis, we perceived [Pg 131] it, increasing more and more in distinctness. There is at first only the general promise that the seed of the woman should obtain the victory over the kingdom of the evil one;--then, that the salvation should come through the descendants of Shem;--then, from among them Abraham is marked out,--of his sons, Isaac,--from among his sons, Jacob,--and from among the twelve sons …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
As it has been shown that all duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
St. Hilary of Poitiers is one of the greatest, yet least studied, of the Fathers of the Western Church. He has suffered thus, partly from a certain obscurity in his style of writing, partly from the difficulty of the thoughts which he attempted to convey. But there are other reasons for the comparative neglect into which he has fallen. He learnt his theology, as we shall see, from Eastern authorities, and was not content to carry on and develop the traditional teaching of the West; and the disciple …
St. Hilary of Poitiers—The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers

Annunciation of the Birth of Jesus.
(at Nazareth, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke I. 26-38. ^c 26 Now in the sixth month [this is the passage from which we learn that John was six months older than Jesus] the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth [Luke alone tells us where Mary lived before the birth of Jesus. That Nazareth was an unimportant town is shown by the fact that it is mentioned nowhere in the Old Testament, nor in the Talmud, nor in Josephus, who mentions two hundred four towns and cities of Galilee. The …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Departure from Ireland. Death and Burial at Clairvaux.
[Sidenote: 1148, May (?)] 67. (30). Being asked once, in what place, if a choice were given him, he would prefer to spend his last day--for on this subject the brothers used to ask one another what place each would select for himself--he hesitated, and made no reply. But when they insisted, he said, "If I take my departure hence[821] I shall do so nowhere more gladly than whence I may rise together with our Apostle"[822]--he referred to St. Patrick; "but if it behoves me to make a pilgrimage, and …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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