Psalms 132:10

For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.

For thy servant {H5650} David's {H1732} sake turn not away {H7725} the face {H6440} of thine anointed {H4899}.

For the sake of your servant David, don't turn away the face of your anointed one.

For the sake of Your servant David, do not reject Your anointed one.

For thy servant Davidโ€™s sake Turn not away the face of thine anointed.

Commentary

Psalms 132:10 is a humble prayer, likely offered during a time of national worship or crisis, appealing to God's faithfulness based on His promises to King David. It expresses a desire for divine favor upon the reigning monarch, who is God's chosen representative.

Context and Background

Psalm 132 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for festivals. This particular psalm focuses on two significant themes: David's passionate desire to find a permanent resting place for the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, and God's solemn promise to David concerning his royal lineage. The psalm recounts David's vow to build a dwelling for God (verses 1-5) and celebrates the bringing of the Ark to Zion (verses 6-9). Verse 10 then transitions to a plea for God's continued favor on the Davidic king, emphasizing the enduring nature of God's covenant with David.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Faithfulness to Covenant: The core appeal rests on God's unwavering commitment to His promises, particularly the Davidic Covenant, which guaranteed an eternal dynasty for David's descendants.
  • Prayer for Royal Favor: The verse is a direct intercession for the reigning king, asking God not to reject his pleas or deny him blessing. It underscores the belief that the king's legitimacy and success depended entirely on God's favor.
  • Significance of "Thine Anointed": This phrase points directly to the king, who was consecrated for his office through anointing with oil. More profoundly, it foreshadows the ultimate "Anointed One," the Messiah.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Turn not away the face": This is an idiomatic expression in Hebrew, meaning "do not reject the plea," "do not refuse," or "do not deny favor." It signifies a humble request for divine acceptance and blessing, as if God were to turn His face towards someone in approval, rather than away in disapproval.
  • "Thine anointed": The Hebrew word here is mashiach (ืžึธืฉึดืื™ื—ึท), from which we get "Messiah" in English and "Christ" (from the Greek christos). It literally means "anointed one." While primarily referring to the current Davidic king in this context, its profound theological significance lies in its prophetic pointing to Jesus Christ, the ultimate Anointed King, who perfectly fulfills the Davidic covenant.

Practical Application and Reflection

Psalms 132:10 offers several timeless insights for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Promises: Just as the psalmist appealed to God's covenant with David, we can confidently approach God based on His unchanging promises to us through Christ. His faithfulness is the foundation of our hope.
  • Prayer for Leaders: The verse encourages prayer for those in authority, particularly spiritual leaders. We are called to pray for their wisdom, righteousness, and for God's favor to rest upon them for the good of His people (compare 1 Timothy 2:1-2).
  • Christ's Kingship: Ultimately, this verse finds its fullest meaning in Jesus Christ. He is the eternal "Anointed One" from the line of David, whose reign will never end. When we pray for God's kingdom to come, we are praying for the full manifestation of His rule through Christ, the true King.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 15:4

    Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:

  • 1 Kings 15:5

    Because David did [that which was] right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any [thing] that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

  • 1 Kings 11:12

    Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: [but] I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

  • 1 Kings 11:13

    Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; [but] will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.

  • 1 Kings 11:34

    Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:

  • 2 Chronicles 6:42

    O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.

  • Hosea 3:5

    Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.