Psalms 132:10
For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just a general plea for favor; it's a strategic appeal to God's covenant with David. The phrase "turn not away the face" isn't about a simple denial, but an expression rooted in courtly language, signifying a refusal of access or a rejection of a petition. By invoking David's name, the supplicant isn't just asking for personal blessings, but reminding God of His promises to David and his lineage, essentially appealing to divine faithfulness.
This prayer is a plea for God's continued favor, specifically for the reigning king who is seen as David's successor and "anointed one." The people are calling to mind God's promises to David, asking that despite present troubles or the king's own imperfections, God would not reject him or turn him away. The hope is rooted in the covenant God made with David, looking for a continuous line of kings and ultimately, the Messiah, to sit on David's throne.
The verse mentions 'your anointed one.' Who is this, and why does it matter that it's not just David?
This verse is a prayer spoken by the people, likely during a difficult time for a king who was a successor to David. They're appealing to God based on the special covenant He made with David.
A Family Affair
Think of it like this: when you pray for your family's legacy, you're not just praying for one person, but for the continuation of something precious. Here, the people are praying for the current king, but they're anchoring their plea in God's promises to David, the foundational king.
The "anointed one" here refers to the reigning king, who is also God's chosen and anointed representative. It's a prayer that God would not turn away from this king, for the sake of the promises He made to David and the lasting covenant established through him.
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What does it mean for God to 'turn away the face' of His anointed?
In ancient Near Eastern courts, turning away the face was a powerful symbol of rejection, dismissal, and disapproval. It meant the request was denied, and the person was essentially cast out.
More Than Just a Glare
When the people pray, 'turn not away the face of your anointed,' they are essentially pleading: 'Don't reject him! Don't dismiss his prayers! Don't banish him from your presence or favor.'
It's a deep cry for God's continued acceptance and blessing, specifically for the king who stands as the representative of David's line. They understand that the king's favor with God is tied to the nation's well-being.
Understand the original words
mashiach · Hebrew Noun
A divinely chosen representative, usually a king, priest, or prophet, set apart through the ceremonial application of oil, signifying the empowerment and authority given by God for a specific task.
This verse likely comes from a time of crisis, possibly during the rule of the Hasmonean dynasty, when the legitimacy of the current ruler was questioned, and people prayed for God to remember His promises to David and uphold the Davidic line.
c. 1000 BC
David's Covenant
God makes a covenant with King David, promising that his dynasty will rule forever.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Reign Begins
Solomon, David's son, becomes king and builds the First Temple in Jerusalem.
931 BC
Kingdom Divides
After Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into Israel (north) and Judah (south).
c. 700s BC
Assyrian Threat
The powerful Assyrian Empire rises, eventually conquering the northern kingdom of Israel.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile
Babylon conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, and exiles many Judeans.
c. 2nd Century BC— this verse
Hasmonean Rule
The Hasmonean dynasty, descendants of the Maccabees, rules Judea, sometimes with tension regarding their legitimacy.
This passage is the foundational promise God made to David regarding his dynasty, directly informing the prayer in Psalms 132:10 that God would remember His covenant with David.
1 Kings 2:16This shows a direct application of the phrase 'turn not away thy face' in a royal context, illustrating the plea for royal favor and the avoidance of rejection.
2 Chronicles 6:42This parallel passage, part of Solomon's prayer, echoes the sentiment and wording of Psalms 132:10, showing a continuous tradition of appealing to God's promises to David for royal petitions.
John 1:14This verse speaks of God dwelling among His people, which aligns with the deeper desire behind the plea in Psalms 132:10—that God would not turn away His presence from His anointed and His people.
Romans 8:34This New Testament passage reinforces the idea that God's favor, secured through Christ (the ultimate 'anointed one'), means He will not turn away from us, providing a powerful fulfillment of the ancient plea.
cambridgePsalms 132:10: "For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed."
10 . This verse is still part of the people’s prayer, though its language is coloured by the feeling of the Psalmist’s own age, and expresses the perplexity of a time in which Jehovah seemed to have disowned His anointed. The people pray for a blessing on each successive king for David’s sake. Thine anointed is not David only, but David and his successors, Jehovah’s anointed king for the time being. For him…
pulpitPsalms 132:10: "For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed."
Verse 10. - For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. Here the text diverges still more from that of Chronicles, which runs thus: "O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant" The meaning, however, is much the same in both passages: "For David's sake, to whom thou hast shown so many mercies, turn not away the face - i.e. reject…
This verse isn't just a general plea for favor; it's a strategic appeal to God's covenant with David. The phrase "turn not away the face" isn't about a simple denial, but an expression rooted in courtly language, signifying a refusal of access or a rejection of a petition. By invoking David's name, the supplicant isn't just asking for personal blessings, but reminding God of His promises to David and his lineage, essentially appealing to divine faithfulness.
This prayer is a plea for God's continued favor, specifically for the reigning king who is seen as David's successor and "anointed one." The people are calling to mind God's promises to David, asking that despite present troubles or the king's own imperfections, God would not reject him or turn him away. The hope is rooted in the covenant God made with David, looking for a continuous line of kings and ultimately, the Messiah, to sit on David's throne.
This prayer is a plea for God's continued favor, specifically for the reigning king who is seen as David's successor and "anointed one." The people are calling to mind God's promises to David, asking that despite present troubles or the king's own imperfections, God would not reject him or turn him away. The hope is rooted in the covenant God made with David, looking for a continuous line of kings and ultimately, the Messiah, to sit on David's throne.
"For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one." — This verse isn't just a general plea for favor; it's a strategic appeal to God's covenant with David. The phrase "turn not away the face" isn't about a simple denial, but an expression rooted in cour…
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