“Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!” Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "his footstool" points to the Ark of the Covenant, emphasizing that God, while enthroned in heaven, graciously condescended to have a physical representation of His presence among His people on earth. This highlights not a limitation of God's vastness, but His intentional closeness and the sacredness of the place where His presence would be experienced.
“Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!” Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm looks back to David's desire to build a dwelling for God and his subsequent discovery of a sacred site, now prompting a communal call to worship. The verses before describe hearing about this chosen place and the determination to go there, while the verses that follow anticipate the Ark's transport and God's presence. This verse, therefore, expresses the joyous resolve of the people to approach God at his sanctuary.
The Bible calls the Ark of the Covenant God's 'footstool.' What does this powerful image tell us about how God meets us in worship?
In Psalm 132:7, the psalmist uses vivid imagery to describe where worship is directed. The phrase "his footstool" most likely refers to the Ark of the Covenant, which housed God's presence among His people.
A Sacred Space
While God's true dwelling is in heaven, He chose to make His presence known tangibly on earth. The Ark, a sacred chest, became the focal point of Israel's worship because it represented God's nearness. It was where the divine glory often rested, symbolized by the cherubim hovering over the mercy seat.
Humility in Worship
Calling the Ark God's "footstool" emphasizes the immense holiness and transcendence of God. It highlights that even the holiest place on earth is but a place for God's feet, pointing to His infinite majesty that far surpasses any earthly structure. This imagery calls for a posture of deep reverence and humility from those who approach Him.
The verse isn't just a command; it's an invitation to move together. What does this communal call to worship reveal?
The verse begins with a powerful "Let us..." (or "We will..."). This isn't a solitary pursuit but a shared endeavor. It speaks to the communal nature of faith and worship.
From Report to Reality
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Scholarly context suggests this psalm likely speaks to a time when the Ark, perhaps having been in a less central location, was being brought to a more established place of worship, possibly Jerusalem. The people are being encouraged to actively journey to this designated dwelling place.
Mutual Exhortation
This call to worship is a mutual exhortation—one person encouraging another. It implies that coming to God's presence is a priority worth reminding each other of. It’s about believers rallying together, saying, 'Come, let's go worship God where He has made His name to dwell.' This collective movement underscores the importance of the gathered church for strengthening faith and offering unified praise.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
A Hebrew term for God's personal, covenant-keeping name. It signifies His eternal nature, faithfulness, and self-existence.
mishkan · Hebrew Noun
A place where God resides among His people, most commonly referring to the Tabernacle or the Temple. It symbolizes God's presence, holiness, and the place where humanity interacts with the divine.
chavah · Hebrew Verb
An act of bowing down or prostrating oneself before God, signifying humble submission, reverence, and adoration. It recognizes God's absolute sovereignty and worthiness.
hadom · Hebrew Noun
Often identified as the Ark of the Covenant or the Temple floor, it represents the point where heaven touches earth, emphasizing God's transcendence and the humble posture required of those approaching Him.
aron · Hebrew Noun
The wooden chest containing the tablets of the Law, serving as the visible sign of God's covenant presence and the throne of His earthly manifestation.
oz · Hebrew Noun
A biblical metaphor for the manifestation of God’s supreme power, authority, and saving intervention on behalf of His people.
This psalm echoes the joyous, unified worship that erupted when David finally brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. It speaks to the collective heart of God's people, exclaiming, 'Let's go! God's presence is here, and we will worship!'
c. 1050 BC
Ark of the Covenant at Shiloh
The Ark of the Covenant resided at Shiloh for a significant period, serving as the central place of worship for the Israelites. This era was marked by both divine presence and eventual disaster when the Ark was captured by the Philistines.
c. 1050 BC
Philistines capture the Ark
Following a defeat at Ebenezer, the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant, a devastating blow to Israel's spiritual life and national identity. This event marked the end of Shiloh's prominence.
c. 1040 BC
Ark returns to Israel
After a period of plague and disaster in Philistine territory, the Ark was returned to Israel and taken to Kirjath-jearim, where it remained for about 20 years, a period of spiritual neglect.
c. 1010 BC— this verse
David brings Ark to Jerusalem
King David triumphantly brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, establishing it as the spiritual capital. This act fulfilled a long-held desire to unite worship around God's presence.
c. 1010 BC
David plans for the Temple
David intended to build a permanent Temple for the Ark but was forbidden by God, who instead designated his son Solomon to undertake this monumental task. David, however, prepared extensively for its construction.
This passage directly connects to the concept of the Ark being God's footstool, highlighting its significance in David's preparations for worship.
Psalm 99:5This verse also calls the Ark God's footstool and encourages worship there, reinforcing the theme of reverent approach to God's presence.
Psalm 84:1-4This psalm expresses a deep longing to be in God's dwelling places and worship, mirroring the desire articulated in Psalm 132:7.
Isaiah 66:1This verse speaks of heaven as God's throne and the earth as His footstool, providing a broader cosmic perspective on the imagery used in Psalm 132:7.
Luke 2:38This verse mentions Simeon speaking about the infant Jesus to those who were 'waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem,' connecting to the theme of anticipating God's presence and dwelling.
cambridgePsalms 132:7: "We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool."
7 . Let us go into his dwelling place, Let us worship at the footstool of his feet. This is the mutual exhortation of the Israelites to come and worship in the ‘dwelling place’ ( Psalm 132:5 ) which David had resolved to prepare, before the Ark. Jehovah’s footstool may mean His sanctuary, as in Psalm 99:5 ; but here more probably, as in 1 Chronicles 28:2 , the Ark is meant. As He is enthroned upon the Cherubim, t…
pulpitPsalms 132:7: "We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool."
Verse 7. - We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. The transfer is regarded as accomplished, and the worship as re-established, which had been intermitted while the ark was at Kirjath-jearim.
The phrase "his footstool" points to the Ark of the Covenant, emphasizing that God, while enthroned in heaven, graciously condescended to have a physical representation of His presence among His people on earth. This highlights not a limitation of God's vastness, but His intentional closeness and the sacredness of the place where His presence would be experienced.
This psalm looks back to David's desire to build a dwelling for God and his subsequent discovery of a sacred site, now prompting a communal call to worship. The verses before describe hearing about this chosen place and the determination to go there, while the verses that follow anticipate the Ark's transport and God's presence. This verse, therefore, expresses the joyous resolve of the people to approach God at his sanctuary.
This psalm looks back to David's desire to build a dwelling for God and his subsequent discovery of a sacred site, now prompting a communal call to worship. The verses before describe hearing about this chosen place and the determination to go there, while the verses that follow anticipate the Ark's transport and God's presence. This verse, therefore, expresses the joyous resolve of the people to approach God at his sanctuary.
"“Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!” Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might." — The phrase "his footstool" points to the Ark of the Covenant, emphasizing that God, while enthroned in heaven, graciously condescended to have a physical representation of His presence among His peop…
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Last reviewed October 2026