Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 132:9
Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
9. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness ] May those who minister in the sanctuary be worthy servants of a righteous God, fit representatives of a righteous nation (Isa 26:2)! The white priestly garments were intended to be symbolical of purity of character (Rev 19:8). For the metaphor cp. Job 29:14.
let thy saints &c.] May thy chosen people worship there with jubilant rejoicing! For the meaning of thy saints, i.e. thy beloved, or thy godly ones, see Appendix, Note I.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness – This is also substantially the same language that was used by Solomon at the dedication of the temple. See again 2Ch 6:41. The idea is, that in the service of such a God, the priests, the ministers of religion, should be holy. The honor of religion demanded it. It was the first qualification of those who served the altar; a qualification without which all other endowments would be valueless. On the word clothed, see the notes at Psa 35:26; compare Psa 65:13; Psa 93:1; Psa 104:1; Isa 61:10; 1Pe 5:5.
And let thy saints shout for joy – Thy holy ones; all who truly worship and honor thee. Let them be happy in such a God; in thy presence; in thy service. The fact that there is a God, and such a God, and that this God is ours – that we may serve him, glorify him, enjoy him – is suited to fill the mind with joy.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 132:9
Let Thy priests be clothed with righteousness.
A righteous pulpit
We hear advocated, on platforms and elsewhere, different kinds of ministry. Some are urgent for a talented ministry. Some are urgent for an educated ministry. They insist on culture. Some are urgent for an evangelical ministry. The great want, however, is a righteous ministry.
I. A ministry that advocates the principles of rectitude. The Sermon on the Mount should be the text and the imperial inspiration of every teacher.
II. A ministry that advocates the principles of rectitude Is an honest way.
1. Conscientiously, believing in them.
2. Consistently, living them.
3. Independently, disregarding alike the frowns and smiles of men. A ministry, in fact, that commends itself to every mans conscience in the sight of God.
III. A ministry that advocates the principles of rectitude for a right purpose. Not for popularity, not for greed, not for sect, but for right. Such a ministry as this the people will believe in, trust, and follow. (David Thomas, D. D.)
And let Thy saints shout for joy.—
The connection between a pious ministry and a happy Church
True piety has ever a cheerful character; our religion has no sympathy with gloom (Pro 3:17). We dare not speak of uninterrupted enjoyment. Christians live too much beneath their privileges to admit of this; and, even though they should attain perfection, how could they escape suffering in a world where sin so much abounds? It would be preposterous to expect it. But, making all deductions, the believer has far more pleasure than the man who rejects the overtures of Divine compassion. Is it not so? Would you not like to know that your sins were pardoned, every one of them, no more to rise up in judgment against you? Would you not like to know that God was your friend, and that He would never leave you nor forsake you? Would you not like to know that the bondage of death is removed, for Jesus has disarmed the grisly monster of his sting? Now, these are some of the benefits of which genuine believers are partakers; and an interest in them is obtained by believing in the Son of God, who is the Strength and the Saviour of suffering man. Would you not be happier, as well as better, could you say, All these are mine? Make the experiment for yourself. Surely it is worth the trial. Linger no longer. Close at once with Gods own free terms. Permit Him to save you in His own way, and there shall be no disappointment. (N. McMichael.)
Joy in the Lord
Joy is both full of insight and medicinal. Our best poets delight to depict its power in each of these ministries. Wordsworth said it was with an eye made quiet by the deep power of joy that he saw into the life of things. Then he felt sensations sweet passing into his pure mind, with tranquil restoration. Then he came to know that blessed mood in which the burden of the mystery of this unintelligible world is lightened; and he became a living soul. If this be the ministry of the joy of nature, surely the joy of the Lord would lighten many dark problems in life, lift many a burden, change the home and the business of many a weary and tried child of God, and fill them with brightness and song.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 9. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness] Let them be as remarkable for inward holiness as they are for the splendour of their holy vestments.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
With righteousness; not only with those outward sacerdotal garments of glory and beauty which thou hast appointed for them, but especially with those inward ornaments of righteousness and true holiness, that so their persons and services may be accepted by thee, both for themselves and for all thy people, and they may be clothed with salvation, as it is expressed here below, Psa 132:16; 2Ch 6:41, which is the effect or consequent of the former clothing. Let thy saints shout for joy; let all thy people have cause of rejoicing in the tokens of thy goodness; which they eminently had at the dedication of the temple, as is noted, 1Ki 8:66.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness,…. In 2Ch 6:41; it is, “with salvation”, as in Ps 132:16. Either the ministers of the word; who may be said to be clothed with righteousness when they perform their work righteously, and faithfully dispense the word, keep back nothing that is profitable, and administer the ordinances according to the rules of Christ; and when their lives and conversations are agreeable to the Gospel they preach; see Job 29:14; or else all true believers; who are priests as well as kings unto God; and who are clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness; and with the internal graces of the Spirit, the new man created in righteousness and true holiness; and with conversation garments, becoming the Gospel, and their profession of it;
and let thy saints shout for joy; the Levites; thy Holy Ones, as the Targum; so Kimchi, Arama, and others; the singers in the temple: but rather the Lord’s sanctified ones, true believers under the Gospel dispensation, are meant; who shout for joy, and have reason so to do, at the incarnation of Christ, at his ascension to heaven, at the Gospel preached by his ministers, and at the robe of righteousness with which they are clothed. In 2Ch 6:41 it is, “rejoice in goodness”; in the goodness of the Lord; in the good things bestowed on them, or promised to them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
9. Let thy priests, etc. He now prays in general for the prosperity of the Church, as what stood intimately connected with the previous statement, the promotion of our best interests being the great end for which God dwells amongst us. Some construe the words into a wish that the worship of God might be maintained in its purity, and think that the Psalmist prays that the priests might be clothed with holiness in allusion to their sacred garments. Upon a closer view of the words and the whole context, I am rather inclined to be of another opinion, and to consider this a prayer that the righteousness of God might be displayed amongst the people, being as an ornament upon the priests, and communicating joy to all the people. Thus I take righteousness to mean the fruit or effects of righteousness, and this the righteousness of God, not of men. The priests are of course mentioned first, as holding a higher place in the appointed order of the Church; while they have their due place assigned to them, it is still the Church collectively to which the prayer refers as though the Psalmist requested that the glory of this righteousness should be reflected from the priests upon the people generally. God is said to clothe us with his righteousness when he appears as our Savior and help, defends us by his power, and shows in his government of us that we are the objects of his care. The rejoicing which is spoken of must have reference to a life of happiness. And these two things being joined together may convince us that by righteousness nothing else is meant than God’s guardianship and government. Consistently with this we find it said afterwards “Thy priests shall be clothed with salvation;” and I may add, that Solomon, in the solemn prayer already referred to, (2Ch 6:41,) makes no mention of righteousness, but of salvation. I have repeatedly given the reason why the saints of God are called חסידים chasidim, or merciful ones, because mercy or beneficence is that grace which assimilates us most to God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) Clothed with righteousness.The original is salvation, as below in Psa. 132:16, though the Hebrew word is slightly varied. This variation, however, is an almost positive proof that the psalmist, not the chronicler, is adopting words for his own purpose.
Possibly the priestly garments are mentioned, not only as symbolic of righteousness, but also as investing whoever possessed them, with supremacy political as well as religious. This is rendered more probable by the express mention of the diadem below (Psa. 132:18, see Note). Whoever had these, the priestly paraphernalia, in his possession, had virtually the appointment to the office (high priest) (Stanley, J. C. iii. 353). But if so, the Vulgate of the verse, in the form it has passed from the Breviary into Anglican worship, has amply recovered for the verse its larger and deeper spiritual intention: Endue Thy ministers with righteousness, and make Thy chosen people joyful.
Saintschasdm. Here very possibly technical of the party so called in the Maccaban period. (See Note, Psa. 16:10.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Priests saints These are comprehensive of the visible Church. The “salvation” (Psa 132:9, righteousness) of the former shall secure the “joy” of the latter.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
Ver. 9. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness ] i.e. With salvation, as Psa 132:16 . No surer sign of God’s gracious presence with a people, than a powerful ministry, clothed with inward purity and holiness, represented by the holy garments.
And let thy saints shout for joy
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
saints = favoured ones.shout for joy. That is exactly what they did. See the subscription of Psalm 87 and note there on “Mahalath-Leannoth”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thy priests: Psa 132:16, Psa 93:1, Psa 104:1, Job 29:14, Isa 61:10, Rom 13:14, 1Pe 5:5, Rev 19:8
let thy saints: Psa 35:26, Psa 35:27, Psa 68:3, Psa 70:4, Jdg 5:31
shout: Psa 47:1, Isa 65:14, Ezr 3:11, Ezr 3:12, Zep 3:14, Zec 9:9
Reciprocal: Exo 28:2 – holy garments Lev 8:13 – Moses Psa 30:4 – Sing Psa 68:1 – God arise Pro 31:25 – Strength Jer 31:14 – satiate Luk 15:22 – the best Act 6:7 – the priests Eph 3:18 – with
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with {f} righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
(f) Let the effect of your grace appear both in the priests and in the people.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Israelites also called on God to establish a righteous group of priests among them. and to enable the godly in Israel to rejoice because of His blessings. They asked God to remember His promises to David, His anointed king. In view of these requests, this psalm may date from the return from exile (cf. Psa 132:16; Zec 3:1-7).