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A Song of Ascents.

1Yahweh, remember David and all his affliction,

2how he swore to Yahweh,

and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:

3“Surely I will not come into the structure of my house,

nor go up into my bed;

4I will not give sleep to my eyes,

or slumber to my eyelids,

5until I find out a place for Yahweh,

a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

6Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah.

We found it in the field of Jaar.

7“We will go into his dwelling place.

We will worship at his footstool.”

8Arise, Yahweh, into your resting place,

you, and the ark of your strength.

9Let your priests be clothed with righteousness.

Let your saints shout for joy!

10For your servant David’s sake,

don’t turn away the face of your anointed one.

11Yahweh has sworn to David in truth.

He will not turn from it:

“I will set the fruit of your body on your throne.

12If your children will keep my covenant,

my testimony that I will teach them,

their children also will sit on your throne forever more.”

13For Yahweh has chosen Zion.

He has desired it for his habitation.

14“This is my resting place forever.

I will live here, for I have desired it.

15I will abundantly bless her provision.

I will satisfy her poor with bread.

16I will also clothe her priests with salvation.

Her saints will shout aloud for joy.

17I will make the horn of David to bud there.

I have ordained a lamp for my anointed.

18I will clothe his enemies with shame,

but on himself, his crown will shine.”

Biography of Jacob

Biography of Jacob

Biography | Ps 132:5 | Hershel Wayne House

Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, born immediately after Esau, and Abraham was his grandfather. He achieved the right of the firstborn by trickery, in offering his older brother, Esau, food in exchange for the birthright, who cared little for this position. He also received the blessing of firstborn from his father Jacob before his death by cunning, and with the assistance of his mother Rebekah.

After his deception of Esau, receiving the blessing from his father, Jacob escaped to his uncle Laban, who in turn deceived Jacob into working for fourteen years for the marriage of Jacob to Leah, and then his beloved Rachel. Laban also sought to deceive Jacob of wages, but God intervened to ensure he would prosper. In a time of trial, when he feared the wrath of Esau, upon returning to the land of Canaan, Jacob had an encounter with God, and his name was changed to Israel, the one who wrestles with God. Even though his early life was characterized by deception, God worked through the situation to ensure that Jacob would be the one in the line of the patriarchs, to create a great nation and ultimately fulfill His purposes in the earth, especially through the future Messiah. The Messiah would guarantee the promise of the land to Abram and a person who would rule over Abraham's descendants, but also He would bring blessings to all the people of the earth (Gen 12:1-3).

In spite of Jacob's early failure by deception, God worked through him, and finally, Jacob became a different type of man after his struggle with God. As one has said,

"Despite Jacob’s faults, God chose him to be the leader of a great nation that still bears his name today. But for this, it is unlikely that we would know much about Jacob, who appears to be in the middle of events while the key players are those around him. There is no great wisdom or bravery in Jacob to speak of, and we are tempted to see him as little more than God’s passive instrument. If we are tempted to think that, because we aren’t in the spotlight performing great acts for God, we are unimportant to Him, then we should consider the life of Jacob and know that, in spite of our failings, God can and will still use us in His plan."

For more on Jacob, see "Who was Jacob in the Bible?", https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Jacob.html