תהלים, פרק קל״ב, פסוק י׳

A plea for divine closeness often relies on the enduring merit of past actions to secure God's presence in a permanent sanctuary. The request for God to establish His presence in the Temple flows directly from earlier appeals for Him to rise and rest in His sanctuary [אבן עזרא]. The Temple was ultimately chosen as an eternal dwelling place specifically because of the merit of David [מלבי״ם].

When the prayer asks God not to turn away His anointed one, commentators offer different perspectives on who is being referenced. One approach suggests that King David is speaking about himself, repeating his plea in different ways to ensure God does not ignore his prayer or send him away empty-handed [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, מאירי]. This dual phrasing highlights two distinct aspects of David's relationship with God: his deep dedication and work as a humble servant, alongside his elevated status as God's chosen and anointed leader [מלבי״ם].

Alternatively, other commentators understand the prayer as referring to two distinct figures. While the initial plea invokes David's merit and his intense efforts to prepare the location for the Temple, the subsequent request not to disappoint the anointed one is directed toward his son, King Solomon [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This specific prayer was fulfilled during the momentous event when Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Holy of Holies [רש״י]. The successful entry of the Ark and the acceptance of Solomon's prayer were only made possible through the merit of his father. This profound moment served as public proof that God had completely forgiven David for the sin involving Bathsheba, demonstrating clearly that for David's sake, God would not turn away his son [אלשיך].