1 Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.
5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? [who] among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all [them that are] about him.
8 O LORD God of hosts, who [is] a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
10 Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.
11 The heavens [are] thine, the earth also [is] thine: [as for] the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
13 Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, [and] high is thy right hand.
14 Justice and judgment [are] the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
15 Blessed [is] the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
17 For thou [art] the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
18 For the LORD [is] our defence; and the Holy One of Israel [is] our king.
19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people.
20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.
24 But my faithfulness and my mercy [shall be] with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.
26 He shall cry unto me, Thou [art] my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
27 Also I will make him [my] firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
29 His seed also will I make [to endure] for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and [as] a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
38 But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.
39 Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown [by casting it] to the ground.
40 Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.
41 All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.
42 Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.
43 Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.
44 Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.
45 The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.
46 How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
48 What man [is he that] liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
49 Lord, where [are] thy former lovingkindnesses, [which] thou swarest unto David in thy truth?
50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; [how] I do bear in my bosom [the reproach of] all the mighty people;
51 Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.
52 Blessed [be] the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.
Overview of Psalm 89
Psalm 89 is a poignant reflection on God’s covenant with David and the ensuing feelings of abandonment and despair. It combines themes of praise, lament, and a plea for divine intervention, encapsulating the tension between God’s promises and the current suffering of His people.
Structure of Psalm 89
The chapter can be divided into several key sections:
- Verses 1-4: Declaration of God’s Faithfulness
- The psalmist begins with a commitment to sing of God’s steadfast love.
- It emphasizes the eternal nature of God’s faithfulness and covenant with David.
- There is a proclamation that God has established His covenant forever.
- Verses 5-18: Praise for God’s Sovereignty
- The psalmist extols the greatness of God, highlighting His power and authority over creation.
- Praise is directed towards God’s heavenly council and His unmatched strength.
- The blessings of being in a covenant relationship with God are celebrated.
- Verses 19-37: The Covenant with David
- This section recounts God’s promises to David, emphasizing the divine choice of David as king.
- It reflects on the security and permanence of David’s lineage.
- God’s commitment to David is reiterated, ensuring that his throne will endure forever.
- Verses 38-45: Lament and Despair
- The tone shifts dramatically as the psalmist expresses feelings of abandonment.
- The apparent failure of God’s promises leads to a deep sense of sorrow and confusion.
- Questions arise regarding the fate of David’s lineage and the seeming triumph of enemies.
- Verses 46-52: A Plea for Restoration
- The psalmist calls upon God to remember His covenant and restore hope.
- There is an urgent plea for God to act in light of the current despair.
- The chapter concludes with a reaffirmation of God’s greatness, despite the lament.
Thematic Analysis
Psalm 89 encapsulates several profound themes:
- Covenant Faithfulness: The unwavering promise of God to David serves as a central theme, highlighting the importance of divine covenants in the biblical narrative.
- Sovereignty of God: The psalmist acknowledges God’s supreme authority over all creation, reinforcing the belief that God is in control, even amidst chaos.
- Lament and Human Emotion: The raw expression of grief and confusion reflects the human experience of feeling abandoned by God, inviting readers to relate to the psalmist’s struggles.
- Hope for Restoration: Despite the lament, there is an underlying hope that God will remember His promises and restore His people, emphasizing the theme of redemption.
Theological Implications
Psalm 89 raises critical theological questions regarding the nature of God’s promises and human suffering:
- The Nature of God’s Promises: It challenges believers to consider how they understand divine promises in light of apparent failures or delays.
- The Role of Lament in Faith: The psalm illustrates that expressing sorrow and questioning God can be an integral part of a faithful relationship with Him.
- Hope Amidst Despair: It encourages believers to maintain hope and trust in God’s character, even when circumstances seem dire.
Conclusion
Psalm 89 serves as a profound reminder of the complexities of faith, the reality of human suffering, and the enduring nature of God’s promises. It invites readers to engage with both the joy of divine covenant and the pain of unmet expectations, ultimately pointing towards a hopeful restoration.
