3 I have made an agreement with the man of my selection, I have made an oath to David my servant;
The Lord gave a true oath to David, which he will not take back, saying, I will give your kingdom to the fruit of your body.
The Lord has said: If it is possible for my agreement of the day and the night to be broken, so that day and night no longer come at their fixed times, Then my agreement with my servant David may be broken, so that he no longer has a son to take his place on the seat of the kingdom; and my agreement with the Levites, the priests, my servants.
From the day when I took my people Israel out of Egypt, no town in all the tribes of Israel has been marked out by me for the building of a house for the resting-place of my name; but I made selection of David to be king over my people Israel.
And I will make a resting-place for my people Israel, planting them there, so that they may be living in the place which is theirs, and never again be moved; and never again will they be troubled by evil men as they were at the first, From the time when I put judges over my people Israel; and I will give you peace from all who are against you. And the Lord says to you that he will make you the head of a line of kings. And when the time comes for you to go to rest with your fathers, I will put in your place your seed after you, the offspring of your body, and I will make his kingdom strong. He will be the builder of a house for my name, and I will make the seat of his authority certain for ever. I will be to him a father and he will be to me a son: if he does wrong, I will give him punishment with the rod of men and with the blows of the children of men; But my mercy will not be taken away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. And your family and your kingdom will keep their place before me for ever: the seat of your authority will never be overturned.
(For those were made priests without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by him who says of him, The Lord gave his oath, which he will not take back, that you are a priest for ever);
But being a prophet, and having in mind the oath which God had given to him, that of the fruit of his body one would take his place as a king,
See my servant, the man of my selection, my loved one in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him, and he will make my decision clear to the Gentiles. His coming will not be with fighting or loud cries; and his voice will not be lifted up in the streets. The crushed stem will not be broken by him; and the feebly burning light will he not put out, till he has made righteousness overcome all. And in his name will the Gentiles put their hope.
And a voice came out of heaven, saying, This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
And I will put over them one keeper, and he will give them food, even my servant David; he will give them food and be their keeper. And I the Lord will be their God and my servant David their ruler; I the Lord have said it.
Give ear, and come to me, take note with care, so that your souls may have life: and I will make an eternal agreement with you, even the certain mercies of David.
You have made your agreement with your servant of no effect: you have had no respect for his crown, it has come down even to the earth.
I will be true to my agreement; the things which have gone out of my lips will not be changed. I have made an oath once by my holy name, that I will not be false to David.
Then your voice came to your holy one in a vision, saying, I have put the crown on a strong one, lifting up one taken from among the people.
He took David to be his servant, taking him from the place of the flocks;
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 89
Commentary on Psalms 89 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 89
Ps 89:1-52. Of Ethan—(See on Ps 88:1, title). This Psalm was composed during some season of great national distress, perhaps Absalom's rebellion. It contrasts the promised prosperity and perpetuity of David's throne (with reference to the great promise of 2Sa 7:12-17), with a time when God appeared to have forgotten His covenant. The picture thus drawn may typify the promises and the adversities of Christ's kingdom, and the terms of confiding appeal to God provided appropriate prayers for the divine aid and promised blessing.
1. mercies—those promised (Isa 55:3; Ac 13:34), and—
faithfulness—that is, in fulfilling them.
2. I have said—expressed, as well as felt, my convictions (2Co 4:13).
3, 4. The object of this faith expressed in God's words (2Sa 7:11-16).
with—or literally, "to"
my chosen—as the covenant is in the form of a promise.
6, 7. This is worthy of our belief, for His faithfulness (is praised) by the congregation of saints or holy ones; that is, angels (compare De 33:2; Da 8:13).
sons of the mighty—(compare Ps 29:1). So is He to be admired on earth.
8-14. To illustrate His power and faithfulness examples are cited from history. His control of the sea (the most mighty and unstable object in nature), and of Egypt (Ps 87:4), the first great foe of Israel (subjected to utter helplessness from pride and insolence), are specimens. At the same time, the whole frame of nature founded and sustained by Him, Tabor and Hermon for "east and west," and "north and south," together representing the whole world, declare the same truth as to His attributes.
12. rejoice in thy name—praise Thy perfections by their very existence.
15. His government of righteousness is served by "mercy" and "truth" as ministers (Ps 85:10-13).
know the joyful sound—understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings symbolized by the feasts to which the people were called by the trumpet (Le 25:9, &c.).
walk … countenance—live in His favor (Ps 4:6; 44:3).
16, 17. in—or, "by"
thy righteousness—Thy faithful just rule.
glory—or, "beauty."
of their strength—They shall be adorned as well as protected.
our horn—exalt our power (Ps 75:10; Lu 1:69).
18. (Margin). Thus is introduced the promise to "our shield," "our king," David.
19-37. Then—when the covenant was established, of whose execution the exalted views of God now given furnish assurance.
thou … to thy holy one—or godly saint, object of favor (Ps 4:3). Nathan is meant (2Sa 7:17; 1Ch 17:3-15).
laid help—literally, "given help." David was chosen and then exalted.
20. I have found—having sought and then selected him (1Sa 16:1-6).
21. will protect and sustain (Isa 41:10),
22-25. by restraining and conquering his enemies, and performing My gracious purpose of extending his dominion—
25. hand [and] right hand—power (Ps 17:7; 60:5).
sea, and … rivers—limits of his empire (Ps 72:8).
26, 27. first-born—one who is chief, most beloved or distinguished (Ex 4:22; Col 1:15). In God's sight and purposes he was the first among all monarchs, and specially so in his typical relation to Christ.
28-37. This relation is perpetual with David's descendants, as a whole typical in official position of his last greatest descendant. Hence though in personal relations any of them might be faithless and so punished, their typical relation shall continue. His oath confirms His promise, and the most enduring objects of earth and heaven illustrate its perpetual force (Ps 72:5, 7, 17).
35. Once—one thing (Ps 27:4).
by my holiness—as a holy God.
that I will not lie—literally, "if I lie"—part of the form of swearing (1Sa 24:6; 2Sa 3:35).
37. It shall … moon … heaven—literally, "As the moon, and the witness in the sky is sure, that is, the moon."
38-52. present a striking contrast to these glowing promises, in mournful evidences of a loss of God's favor.
cast off—and rejected (compare Ps 15:4; 43:2; 44:9).
39. An insult to the "crown," as of divine origin, was a profanation.
40-45. The ruin is depicted under several figures—a vineyard whose broken "hedges," and "strongholds," whose ruins invite spoilers and invaders; a warrior, whose enemies are aided by God, and whose sword's "edge"—literally, "rock" or "strength" (Jos 5:2) is useless; and a youth prematurely old.
45. days of his youth—or, "youthful vigor," that is, of the royal line, or promised perpetual kingdom, under the figure of a man.
46. How long, &c.—(Compare Ps 13:1; 88:14; Jer 4:4).
47. These expostulations are excited in view of the identity of the prosperity of this kingdom with the welfare of all mankind (Ge 22:18; Ps 72:17; Isa 9:7; 11:1-10); for if such is the fate of this chosen royal line.
48. What man—literally, "strong man—shall live?" and, indeed, have not all men been made in vain, as to glorifying God?
49-51. The terms of expostulation are used in view of the actual appearance that God had forsaken His people and forgotten His promise, and the plea for aid is urged in view of the reproaches of His and His people's enemies (compare Isa 37:17-35).
50. bear in my bosom—as feeling the affliction of the people (Ps 69:9).
footsteps—ways (Ps 56:6).
52. Blessed, &c.—denotes returning confidence (Ps 34:1-3).
Amen, and Amen—closes the third book of Psalms.