Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Psalms » Chapter 89

Psalms 89:1-52 King James Version (KJV)

1 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.


Psalms 89:1-52 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 [[Maschil H4905 of Ethan H387 the Ezrahite.]] H250 I will sing H7891 of the mercies H2617 of the LORD H3068 for ever: H5769 with my mouth H6310 will I make known H3045 thy faithfulness H530 to all H1755 generations. H1755

2 For I have said, H559 Mercy H2617 shall be built up H1129 for ever: H5769 thy faithfulness H530 shalt thou establish H3559 in the very heavens. H8064

3 I have made H3772 a covenant H1285 with my chosen, H972 I have sworn H7650 unto David H1732 my servant, H5650

4 Thy seed H2233 will I establish H3559 for H5704 ever, H5769 and build up H1129 thy throne H3678 to all H1755 generations. H1755 Selah. H5542

5 And the heavens H8064 shall praise H3034 thy wonders, H6382 O LORD: H3068 thy faithfulness H530 also in the congregation H6951 of the saints. H6918

6 For who in the heaven H7834 can be compared H6186 unto the LORD? H3068 who among the sons H1121 of the mighty H410 can be likened H1819 unto the LORD? H3068

7 God H410 is greatly H7227 to be feared H6206 in the assembly H5475 of the saints, H6918 and to be had in reverence H3372 of all them that are about H5439 him.

8 O LORD H3068 God H430 of hosts, H6635 who is a strong H2626 LORD H3050 like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness H530 round about H5439 thee?

9 Thou rulest H4910 the raging H1348 of the sea: H3220 when the waves H1530 thereof arise, H7721 thou stillest H7623 them.

10 Thou hast broken H1792 Rahab H7294 in pieces, H1792 as one that is slain; H2491 thou hast scattered H6340 thine enemies H341 with thy strong H5797 arm. H2220

11 The heavens H8064 are thine, the earth H776 also is thine: as for the world H8398 and the fulness H4393 thereof, thou hast founded H3245 them.

12 The north H6828 and the south H3225 thou hast created H1254 them: Tabor H8396 and Hermon H2768 shall rejoice H7442 in thy name. H8034

13 Thou hast a mighty H1369 arm: H2220 strong H5810 is thy hand, H3027 and high H7311 is thy right hand. H3225

14 Justice H6664 and judgment H4941 are the habitation H4349 of thy throne: H3678 mercy H2617 and truth H571 shall go H6923 before thy face. H6440

15 Blessed H835 is the people H5971 that know H3045 the joyful sound: H8643 they shall walk, H1980 O LORD, H3068 in the light H216 of thy countenance. H6440

16 In thy name H8034 shall they rejoice H1523 all the day: H3117 and in thy righteousness H6666 shall they be exalted. H7311

17 For thou art the glory H8597 of their strength: H5797 and in thy favour H7522 our horn H7161 shall be exalted. H7311 H7311

18 For the LORD H3068 is our defence; H4043 and the Holy One H6918 of Israel H3478 is our king. H4428

19 Then thou spakest H1696 in vision H2377 to thy holy one, H2623 and saidst, H559 I have laid H7737 help H5828 upon one that is mighty; H1368 I have exalted H7311 one chosen H977 out of the people. H5971

20 I have found H4672 David H1732 my servant; H5650 with my holy H6944 oil H8081 have I anointed H4886 him:

21 With whom my hand H3027 shall be established: H3559 mine arm H2220 also shall strengthen H553 him.

22 The enemy H341 shall not exact H5378 upon him; nor the son H1121 of wickedness H5766 afflict H6031 him.

23 And I will beat down H3807 his foes H6862 before his face, H6440 and plague H5062 them that hate H8130 him.

24 But my faithfulness H530 and my mercy H2617 shall be with him: and in my name H8034 shall his horn H7161 be exalted. H7311

25 I will set H7760 his hand H3027 also in the sea, H3220 and his right hand H3225 in the rivers. H5104

26 He shall cry H7121 unto me, Thou art my father, H1 my God, H410 and the rock H6697 of my salvation. H3444

27 Also I will make H5414 him my firstborn, H1060 higher H5945 than the kings H4428 of the earth. H776

28 My mercy H2617 will I keep H8104 for him for evermore, H5769 and my covenant H1285 shall stand fast H539 with him.

29 His seed H2233 also will I make H7760 to endure for ever, H5703 and his throne H3678 as the days H3117 of heaven. H8064

30 If his children H1121 forsake H5800 my law, H8451 and walk H3212 not in my judgments; H4941

31 If they break H2490 my statutes, H2708 and keep H8104 not my commandments; H4687

32 Then will I visit H6485 their transgression H6588 with the rod, H7626 and their iniquity H5771 with stripes. H5061

33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness H2617 will I not utterly take H6331 from him, nor suffer my faithfulness H530 to fail. H8266

34 My covenant H1285 will I not break, H2490 nor alter H8138 the thing that is gone out H4161 of my lips. H8193

35 Once H259 have I sworn H7650 by my holiness H6944 that I will not lie H3576 unto David. H1732

36 His seed H2233 shall endure for ever, H5769 and his throne H3678 as the sun H8121 before me.

37 It shall be established H3559 for ever H5769 as the moon, H3394 and as a faithful H539 witness H5707 in heaven. H7834 Selah. H5542

38 But thou hast cast off H2186 and abhorred, H3988 thou hast been wroth H5674 with thine anointed. H4899

39 Thou hast made void H5010 the covenant H1285 of thy servant: H5650 thou hast profaned H2490 his crown H5145 by casting it to the ground. H776

40 Thou hast broken down H6555 all his hedges; H1448 thou hast brought H7760 his strong holds H4013 to ruin. H4288

41 All that pass by H5674 the way H1870 spoil H8155 him: he is a reproach H2781 to his neighbours. H7934

42 Thou hast set up H7311 the right hand H3225 of his adversaries; H6862 thou hast made all his enemies H341 to rejoice. H8055

43 Thou hast also turned H7725 the edge H6697 of his sword, H2719 and hast not made him to stand H6965 in the battle. H4421

44 Thou hast made his glory H2892 to cease, H7673 and cast H4048 his throne H3678 down H4048 to the ground. H776

45 The days H3117 of his youth H5934 hast thou shortened: H7114 thou hast covered H5844 him with shame. H955 Selah. H5542

46 How long, LORD? H3068 wilt thou hide H5641 thyself for ever? H5331 shall thy wrath H2534 burn H1197 like fire? H784

47 Remember H2142 how short H2465 my time is: wherefore hast thou made H1254 all men H1121 H120 in vain? H7723

48 What man H1397 is he that liveth, H2421 and shall not see H7200 death? H4194 shall he deliver H4422 his soul H5315 from the hand H3027 of the grave? H7585 Selah. H5542

49 Lord, H136 where are thy former H7223 lovingkindnesses, H2617 which thou swarest H7650 unto David H1732 in thy truth? H530

50 Remember, H2142 Lord, H136 the reproach H2781 of thy servants; H5650 how I do bear H5375 in my bosom H2436 the reproach of all the mighty H7227 people; H5971

51 Wherewith thine enemies H341 have reproached, H2778 O LORD; H3068 wherewith they have reproached H2778 the footsteps H6119 of thine anointed. H4899

52 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 for evermore. H5769 Amen, H543 and Amen. H543


Psalms 89:1-52 American Standard (ASV)

1 I will sing of the lovingkindness of Jehovah 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 wilt 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 Jehovah; Thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.

6 For who in the skies can be compared unto Jehovah? Who among the sons of the mighty is like unto Jehovah,

7 A God very terrible in the council of the holy ones, And to be feared above all them that are round about him?

8 O Jehovah God of hosts, Who is a mighty one, like unto thee, O Jehovah? And thy faithfulness is round about thee.

9 Thou rulest the pride 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 the arm of thy strength.

11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: The world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

12 The north and the south, thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon rejoice in thy name.

13 Thou hast a mighty arm; Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne: Lovingkindness and truth go before thy face.

15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They walk, O Jehovah, in the light of thy countenance.

16 In thy name do they rejoice all the day; And in thy righteousness are they exalted.

17 For thou art the glory of their strength; And in thy favor our horn shall be exalted.

18 For our shield belongeth unto Jehovah; And our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy saints, 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 from him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

23 And I will beat down his adversaries before him, And smite them that hate him.

24 But my faithfulness and my lovingkindness shall be with him; And in my name shall his horn be exalted.

25 I will set his hand also on the sea, And his right hand on the rivers.

26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.

27 I also will make him `my' first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth.

28 My lovingkindness 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 mine ordinances;

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 But 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: 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' the faithful witness in the sky. Selah

38 But thou hast cast off and rejected, Thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

39 Thou hast abhorred 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 strongholds to ruin.

41 All that pass by the way rob him: He is become a reproach to his neighbors.

42 Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries; Thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.

43 Yea, thou turnest back the edge of his sword, And hast not made him to stand in the battle.

44 Thou hast made his brightness 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, O Jehovah? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? `How long' shall thy wrath burn like fire?

47 Oh remember how short my time is: For what vanity hast thou created all the children of men!

48 What man is he that shall live and not see death, That shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

49 Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, Which thou swarest unto David in thy faithfulness?

50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; How I do bear in my bosom `the reproach of' all the mighty peoples,

51 Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O Jehovah, Wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.

52 Blessed be Jehovah for evermore. Amen, and Amen. Psalm 90 A Prayer of Moses the man of God.


Psalms 89:1-52 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 An instruction, by Ethan the Ezrahite. Of the kind acts of Jehovah, to the age I sing, To all generations I make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth,

2 For I said, `To the age is kindness built, The heavens! Thou dost establish Thy faithfulness in them.'

3 I have made a covenant for My chosen, I have sworn to David My servant:

4 `Even to the age do I establish thy seed, And have built to generation and generation thy throne. Selah.

5 and the heavens confess Thy wonders, O Jehovah, Thy faithfulness also `is' in an assembly of holy ones.

6 For who in the sky, Compareth himself to Jehovah? Is like to Jehovah among sons of the mighty?

7 God is very terrible, In the secret counsel of His holy ones, And fearful over all surrounding Him.

8 O Jehovah, God of Hosts, Who `is' like Thee -- a strong Jah? And Thy faithfulness `is' round about Thee.

9 Thou `art' ruler over the pride of the sea, In the lifting up of its billows Thou dost restrain them.

10 Thou hast bruised Rahab, as one wounded. With the arm of Thy strength Thou hast scattered Thine enemies.

11 Thine `are' the heavens -- the earth also `is' Thine, The habitable world and its fulness, Thou hast founded them.

12 North and south Thou hast appointed them, Tabor and Hermon in Thy name do sing.

13 Thou hast an arm with might, Strong is Thy hand -- high Thy right hand.

14 Righteousness and judgment `Are' the fixed place of Thy throne, Kindness and truth go before Thy face.

15 O the happiness of the people knowing the shout, O Jehovah, in the light of Thy face they walk habitually.

16 In Thy name they rejoice all the day, And in Thy righteousness they are exalted,

17 For the beauty of their strength `art' Thou, And in Thy good will is our horn exalted,

18 For of Jehovah `is' our shield, And of the Holy One of Israel our king.

19 Then Thou hast spoken in vision, To Thy saint, yea, Thou sayest, I have placed help upon a mighty one, Exalted a chosen one out of the people,

20 I have found David My servant, With My holy oil I have anointed him.

21 With whom My hand is established, My arm also doth strengthen him.

22 An enemy exacteth not upon him, And a son of perverseness afflicteth him not.

23 And I have beaten down before him his adversaries, And those hating him I plague,

24 And My faithfulness and kindness `are' with him, And in My name is his horn exalted.

25 And I have set on the sea his hand, And on the rivers his right hand.

26 He proclaimeth me: `Thou `art' my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.'

27 I also first-born do appoint him, Highest of the kings of the earth.

28 To the age I keep for him My kindness, And My covenant `is' stedfast with him.

29 And I have set his seed for ever, And his throne as the days of the heavens.

30 If his sons forsake My law, And in My judgments do not walk;

31 If My statutes they pollute, And My commands do not keep,

32 I have looked after with a rod their transgression, And with strokes their iniquity,

33 And My kindness I break not from him, Nor do I deal falsely in My faithfulness.

34 I profane not My covenant, And that which is going forth from My lips I change not.

35 Once I have sworn by My holiness, I lie not to David,

36 His seed is to the age, And his throne `is' as the sun before Me,

37 As the moon it is established -- to the age, And the witness in the sky is stedfast. Selah.

38 And Thou, Thou hast cast off, and dost reject, Thou hast shown Thyself wroth With Thine anointed,

39 Hast rejected the covenant of Thy servant, Thou hast polluted to the earth his crown,

40 Thou hast broken down all his hedges, Thou hast made his fenced places a ruin.

41 Spoiled him have all passing by the way, He hath been a reproach to his neighbours,

42 Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries, Thou hast caused all his enemies to rejoice.

43 Also -- Thou turnest back the sharpness of his sword, And hast not established him in battle,

44 Hast caused `him' to cease from his brightness, And his throne to the earth hast cast down.

45 Thou hast shortened the days of his youth, Hast covered him over `with' shame. Selah.

46 Till when, O Jehovah, art Thou hidden? For ever doth Thy fury burn as fire?

47 Remember, I pray Thee, what `is' life-time? Wherefore in vain hast Thou created All the sons of men?

48 Who `is' the man that liveth, and doth not see death? He delivereth his soul from the hand of Sheol. Selah.

49 Where `are' Thy former kindnesses, O Lord. Thou hast sworn to David in Thy faithfulness,

50 Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Thy servants, I have borne in my bosom all the strivings of the peoples,

51 Wherewith Thine enemies reproached, O Jehovah, Wherewith they have reproached The steps of Thine anointed.

52 Blessed `is' Jehovah to the age. Amen, and amen!


Psalms 89:1-52 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 {An instruction. Of Ethan the Ezrahite.} I will sing of the loving-kindness of Jehovah for ever; with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness from generation to generation.

2 For I said, Loving-kindness shall be built up for ever; in the very heavens wilt thou establish thy faithfulness.

3 I have made a covenant with mine elect, I have sworn unto David my servant:

4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne from generation to generation. Selah.

5 And the heavens shall celebrate thy wonders, O Jehovah, and thy faithfulness in the congregation of the saints.

6 For who in the heaven can be compared to Jehovah? [who] among the sons of the mighty shall be likened to Jehovah?

7 ùGod is greatly to be feared in the council of the saints, and terrible for all that are round about him.

8 Jehovah, God of hosts, who is like unto thee, the strong Jah? And thy faithfulness is round about thee.

9 *Thou* rulest the pride of the sea: when its waves arise, *thou* stillest them.

10 Thou hast crushed Rahab as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with the arm of thy strength.

11 Thine are the heavens, the earth also is thine; the world and its fulness, *thou* hast founded them.

12 The north and the south, *thou* hast created them: Tabor and Hermon triumph in thy name.

13 Thine is the arm of might: strong is thy hand, high is thy right hand.

14 Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of thy throne; loving-kindness and truth go before thy face.

15 Blessed is the people that know the shout of joy: they walk, O Jehovah, in the light of thy countenance.

16 In thy name are they joyful all the day, and in thy righteousness are they exalted.

17 For thou art the glory of their strength; and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

18 For Jehovah is our shield, and the Holy One of Israel, our king.

19 Then thou spakest in vision of thy Holy One, and saidst, I have laid help upon a mighty one; 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; and mine arm shall strengthen him.

22 No enemy shall exact upon him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him;

23 But I will beat down his adversaries before his face, and will smite them that hate him.

24 And my faithfulness and my loving-kindness shall be with him, and by my name shall his horn be exalted.

25 And I will set his hand in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

26 *He* shall call unto me, Thou art my father, my ùGod, and the rock of my salvation;

27 And as to me, I will make him firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

28 My loving-kindness will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him;

29 And I will establish his seed for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

30 If his sons forsake my law, and walk not in mine ordinances;

31 If they profane 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 loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor belie my faithfulness;

34 My covenant will I not profane, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

35 Once have I sworn by my holiness; 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 the witness in the sky is firm. Selah.

38 But thou hast rejected and cast off; thou hast been very wroth with thine anointed:

39 Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant; thou hast profaned his crown to the ground:

40 Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strongholds to ruin.

41 All that pass by the way plunder him; he is become a reproach to his neighbours.

42 Thou hast exalted the right hand of his oppressors; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice:

43 Yea, thou hast turned back the edge of his sword, and hast not made him stand in the battle.

44 Thou hast made his brightness 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, Jehovah, wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy fury burn like fire?

47 Remember, as regards me, what life is. Wherefore hast thou created all the children of men to be vanity?

48 What man liveth, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.

49 Where, Lord, are thy former loving-kindnesses, [which] thou swarest unto David in thy faithfulness?

50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants -- that I bear in my bosom [that of] all the mighty peoples --

51 Wherewith thine enemies, O Jehovah, have reproached, wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.

52 Blessed be Jehovah for evermore! Amen, and Amen.


Psalms 89:1-52 World English Bible (WEB)

1 > I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

2 I indeed declare, "Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them."

3 "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant,

4 'I will establish your seed forever, And build up your throne to all generations.'" Selah.

5 The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.

6 For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Yahweh,

7 A very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, To be feared above all those who are around him?

8 Yahweh, God of hosts, who is a mighty one, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you.

9 You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them.

10 You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

11 The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours; The world and its fullness. You have founded them.

12 The north and the south, you have created them. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.

13 You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face.

15 Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh.

16 In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted.

17 For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted.

18 For our shield belongs to Yahweh; Our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19 Then you spoke in vision to your saints, And said, "I have bestowed strength on the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people.

20 I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil,

21 With whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him.

22 No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him.

23 I will beat down his adversaries before him, And strike those who hate him.

24 But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted.

25 I will set his hand also on the sea, And his right hand on the rivers.

26 He will call to me, 'You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation!'

27 I will also appoint him my firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.

28 I will keep my loving kindness for him forevermore. My covenant will stand firm with him.

29 I will also make his seed endure forever, And his throne as the days of heaven.

30 If his children forsake my law, And don't walk in my ordinances;

31 If they break my statutes, And don't keep my commandments;

32 Then I will punish their sin with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes.

33 But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, Nor allow my faithfulness to fail.

34 I will not break my covenant, Nor alter what my lips have uttered.

35 Once have I sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.

36 His seed will endure forever, His throne like the sun before me.

37 It will be established forever like the moon, The faithful witness in the sky." Selah.

38 But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.

39 You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust.

40 You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin.

41 All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.

42 You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice.

43 Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, And haven't supported him in battle.

44 You have ended his splendor, And thrown his throne down to the ground.

45 You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah.

46 How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire?

47 Remember how short my time is! For what vanity have you created all the children of men!

48 What man is he who shall live and not see death, Who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.

49 Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, Which you swore to David in your faithfulness?

50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, How I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,

51 With which your enemies have mocked, Yahweh, With which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.

52 Blessed be Yahweh forevermore. Amen, and Amen.


Psalms 89:1-52 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 <Maschil. Of Ethan the Ezrahite.> My song will be of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make his faith clear to all generations.

2 For you have said, Mercy will be made strong for ever; my faith will be unchanging in the heavens.

3 I have made an agreement with the man of my selection, I have made an oath to David my servant;

4 I will make your seed go on for ever, your kingdom will be strong through all generations. (Selah.)

5 In heaven let them give praise for your wonders, O Lord; and your unchanging faith among the saints.

6 For who is there in the heavens in comparison with the Lord? who is like the Lord among the sons of the gods?

7 God is greatly to be feared among the saints, and to be honoured over all those who are about him.

8 O Lord God of armies, who is strong like you, O Jah? and your unchanging faith is round about you.

9 You have rule over the sea in storm; when its waves are troubled, you make them calm.

10 Rahab was crushed by you like one wounded to death; with your strong arm you put to flight all your haters.

11 Yours are the heavens, and the earth is yours; you have made the world, and everything which is in it.

12 You have made the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon are sounding with joy at your name.

13 Yours is an arm of power; strong is your hand and high your right hand.

14 The seat of your kingdom is resting on righteousness and right judging: mercy and good faith come before your face.

15 Happy are the people who have knowledge of the holy cry: the light of your face, O Lord, will be shining on their way.

16 In your name will they have joy all the day: in your righteousness will they be lifted up.

17 For you are the glory of their strength; in your pleasure will our horn be lifted up.

18 For our breastplate is the Lord; and our king is the Holy One of Israel's.

19 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.

20 I have made discovery of David my servant; I have put my holy oil on his head.

21 My hand will be his support; my arm will give him strength.

22 The deceit of those who are against him will not overcome him; he will not be troubled by the sons of evil.

23 I will have those who are against him broken before his face, and his haters will be crushed under my blows.

24 But my faith and my mercy will be with him; and in my name will his horn be lifted up.

25 I will put his hand in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

26 He will say to me, You are my father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.

27 And I will make him the first of my sons, most high over the kings of the earth.

28 I will keep my mercy for him for ever; my agreement with him will not be changed.

29 His seed will keep their place for ever; his kingdom will be eternal, like the heavens.

30 If his children give up my law, and are not ruled by my decisions;

31 If my rules are broken, and my orders are not kept;

32 Then I will send punishment on them for their sin; my rod will be the reward of their evil-doing.

33 But I will not take away my mercy from him, and will not be false to my faith.

34 I will be true to my agreement; the things which have gone out of my lips will not be changed.

35 I have made an oath once by my holy name, that I will not be false to David.

36 His seed will not come to an end for ever; the seat of his kingdom will be like the sun before me.

37 It will be fixed for ever like the moon; and the witness in heaven is true. (Selah.)

38 But you have put him away in disgust; you have been angry with the king of your selection.

39 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.

40 All his walls are broken down; you have given his strong towers to destruction.

41 All those who come by take away his goods; he is laughed at by his neighbours.

42 You have given power to the right hand of his haters; you have made glad all those who are against him.

43 His sword is turned back; you have not been his support in the fight.

44 You have put an end to his glory: the seat of his kingdom has been levelled to the earth.

45 You have made him old before his time; he is covered with shame. (Selah.)

46 How long, O Lord, will you Keep yourself for ever from our eyes? how long will your wrath be burning like fire?

47 See how short my time is; why have you made all men for no purpose?

48 What man now living will not see death? will he be able to keep back his soul from the underworld? (Selah.)

49 Lord, where are your earlier mercies? where is the oath which you made to David in unchanging faith?

50 Keep in mind, O Lord, the shame of your servants, and how the bitter words of all the people have come into my heart;

51 The bitter words of your haters, O Lord, shaming the footsteps of your king.

52 Let the Lord be praised for ever. So be it, So be it.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 89

Commentary on Psalms 89 Matthew Henry Commentary


Psalm 89

Many psalms that begin with complaint and prayer end with joy and praise, but this begins with joy and praise and ends with sad complaints and petitions; for the psalmist first recounts God's former favours, and then with the consideration of them aggravates the present grievances. It is uncertain when it was penned; only, in general, that it was at a time when the house of David was woefully eclipsed; some think it was at the time of the captivity of Babylon, when king Zedekiah was insulted over, and abused, by Nebuchadnezzar, and then they make the title to signify no more than that the psalm was set to the tune of a song of Ethan the son of Zerah, called Maschil; others suppose it to be penned by Ethan, who is mentioned in the story of Solomon, who, outliving that glorious prince, thus lamented the great disgrace done to the house of David in the next reign by the revolt of the ten tribes.

  • I. The psalmist, in the joyful pleasant part of the psalm, gives glory to God, and takes comfort to himself and his friends. This he does more briefly, mentioning God's mercy and truth (v. 1) and his covenant (v. 2-4), but more largely in the following verses, wherein,
    • 1. He adores the glory and perfection of God (v. 5-14).
    • 2. He pleases himself in the happiness of those that are admitted into communion with him (v. 15-18).
    • 3. He builds all his hope upon God's covenant with David, as a type of Christ (v. 19-37).
  • II. In the melancholy part of the psalm he laments the present calamitous state of the prince and royal family (v. 38-45), expostulates with God upon it (v. 46-49), and then concludes with prayer for redress (v. 50, 51).

In singing this psalm we must have high thoughts of God, a lively faith in his covenant with the Redeemer, and a sympathy with the afflicted parts of the church.

Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

Psa 89:1-4

The psalmist has a very sad complaint to make of the deplorable condition of the family of David at this time, and yet he begins the psalm with songs of praise; for we must, in every thing, in every state, give thanks; thus we must glorify the Lord in the fire. We think, when we are in trouble, that we get ease by complaining; but we do more-we get joy, by praising. Let our complaints therefore be turned into thanksgivings; and in these verses we find that which will be matter of praise and thanksgiving for us in the worst of times, whether upon a personal or a public account,

  • 1. However it be, the everlasting God is good and true, v. 1. Though we may find it hard to reconcile present dark providences with the goodness and truth of God, yet we must abide by this principle, That God's mercies are inexhaustible and his truth is inviolable; and these must be the matter of our joy and praise: "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever, sing a praising song to God's honour, a pleasant song for my own solace, and Maschil, an instructive song, for the edification of others.' We may be for ever singing God's mercies, and yet the subject will not be drawn dry. We must sing of God's mercies as long as we live, train up others to sing of them when we are gone, and hope to be singing them in heaven world without end; and this is singing of the mercies of the Lord for ever. With my mouth, and with my pen (for by that also do we speak), will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations, assuring posterity, from my own observation and experience, that God is true to every word that he has spoken, that they may learn to put their trust in God, Ps. 78:6.
  • 2. However it be, the everlasting covenant is firm and sure, v. 2-4. Here we have,
    • (1.) The psalmist's faith and hope: "Things now look black, and threaten the utter extirpation of the house of David; but I have said, and I have warrant from the word of God to say it, that mercy shall be built up for ever.' As the goodness of God's nature is to be the matter of our song (v. 1), so much more the mercy that is built for us in the covenant; it is still increasing, like a house in the building up, and shall still continue our rest for ever, like a house built up. It shall be built up for ever; for the everlasting habitations we hope for in the new Jerusalem are of this building. If mercy shall be built for ever, then the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, shall be raised out of its ruins, and built up as in the days of old, Amos 9:11. Therefore mercy shall be built up for ever, because thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. Though our expectations are in some particular instances disappointed, yet God's promises are not disannulled; they are established in the very heavens (that is, in his eternal counsels); they are above the changes of this lower region and out of the reach of the opposition of hell and earth. The stability of the material heavens is an emblem of the truth of God's word; the heavens may be clouded by vapours arising out of the earth, but they cannot be touched, they cannot be changed.
    • (2.) An abstract of the covenant upon which this faith and hope are built: I have said it, says the psalmist, for God hath sworn it, that the heirs of promise might be entirely satisfied of the immutability of his counsel. He brings in God speaking (v. 3), owning, to the comfort of his people, "I have made a covenant, and therefore will make it good.' The covenant is made with David; the covenant of royalty is made with him, as the father of his family, and with his seed through him and for his sake, representing the covenant of grace made with Christ as head of the church and with all believers as his spiritual seed. David is here called God's chosen and his servant; and, as God is not changeable to recede from his own choice, so he is not unrighteous to cast off one that served him. Two things encourage the psalmist to build his faith on this covenant:-
      • [1.] The ratification of it; it was confirmed with an oath: The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent.
      • [2.] The perpetuity of it; the blessings of the covenant were not only secured to David himself, but were entailed on his family; it was promised that his family should continue-Thy seed will I establish for ever, so that David shall not want a son to reign (Jer. 33:20, 21); and that it should continue a royal family-I will build up thy throne to all generations, to all the generations of time. This has its accomplishment only in Christ, of the seed of David, who lives for ever, to whom God has given the throne of his father David, and of the increase of whose government and peace there shall be no end. Of this covenant the psalmist will return to speak more largely, v. 19, etc.

Psa 89:5-14

These verses are full of the praises of God. Observe,

  • I. Where, and by whom, God is to be praised.
    • 1. God is praised by the angels above: The heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord! v. 5; that is, "the glorious inhabitants of the upper world continually celebrate thy praises.' Bless the Lord, you his angels, Ps. 103:20. The works of God are wonders even to those that are best acquainted and most intimately conversant with them; the more God's works are known the more they are admired and praised. This should make us love heaven, and long to be there, that there we shall have nothing else to do but to praise God and his wonders.
    • 2. God is praised by the assemblies of his saints on earth (praise waits for him in Zion); and, though their praises fall so far short of the praises of angels, yet God is pleased to take notice of them, and accept of them, and reckon himself honoured by them. "Thy faithfulness and the truth of thy promise, that rock on which the church is built, shall be praised in the congregation of the saints, who owe their all to that faithfulness, and whose constant comfort it is that there is a promise, and that he is faithful who has promised.' It is expected from God's saints on earth that they praise him; who should, if they do not? Let every saint praise him, but especially the congregation of saints; when they come together, let them join in praising God. The more the better; it is the more like heaven. Of the honour done to God by the assembly of the saints he speaks again (v. 7): God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints. Saints should assemble for religious worship, that they may publicly own their relation to God and may stir up one another to give honour to him, and, in keeping up communion with God, may likewise maintain the communion of saints. In religious assemblies God has promised the presence of his grace, but we must also, in them, have an eye to his glorious presence, that the familiarity we are admitted to may not breed the least contempt; for he is terrible in his holy places, and therefore greatly to be feared. A holy awe of God must fall upon us, and fill us, in all our approaches to God, even in secret, to which something may very well be added by the solemnity of public assemblies. God must be had in reverence of all that are about him, that attend him continually as his servants or approach him upon any particular errand. See Lev. 10:3. Those only serve God acceptably who serve him with reverence and godly fear, Heb. 12:28.
  • II. What it is to praise God; it is to acknowledge him to be a being of unparalleled perfection, such a one that there is none like him, nor any to be compared with him, v. 6. If there be any beings that can pretend to vie with God, surely they must be found among the angels; but they are all infinitely short of him: Who in the heaven can be compared with the Lord, so as to challenge any share of the reverence and adoration which are due to him only, or to set up in rivalship with him for the homage of the children of men? They are sons of the mighty, but which of them can be likened unto the Lord? Nobles are princes' peers; some parity there is between them. But there is none between God and the angels; they are not his peers. To whom will you liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One, Isa. 40:25. This is insisted on again (v. 8): Who is a strong Lord like unto thee? No angel, no earthly potentate, whatsoever, is comparable to God, or has an arm like him, or can thunder with a voice like him. Thy faithfulness is round about thee; that is, "thy angels who are round about thee, attending thee with their praises and ready to go on thy errands, are all faithful.' Or, rather, "In every thing thou doest, on all sides, thou approvest thyself faithful to thy word, above whatever prince or potentate was.' Among men it is too often found that those who are most able to break their word are least careful to keep it; but God is both strong and faithful; he can do every thing, and yet will never do an unjust thing.
  • III. What we ought, in our praises, to give God the glory of. Several things are here mentioned.
    • 1. The command God has of the most ungovernable creatures (v. 9): Thou rulest the raging of the sea, than which nothing is more frightful or threatening, nor more out of the power of man to give check to; it can swell no higher, roll no further, beat no harder, continue no longer, nor do any more hurt, than God suffers it. "When the waves thereof arise thou canst immediately hush them asleep, still them, and make them quiet, and turn the storm into a calm.' This coming in here as an act of omnipotence, what manner of man then was the Lord Jesus, whom the winds and seas obeyed?
    • 2. The victories God has obtained over the enemies of his church. His ruling the raging of the sea and quelling its billows was an emblem of this (v. 10): Thou hast broken Rahab, many a proud enemy (so it signifies), Egypt in particular, which is sometimes called Rahab, broken it in pieces, as one that is slain and utterly unable to make head again. "The head being broken, thou hast scattered the remainder with the arm of thy strength.' God has more ways than one to deal with his and his church's enemies. We think he should slay them immediately, but sometimes he scatters them, that he may send them abroad to be monuments of his justice, Ps. 59:11. The remembrance of the breaking of Egypt in pieces is a comfort to the church, in reference to the present power of Babylon; for God is still the same.
    • 3. The incontestable property he has in all the creatures of the upper and lower world (v. 11, 12): "Men are honoured for their large possessions; but the heavens are thine, O Lord! the earth also is thine; therefore we praise thee, therefore we trust in thee, therefore we will not fear what man can do against us. The world and the fulness thereof, all the riches contained in it, all the inhabitants of it, both the tenements and the tenants, are all thine; for thou hast founded them,' and the founder may justly claim to be the owner. He specifies,
      • (1.) The remotest parts of the world, the north and south, the countries that lie under the two poles, which are uninhabited and little known: "Thou hast created them, and therefore knowest them, takest care of them, and hast tributes of praise from them.' The north is said to be hung over the empty place; yet what fulness there is there God is the owner of it.
      • (2.) The highest parts of the world. He mentions the two highest hills in Canaan-"Tabor and Hermon' (one lying to the west, the other to the east); "these shall rejoice in thy name, for they are under the care of thy providence, and they produce offerings for thy altar.' The little hills are said to rejoice in their own fruitfulness, Ps. 65:12. Tabor is commonly supposed to be that high mountain in Galilee on the top of which Christ was transfigured; and then indeed it might be said to rejoice in that voice which was there heard, This is my beloved Son.
    • 4. The power and justice, the mercy and truth, with which he governs the world and rules in the affairs of the children of men, v. 13, 14.
      • (1.) God is able to do every thing; for his is the Lord God Almighty. His arm, his hand, is mighty and strong, both to save his people and to destroy his and their enemies; none can either resist the force or bear the weight of his mighty hand. High is his right hand, to reach the highest, even those that set their nests among the stars (Amos 9:2, 3; Obad. 4); his right hand is exalted in what he has done, for in thousands of instances he has signalized his power, Ps. 118:16.
      • (2.) He never did, nor ever will do, any thing that is either unjust or unwise; for righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. None of all his dictates or decrees ever varied from the rules of equity and wisdom, nor could ever any charge God with unrighteousness or folly. Justice and judgment are the preparing of his throne (so some), the establishment of it, so others. The preparations for his government in his counsels from eternity, and the establishment of it in its consequences to eternity, are all justice and judgment.
      • (3.) He always does that which is kind to his people and consonant to the word which he has spoken: "Mercy and truth shall go before thy face, to prepare thy way, as harbingers to make room for thee-mercy in promising, truth in performing-truth in being as good as thy word, mercy in being better.' How praiseworthy are these in great men, much more in the great God, in whom they are in perfection!

Psa 89:15-18

The psalmist, having largely shown the blessedness of the God of Israel, here shows the blessedness of the Israel of God. As there is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, so, happy art thou, O Israel! there is none like unto thee, O people! especially as a type of the gospel-Israel, consisting of all true believers, whose happiness is here described.

  • I. Glorious discoveries are made to them, and glad tidings of good brought to them; they hear, they know, the joyful sound, v. 15. This may allude,
    • 1. To the shout of a victorious army, the shout of a king, Num. 23:21. Israel have the tokens of God's presence with them in their wars; the sound of the going in the top of the mulberry-trees was indeed a joyful sound (2 Sa. 5:24); and they often returned making the earth ring with their songs of triumph; these were joyful sounds. Or,
    • 2. To the sound that was made over the sacrifices and on the solemn feast-day, Ps. 81:1-3. This was the happiness of Israel, that they had among them the free and open profession of God's holy religion, and abundance of joy in their sacrifices. Or,
    • 3. To the sound of the jubilee-trumpet; a joyful sound it was to servants and debtors, to whom it proclaimed release. The gospel is indeed a joyful sound, a sound of victory, of liberty, of communion with God, and the sound of abundance of rain; blessed are the people that hear it, and know it, and bid it welcome.
  • II. Special tokens of God's favour are granted them: "They shall walk, O Lord! in the light of thy countenance; they shall govern themselves by thy directions, shall be guided by the eye; and they shall delight themselves in thy consolations. They shall have the favour of God; they shall know that they have it, and it shall be continual matter of joy and rejoicing to them. They shall go through all the exercises of a holy life under the powerful influences of God's lovingkindness, which shall make their duty pleasant to them and make them sincere in it, aiming at this, as their end, to be accepted of the Lord.' We then walk in the light of the Lord when we fetch all our comforts from God's favour and are very careful to keep ourselves in his love.
  • III. They never want matter for joy: Blessed are God's people, for in his name, in all that whereby he has made himself known, if it be not their own fault, they shall rejoice all the day. Those that rejoice in Christ Jesus, and make God their exceeding joy, have enough to counterbalance their grievances and silence their griefs; and therefore their joy is full (1 Jn. 1:4) and constant; it is their duty to rejoice evermore.
  • IV. Their relation to God is their honour and dignity. They are happy, for they are high. Surely in the Lord, in the Lord Christ, they have righteousness and strength, and so are recommended by him to the divine acceptance; and therefore in him shall all the seed of Israel glory, Isa. 45:24, 25. So it is here, v. 16, 17.
    • 1. "In thy righteousness shall they be exalted, and not in any righteousness of their own.' We are exalted out of danger, and into honour, purely by the righteousness of Christ, which is a clothing both for dignity and for defence.
    • 2. "Thou art the glory of their strength,' that is, "thou art their strength, and it is their glory that thou art so, and what they glory in.' Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph.
    • 3. "In thy favour, which through Christ we hope for, our horn shall be exalted.' The horn denotes beauty, plenty, and power; these those have who are made accepted in the beloved. What greater preferment are men capable of in this world than to be God's favourites?
  • V. Their relation to God is their protection and safety (v. 18): "For our shield is of the Lord' (so the margin) "and our king is from the Holy One of Israel. If God be our ruler, he will be our defender; and who is he than that can harm us?' It was the happiness of Israel that God himself had the erecting of their bulwarks and the nominating of their king (so some take it); or, rather, that he was himself a wall of fire round about them, and, as a Holy One, the author and centre of their holy religion; he was their King, and so their glory in the midst of them. Christ is the Holy One of Israel, that holy thing; and in nothing was that peculiar people more blessed than in this, that he was born King of the Jews. Now this account of the blessedness of God's Israel comes in here as that to which it was hard to reconcile their present calamitous state.

Psa 89:19-37

The covenant God made with David and his seed was mentioned before (v. 3, 4); but in these verses it is enlarged upon, and pleaded with God, for favour to the royal family, now almost sunk and ruined; yet certainly it looks at Christ, and has its accomplishment in him much more than in David; nay, some passages here are scarcely applicable at all to David, but must be understood of Christ only (who is therefore called David our king, Hos. 3:5), and very great and precious promises they are which are here made to the Redeemer, which are strong foundations for the faith and hope of the redeemed to build upon. The comforts of our redemption flow from the covenant of redemption; all our springs are in that, Isa. 55:3. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David, Acts 13:34. Now here we have an account of those sure mercies. Observe,

  • I. What assurance we have of the truth of the promise, which may encourage us to build upon it. We are here told,
    • 1. How it was spoken (v. 19): Thou didst speak in vision to thy Holy One. God's promise to David, which is especially referred to here, was spoken in vision to Nathan the prophet, 2 Sa. 7:12-17. Then, when the Holy One of Israel was their king (v. 18), he appointed David to be his viceroy. But to all the prophets, those holy ones, he spoke in vision concerning Christ, and to him himself especially, who had lain in his bosom from eternity, and was made perfectly acquainted with the whole design of redemption, Mt. 11:27.
    • 2. How it was sworn to and ratified (v. 35): Once have I sworn by my holiness, that darling attribute. In swearing by his holiness, he swore by himself; for he will as soon cease to be as be otherwise than holy. His swearing once is enough; he needs not swear again, as David did (1 Sa. 20:17); for his word and oath are two immutable things. As Christ was made a priest, so he was made a king, by an oath (Heb. 7:21); for his kingdom and priesthood are both unchangeable.
  • II. The choice made of the person to whom the promise is given, v. 19, 20. David was a king of God's own choosing, so is Christ, and therefore both are called God's kings, Ps. 2:6. David was mighty, a man of courage and fit for business; he was chosen out of the people, not out of the princes, but the shepherds. God found him out, exalted him, laid help upon him, and ordered Samuel to anoint him. But this is especially to be applied to Christ.
    • 1. He is one that is mighty, every way qualified for the great work he was to undertake, able to save to the uttermost-mighty in strength, for he is the Son of God-mighty in love, for he is able experimentally to compassionate those that are tempted. He is the mighty God, Isa. 9:6.
    • 2. He is chosen out of the people, one of us, bone of our bone, that takes part with us of flesh and blood. Being ordained for men, he is taken from among men, that his terror might not make us afraid.
    • 3. God has found him. He is a Saviour of God's own providing; for the salvation, from first to last, is purely the Lord's doing. He has found the ransom, Job 33:24. We could never have found a person fit to undertake this great work, Rev. 5:3, 4.
    • 4. God has laid help upon him, not only helped him, but treasured up help in him for us, laid it as a charge upon him to help fallen man up again, to help the chosen remnant to heaven. In me is thy help, Hos. 13:9.
    • 5. He has exalted him, by constituting him the prophet, priest, and king of his church, clothing him with power, raising him from the dead, and setting him at his own right hand. Whom God chooses and uses he will exalt.
    • 6. He has anointed him, has qualified him for his office, and so confirmed him in it, by giving him the Spirit, not by measure, but without measure, infinitely above his fellows. He is called Messiah, or Christ, the Anointed.
    • 7. In all this he designed him to be his own servant, for the accomplishing of his eternal purpose and the advancement of the interests of his kingdom among men.
  • III. The promises made to this chosen one, to David in the type and the Son of David in the antitype, in which not only gracious, but glorious things are spoken of him.
    • 1. With reference to himself, as king and God's servant: and what makes for him makes for all his loving subjects. It is here promised,
      • (1.) That God would stand by him and strengthen him in his undertaking (v. 21): With him my hand not only shall be, but shall be established, by promise, shall be so established that he shall by it be established and confirmed in all his offices, so that none of them shall be undermined and overthrown, though by the man of sin they shall all be usurped and fought against. Christ had a great deal of hard work to do and hard usage to go through; but he that gave him commission gave him forces sufficient for the execution of his commission: "My arm also shall strengthen him to break through and bear up under all his difficulties.' No good work can miscarry in the hand of those whom God himself undertakes to strengthen.
      • (2.) That he should be victorious over his enemies, that they should not encroach upon him (v. 22): The son of wickedness shall not exact upon him, nor afflict him. He that at first broke the peace would set himself against him that undertook to make peace, and do what he could to blast his design: but he could only reach to bruise his heel; further he could not exact upon him nor afflict him. Christ became a surety for our debt, and thereby Satan and death thought to gain advantage against him; but he satisfied the demands of God's justice, and then they could not exact upon him. The prince of this world cometh, but he has nothing in me, Jn. 14:30. Nay, they not only shall not prevail against him, but they shall fall before him (v. 23): I will bend down his foes before his face; the prince of this world shall be cast out, principalities and powers spoiled, and he shall be the death of death itself, and the destruction of the grave, Hos. 13:14. Some apply this to the ruin which God brought upon the Jewish nation, that persecuted Christ and put him to death. But all Christ's enemies, who hate him and will not have him to reign over them, shall be brought forth and slain before him, Lu. 19:27.
      • (3.) That he should be the great trustee of the covenant between God and men, that God would be gracious and true to us (v. 24): My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him. They were with David; God continued merciful to him, and so approved himself faithful. They were with Christ; God made good all his promises to him. But that is not all; God's mercy to us, and his faithfulness to us, are with Christ; he is not only pleased with him, but with us in him; and it is in him that all the promises of God are yea and amen. So that if any poor sinners hope for benefit by the faithfulness and mercy of God, let them know it is with Christ; it is lodged in his hand, and to him they must apply for it (v. 28): My mercy will I keep for him, to be disposed of by him, for evermore; in the channel of Christ's mediation all the streams of divine goodness will for ever run. Therefore it is the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which we look for unto eternal life, Jude 21; Jn. 17:2. And, as the mercy of God flows to us through him, so the promise of God is, through him, firm to us: My covenant shall stand fast with him, both the covenant of redemption made with him and the covenant of grace made with us in him. The new covenant is therefore always new, and firmly established, because it is lodged in the hands of a Mediator, Heb. 8:6. The covenant stands fast, because it stands upon this basis. And this redounds to the everlasting honour of the Lord Jesus, that to him the great cause between God and man is entirely referred and the Father has committed all judgment to him, that all men might honour him (Jn. 5:22, 23); therefore it is here said, In my name shall his horn be exalted; this shall be his glory, that God's name is in him (Ex. 23:21), and that he acts in God's name. As the Father gave me commandment, so I do.
      • (4.) That his kingdom should be greatly enlarged (v. 25): I will set his hand in the sea (he shall have the dominion of the seas, and the isles of the sea), and his right hand in the rivers, the inland countries that are watered with rivers. David's kingdom extended itself to the Great Sea, and the Red Sea, to the river of Egypt and the river Euphrates. But it is in the kingdom of the Messiah that this has its full accomplishment, and shall have more and more, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ (Rev. 11:15), and the isles shall wait for his law.
      • (5.) That he should own God as his Father, and God would own him as his Son, his firstborn, v. 26, 27. This is a comment upon these words in Nathan's message concerning Solomon (for he also was a type of Christ as well as David), I will be his Father and he shall be my Son (2 Sa. 7:14), and the relation shall be owned on both sides.
        • [1.] He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father. It is probable that Solomon did so; but we are sure Christ did so, in the days of his flesh, when he offered up strong cries to God, and called him holy Father, righteous Father, and taught us to address ourselves to him as our Father in heaven. Christ, in his agony, cried unto God, Thou art my Father (Mt. 26:39, 42, O my Father), and, upon the cross, Father, forgive them; Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. He looked upon him likewise as his God, and therefore he perfectly obeyed him, and submitted to his will in his whole undertaking (he ismy God and your God, Jn. 20:17), and as the rock of his salvation, who would bear him up and bear him out in his undertaking, and make him more than a conqueror, even a complete Saviour; and therefore with an undaunted resolution he endured the cross, despising the shame, for he knew he should be both justified and glorified.
        • [2.] I will make him my firstborn. I see not how this can be applied to David; it is Christ's prerogative to be the firstborn of every creature, and, as such, the heir of all things, Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:2, 6. When all power was given to Christ both in heaven and in earth, and all things were delivered unto him by the Father, then god made him his firstborn, and far higher, more great and honourable, than the kings of the earth; for he is the King of kings, angels, authorities, and powers, being made subject to him, 1 Pt. 3:22.
    • 2. With reference to his seed. God's covenants always took in the seed of the covenanters; this does so (v. 29, 36): His seed shall endure for ever, and with it his throne. Now this will be differently understood according as we apply it to Christ or David.
      • (1.) If we apply it to David, by his seed we are to understand his successors, Solomon and the following kings of Judah, who descended from the loins of David. It is supposed that they might degenerate, and not walk in the spirit and steps of their father David; in such a case they must expect to come under divine rebukes, such as the house of David was at this time under, v. 38. But let this encourage them, that, though they were corrected, they should not be abandoned or disinherited. This refers to that part of Nathan's message (2 Sa. 7:14, 15), If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him, but my mercy shall not depart from him. Thus far David's seed and throne did endure for ever, that, notwithstanding the wickedness of many of his posterity, who were the scandals of his house, yet his family continued, and continued in the imperial dignity, a very long time,-that, as long as Judah continued a kingdom, David's posterity were kings of it, and the royalty of that kingdom was never in any other family, as that of the ten tribes was, in Jeroboam's first, then in Baasha's, etc.,-and that the family of David continued a family of distinction till that Son of David came whose throne should endure for ever; see Lu. 1:27, 32; 2:4, 11. If David's posterity, in after-times, should forsake God and their duty and revolt to the ways of sin, God would bring desolating judgments upon them and ruin the family; and yet he would not take away his lovingkindness from David, nor break his covenant with him; for, in the Messiah, who should come out of his loins, all these promises shall have their accomplishment to the full. Thus, when the Jews were rejected, the apostle shows that God's covenant with Abraham was not broken, because it was fulfilled in his spiritual seed, the heirs of the righteousness of faith, Rom. 11:7.
      • (2.) If we apply it to Christ, by his seed we are to understand his subjects, all believers, his spiritual seed, the children which God has given him, Heb. 2:13. This is that seed which shall be made to endure for ever, and his throne in the midst of them, in the church in the heart, as the days of heaven. To the end Christ shall have a people in the world to serve and honour him. He shall see his seed; he shall prolong his days. This holy seed shall endure for ever in a glorified state, when time and days shall be no more; and thus Christ's throne and kingdom shall be perpetuated: the kingdom of his grace shall continue through all the ages of time and the kingdom of his glory to the endless ages of eternity.
        • [1.] The continuance of Christ's kingdom is here made doubtful by the sins and afflictions of his subjects; their iniquities and calamities threaten the ruin of it. This case is here put, that we may not be offended when it comes to be a case in fact, but that we may reconcile it with the stability of the covenant and be assured of that notwithstanding.
          • First, It is here supposed that there will be much amiss in the subjects of Christ's kingdom. His children may forsake God's law (v. 30) by omissions, and break his statutes (v. 31) by commissions. There are spots which are the spots of God's children, Deu. 32:5. Many corruptions there are in the bowels of the church, as well as in the hearts of those who are the members of it, and these corruptions break out.
          • Secondly, They are here told that they must smart for it (v. 32): I will visit their transgression with a rod, their transgression sooner than that of others. You only have I known, and therefore I will punish you, Amos 3:2. Their being related to Christ shall not excuse them from being called to an account. But observe what affliction is to God's people.
            • 1. It is but a rod, not an axe, not a sword; it is for correction, not for destruction. This denotes gentleness in the affliction; it is the rod of men, such a rod as men use in correcting their children; and it denotes a design of good in and by the affliction, such a rod as yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
            • 2. It is a rod on the hand of God (I will visit them), he who is wise, and knows what he does, gracious, and will do what is best.
            • 3. It is a rod which they shall never feel the smart of but when there is great need: If they break my law, then I will visit their transgression with the rod, but not else. Then it is requisite that God's honour be vindicated, and that they be humbled and reduced.
        • [2.] The continuance of Christ's kingdom is made certain by the inviolable promise and oath of God, notwithstanding all this (v. 33): Nevertheless, my kindness will I not totally and finally take from him.
          • First, "Notwithstanding their provocations, yet my covenant shall not be broken.' Note, Afflictions are not only consistent with covenant-love, but to the people of God they flow from it. Though David's seed be chastened, it does not follow that they are disinherited; they may be cast down, but they are not cast off. God's favour is continued to his people,
            • 1. For Christ's sake; in him the mercy is laid up for us, and God says, I will not take it from him (v. 33), I will not lie unto David, v. 35. We are unworthy, but he is worthy.
            • 2. For the covenant's sake: My faithfulness shall not fail, my covenant will I not break. It was supposed that they had broken God's statutes, profaned and polluted them (so the word signifies); "But,' says God, "I will not break, I will not profane and pollute, my covenant;' it is the same word. That which is said and sworn is that God will have a church in the world as long as sun and moon endure, v. 36, 37. The sun and moon are faithful witnesses in heaven of the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Creator, and shall continue while time lasts, which they are the measurers of; but the seed of Christ shall be established for ever, as lights of the world while the world stands, to shine in it, and, when it is at an end, they shall be established lights shining in the firmament of the Father.

Psa 89:38-52

In these verses we have,

  • I. A very melancholy complaint of the present deplorable state of David's family, which the psalmist thinks hard to be reconciled to the covenant God made with David. "Thou saidst thou wouldst not take away thy lovingkindness, but thou hast cast off.' Sometimes, it is no easy thing to reconcile God's providences with his promises, and yet we are sure they are reconcilable; for God's works fulfil his word and never contradict it.
    • 1. David's house seemed to have lost its interest in God, which was the greatest strength and beauty of it. God had been pleased with his anointed, but now he was wroth with him (v. 38), had entered into covenant with the family, but now, for aught he could perceive, he had made void the covenant, not broken some of the articles of it, but cancelled it, v. 39. We misconstrue the rebukes of Providence if we think they make void the covenant. When the great anointed one, Christ himself, was upon the cross, God seemed to have cast him off, and was wroth with him, and yet did not make void his covenant with him, for that was established for ever.
    • 2. The honour of the house of David was lost and laid in the dust: Thou hast profaned his crown (which was always looked upon as sacred) by casting it to the ground, to be trampled on, v. 39. Thou hast made his glory to cease (so uncertain is all earthly glory, and so soon does it wither) and thou hast cast his throne down to the ground, not only dethroned the king, but put a period to the kingdom, v. 44. If it was penned in Rehoboam's time, it was true as to the greatest part of the kingdom, five parts of six; if in Zedekiah's time, it was more remarkably true of the poor remainder. Note, Thrones and crowns are tottering things, and are often laid in the dust; but there is a crown of glory reserved for Christ's spiritual seed which fadeth not away.
    • 3. It was exposed and made a prey to all the neighbours, who insulted over that ancient and honourable family (v. 40): Thou hast broken down all his hedges (all those things that were a defence to them, and particularly that hedge of protection which they thought God's covenant and promise had made about them) and thou hast made even his strong-holds a ruin, so that they were rather a reproach to them than any shelter; and then, All that pass by the way spoil him (v. 41) and make an easy prey of him; see Ps. 80:12, 13. The enemies talk insolently: He is a reproach to his neighbours, who triumph in his fall from so great a degree of honour. Nay, every one helps forward the calamity (v. 42): "Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries, not only given them power, but inclined them to turn their power this way.' If the enemies of the church lift up their hand against it, we must see God setting up their hand; for they could have no power unless it were given them from above. But, when God does permit them to do mischief to his church, it pleases them: "Thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice; and this is for thy glory, that those who hate thee should have the pleasure to see the tears and troubles of those that love thee.'
    • 4. It was disabled to help itself (v. 43): "Thou hast turned the edge of his sword, and made it blunt, that it cannot do execution as it has done; and (which is worse) thou hast turned the edge of his spirit, and taken off his courage, and hast not made him to stand as he used to do in the battle.' The spirit of men is what the Father and former of spirits makes them; nor can we stand with any strength or resolution further than God is pleased to uphold us. If men's hearts fail them, it is God that dispirits them; but it is sad with the church when those cannot stand who should stand up for it.
    • 5. It was upon the brink of an inglorious exit (v. 45): The days of his youth hast thou shortened; it is ready to be cut off, like a young man in the flower of his age. This seems to intimate that the psalm was penned in Rehoboam's time, when the house of David was but in the days of its youth, and yet waxed old and began to decay already. Thus it was covered with shame, and it was turned very much to its reproach that a family which, in the first and second reign, looked so great, and made such a figure, should, in the third, dwindle and look so little as the house of David did in Rehoboam's time. But it may be applied to the captivity in Babylon, which, in comparison with what was expected, was but the day of the youth of that kingdom. However, the kings then had remarkably the days of their youth shortened, for it was in the days of their youth, when they were about thirty years old, that Jehoiachin and Zedekiah were carried captives to Babylon.
    From all this complaint let us learn,
    • 1. What work sin makes with families, noble royal families, with families in which religion has been uppermost; when posterity degenerates, it falls into disgrace, and iniquity stains their glory.
    • 2. How apt we are to place the promised honour and happiness of the church in something external, and to think the promise fails, and the covenant is made void, if we be disappointed of that, a mistake which we now are inexcusable if we fall into, since our Master has so expressly told us that his kingdom is not of this world.
  • II. A very pathetic expostulation with God upon this. Four things they plead with God for mercy:-
    • 1. The long continuance of the trouble (v. 46): How long, O Lord! wilt thou hide thyself? For ever? That which grieved them most was that God himself, as one displeased, did not appear to them by his prophets to comfort them, did not appear for them by his providences to deliver them, and that he had kept them long in the dark; it seemed an eternal night, when God had withdrawn: Thou hidest thyself for ever. Nay, God not only hid himself from them, but seemed to set himself against them: "Shall thy wrath burn like fire? How long shall it burn? Shall it never be put out? What is hell, but the wrath of God, burning for ever? And is that the lot of thy anointed?'
    • 2. The shortness of life, and the certainty of death: "Lord, let thy anger cease, and return thou, in mercy to us, remembering how short my time is and how sure the period of my time. Lord, since my life is so transitory, and will, ere long, be at an end, let it not be always so miserable that I should rather choose no being at all than such a being.' Job pleads thus, ch. 10:20, 21. And probably the psalmist here urges it in the name of the house of David, and the present prince of that house, the days of whose youth were shortened, v. 45.
      • (1.) He pleads the shortness and vanity of life (v. 47): Remember how short my time is, how transitory I am (say some), therefore unable to bear the power of thy wrath, and therefore a proper object of thy pity. Wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? or, Unto what vanity hast thou created all the sons of Adam! Now, this may be understood either,
        • [1.] As declaring a great truth. If the ancient lovingkindnesses spoken of (v. 49) be forgotten (those relating to another life), man is indeed made in vain. Considering man as mortal, if there were not a future state on the other side of death, we might be ready to think that man was made in vain, and was in vain endued with the noble powers and faculties of reason and filled with such vast designs and desires; but God would not make man in vain; therefore, Lord, remember those lovingkindnesses. Or,
        • [2.] As implying a strong temptation that the psalmist was in. It is certain God has not made all men, nor any man, in vain, Isa. 45:18. For,
          • First, If we think that God has made men in vain because so many have short lives, and long afflictions, in this world, it is true that God has made them so, but it is not true that therefore they are made in vain. For those whose days are few and full of trouble may yet glorify God and do some good, may keep their communion with God and get to heaven, and then they are not made in vain.
          • Secondly, If we think that God has made men in vain because the most of men neither serve him nor enjoy him, it is true that, as to themselves, they were made in vain, better for them had they not been born than not to be born again; but it was not owing to God that they were made in vain; it was owing to themselves; nor are they made in vain as to him, for he has made all things for himself, even the wicked for the day of evil, and those whom he is not glorified by he will be glorified upon.
      • (2.) He pleads the universality and unavoidableness of death (v. 48): "What man' (what strong man, so the word is) "is he that liveth and shall not see death? The king himself, of the house of David, is not exempted from the sentence, from the stroke. Lord, since he is under a fatal necessity of dying, let not his whole life be made thus miserable. Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? No, he shall not when his time has come. Let him not therefore be delivered into the hand of the grave by the miseries of a dying life, till his time shall come.' We must learn here that death is the end of all men; our eyes must shortly be closed to see death; there is no discharge from that war, nor will any bail be taken to save us from the prison of the grave. It concerns us therefore to make sure a happiness on the other side of death and the grave, that, when we fail, we may be received into everlasting habitations.
    • 3. The next plea is taken from the kindness God had for and the covenant he made with his servant David (v. 49): "Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou showedst, nay, which thou swaredst, to David in thy truth? Wilt thou fail of doing what thou hast promised? Wilt thou undo what thou hast done? Art not thou still the same? Why then may not we have the benefit of the former sure mercies of David?' God's unchangeableness and faithfulness assure us that God will not cast off those whom he has chosen and covenanted with.
    • 4. The last plea is taken from the insolence of the enemies and the indignity done to God's anointed (v. 50, 51): "Remember, Lord, the reproach, and let it be rolled away from us and returned upon our enemies.'
      • (1.) They were God's servants that were reproached, and the abuses done to them reflected upon their master, especially since it was for serving him that they were reproached.
      • (2.) The reproach cast upon God's servants was a very grievous burden to all that were concerned for the honour of God: "I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people, and am even overwhelmed with it; it is what I lay much to heart and can scarcely keep up my spirits under the weight of.'
      • (3.) "They are thy enemies who do thus reproach us; and wilt thou not appear against them as such?'
      • (4.) They have reproached the footsteps of thy anointed. They reflected upon all the steps which the king had taken in the course of his administration, tracked him in all his motions, that they might make invidious remarks upon every thing he had said and done. Or, if we may apply it to Christ, the Lord's Messiah, they reproached the Jews with his footsteps, the slowness of his coming. They have reproached the delays of the Messiah; so Dr. Hammond. They called him, He that should come; but, because he had not yet come, because he did not now come to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, when they had none to deliver them, they told them he would never come, they must give over looking for him. The scoffers of the latter days do, in like manner, reproach the footsteps of the Messiah when they ask, Where is the promise of his coming? 2 Pt. 3:3, 4. The reproaching of the footsteps of the anointed some refer to the serpent's bruising the heel of the seed of the woman, or to the sufferings of Christ's followers, who tread in his footsteps, and are reproached for his name's sake.
  • III. The psalm concludes with praise, even after this sad complaint (v. 52): Blessed be the Lord for evermore, Amen, and amen. Thus he confronts the reproaches of his enemies. The more others blaspheme God the more we should bless him. Thus he corrects his own complaints, chiding himself for quarrelling with God's providences and questioning his promises; let both these sinful passions be silenced with the praises of God. However it be, yet God is good, and we will never think hardly of him; God is true, and we will never distrust him. Though the glory of David's house be stained and sullied, this shall be our comfort, that God is blessed for ever, and his glory cannot be eclipsed. If we would have the comfort of the stability of God's promise, we must give him the praise of it; in blessing God, we encourage ourselves. Here is a double Amen, according to the double signification. Amen-so it is, God is blessed for ever. Amen-be it so, let God be blessed for ever. He began the psalm with thanksgiving, before he made his complaint (v. 1); and now he concludes it with a doxology. Those who give God thanks for what he has done may give him thanks also for what he will do; God will follow those with his mercies who, in a right manner, follow him with their praises.