Psalms 89
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Contrasting man's frailty with God's eternity, the writer mourns over it as the punishment of sin, and prays for a return of the divine favor. A Prayer [mainly such] of Moses the man of God-- (Deu 33:1; Jos 14:6); as such he wrote this (see on Psa 18:1, title, and Psa 36:1, title). (Psa. 90:1-17) dwelling-place--home (compare Eze 11:16), as a refuge (Deu 33:27).
Open source ↗I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever,.... Both temporal and spiritual, especially the latter, in which there is a large display of the rich and abundant mercy of God, from whence they are so called; as in the choice of men to everlasting life, who are said to be vessels of mercy; in the covenant of grace made with them, the blessings of which are the sure mercies of David; in the mission of Christ, whose coming, as the dayspring from on high, is owing to the tender mercy of our God; in redemption by him, in which mercy and truth have met together; in regeneration, which is according to abundant mercy; in the forgiveness of sins, which is according to the multitude of his tender mercies; and in the whole of salvation, which is not by works of righteousness, but by the mercy of God through Christ: the word may be rendered "graces, kindnesses, goodnesses" (l), and designs the abundance of grace; as in the heart of God, in the covenant, in the hands of Christ, as displayed through him, and in the several parts of salvation, and the whole of it: and these are a proper subject for a song; and a truly gracious soul, sensible of these things, thankful for them, cheerful on account of them, and seeing his interest in them, cannot but "sing" of them; and will determine to do it "for ever", every day, and all the day long, as long as he lives, and while he has any being, and which he will do to all eternity: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations; God is faithful to himself, to all the perfections of his nature, to his truth, holiness, and justice, he cannot deny himself; he is so to his Son, and to all engagements with him, and promises to him; to all his counsels, purposes, and decrees; all which are faithfulness and truth, or faithfully a…
Open source ↗The poet, who, as one soon observes, is a חכם (for the very beginning of the Psalm is remarkable and ingenious), begins with the confession of the inviolability of the mercies promised to the house of David, i.e., of the הסדי דוד הנּאמנים, Isa 55:3. (Note: The Vulgate renders: Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo. The second Sunday after Easter takes its name from this rendering.) God's faithful love towards the house of David, a love faithful to His promises, will he sing without ceasing, and make it known with his mouth, i.e., audibly and publicly (cf. Job 19:16), to the distant posterity. Instead of חסדי, we find here, and also in Lam 3:22, חסדי with a not merely slightly closed syllable. The Lamed of לדר ודר is, according to Psa 103:7; Psa 145:12, the datival Lamed. With כּי־אמרתּי (lxx, Jerome, contrary to Psa 89:3, ὅτι εἶπας) the poet bases his resolve upon his conviction. נבנה means not so much to be upheld in building, as to be in the course of continuous building (e.g., Job 22:23; Mal 3:15, of an increasingly prosperous condition). Loving-kindness is for ever (accusative of duration) in the course of continuous building, viz., upon the unshakeable foundation of the promise of grace, inasmuch as it is fulfilled in accordance therewith. It is a building with a most solid foundation, which will not only not fall into ruins, but, adding one stone of fulfilment upon another, will rise ever higher and higher. שׁמים then stands first as casus absol., and בּהם is, as in Psa 19:5, a pronoun having a backward reference to it. In the heavens, which are exalted above the rise and fall of things here below, God establishes His faithfulness, so that it stands fast as the sun above the earth, although the condition of things here below seems sometimes to contradict it…
Open source ↗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, Psa 89:1. 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, Psa 78:6. 2. However it be, the everlasting covenant is firm and sure, Psa 89:2-4. Here we have, (1.) The psalmist's faith and h…
Open source ↗Ps 89 Book Three (Pss 73–89) begins and ends with weighty questions. Though Ps 89 begins with a praise-filled account of how the Lord exalted the throne of David (89:1-37), the psalmist protests the Lord’s apparent rejection of his covenant with David (89:38-51; see 2 Sam 7:8-16). 89:title Ethan the Ezrahite was a wise man (1 Kgs 4:31; cp. Ps 88:title). 89:1 God’s unfailing love gives reason to celebrate forever.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מַשְׂכִּיל (maskîyl, H4905) — instructive, i.e. a didactic poem אֵיתָן (ʼÊythân, H387) — Ethan, the name of four Israelites אֶזְרָחִי (ʼEzrâchîy, H250) — an Ezrachite or descendant of Zerach שִׁיר (shîyr, H7891) — to sing חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… אֱמוּנָה (ʼĕmûwnâh, H530) — literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity דּוֹר (dôwr, H1755) — properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… אֱמוּנָה (ʼĕmûwnâh, H530) — literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds…
Open source ↗כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh) בָּחִיר (bâchîyr, H972) — select שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant
Open source ↗זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… עַד (ʻad, H5704) — as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until)… עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) כִּסֵּא (kiççêʼ, H3678) — properly, covered, i.e. a throne (as canopied) דּוֹר (dôwr, H1755) — properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling סֶלָה (çelâh, H5542) — suspension (of music), i.e. pause
Open source ↗שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… יָדָה (yâdâh, H3034) — physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship… פֶּלֶא (peleʼ, H6382) — a miracle יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱמוּנָה (ʼĕmûwnâh, H530) — literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity קָהָל (qâhâl, H6951) — assemblage (usually concretely) קָדוֹשׁ (qâdôwsh, H6918) — sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a…
Open source ↗שַׁחַק (shachaq, H7834) — a powder (as beaten small); by analogy, a thin vapor; by extension, the firmament עָרַךְ (ʻârak, H6186) — to set in a row, i.e. arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) דָּמָה (dâmâh, H1819) — to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider
Open source ↗אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) עָרַץ (ʻârats, H6206) — to awe or (intransitive) to dread; hence, to harass סוֹד (çôwd, H5475) — a session, i.e. company of persons (in close deliberation); by implication, intimacy,… קָדוֹשׁ (qâdôwsh, H6918) — sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a… יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3372) — to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… חֲסִין (chăçîyn, H2626) — properly, firm, i.e. (by implication) mighty יָהּ (Yâhh, H3050) — Jah, the sacred name אֱמוּנָה (ʼĕmûwnâh, H530) — literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without…
Open source ↗מָשַׁל (mâshal, H4910) — to rule גֵּאוּת (gêʼûwth, H1348) — {arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament} יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… גַּל (gal, H1530) — something rolled, i.e. a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of… שׂוֹא (sôwʼ, H7721) — a rising שָׁבַח (shâbach, H7623) — properly, to address in aloud tone, i.e. (specifically) loud; figuratively, to pacify (as…
Open source ↗דָּכָא (dâkâʼ, H1792) — to crumble; transitively, to bruise (literally or figuratively) רַהַב (Rahab, H7294) — Rahab (i.e. boaster), an epithet of Egypt חָלָל (châlâl, H2491) — pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted פָּזַר (pâzar, H6340) — to scatter, whether in enmity or bounty אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary עֹז (ʻôz, H5797) — strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise) זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôwaʻ, H2220) — the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force
Open source ↗שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) תֵּבֵל (têbêl, H8398) — the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by extension, the globe; by implication,… מְלֹא (mᵉlôʼ, H4393) — fulness (literally or figuratively) יָסַד (yâçad, H3245) — to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down…
Open source ↗צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) יָמִין (yâmîyn, H3225) — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more… בָּרָא (bârâʼ, H1254) — (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative… תָּבוֹר (Tâbôwr, H8396) — Tabor, a mountain in Palestine, also a city adjacent חֶרְמוֹן (Chermôwn, H2768) — Chermon, a mount of Palestine רָנַן (rânan, H7442) — properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy) שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,…
Open source ↗גְּבוּרָה (gᵉbûwrâh, H1369) — force (literally or figuratively); by implication, valor, victory זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôwaʻ, H2220) — the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force עָזַז (ʻâzaz, H5810) — to be stout (literally or figuratively) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) יָמִין (yâmîyn, H3225) — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more…
Open source ↗צֶדֶק (tsedeq, H6664) — the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a… מָכוֹן (mâkôwn, H4349) — properly, a fixture, i.e. a basis; generally a place, especially as an abode כִּסֵּא (kiççêʼ, H3678) — properly, covered, i.e. a throne (as canopied) חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… אֶמֶת (ʼemeth, H571) — stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness קָדַם (qâdam, H6923) — to project (one self), i.e. precede; hence, to anticipate, hasten, meet (usually for help) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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I will sing of Your loving devotion and justice; to You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
O LORD God of Hosts, who is like You? O mighty LORD, Your faithfulness surrounds You.
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!
Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it endures.
But I will not withdraw My loving devotion from him, nor ever betray My faithfulness.
Your loving devotion, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.
But I will sing of Your strength and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning. For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon?
to proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning and Your faithfulness at night