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.
Psalm 89 is a comprehensive and profound psalm in the Book of Psalms, the 150-chapter book in the Old Testament of the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible. The psalm is a contemplative and prayerful song of trust, faith, and lament, written by Ethan the Ezrahite. It is a powerful testament to God's steadfast love and faithfulness, His covenant with David, and a lament over the apparent failure of that covenant. The psalm is comprised of four main sections, each with its unique themes and messages.
The psalm begins (verses 1-18) with a powerful proclamation of God's faithfulness and steadfast love. The psalmist declares his intent to sing forever of these attributes of God, emphasizing God's covenant with His chosen servant, David. This covenant, according to the psalmist, is an eternal one, confirmed by God's holiness and righteousness. The psalmist also acknowledges God's powerful and majestic nature, describing Him as the Creator of north and south, the one who controls the raging seas, and the one who crushed Rahab, a symbol of chaos and evil. The psalmist declares that the heavens and earth are God's creation and that God is the source of strength and joy for His people.
The second section (verses 19-37) focuses on God's covenant with David, emphasizing its eternal nature and the blessings it brings. The psalmist recounts how God chose David, a young shepherd, to be a king and promised to establish his throne forever. God pledges to protect David, make him the most exalted king on earth, and defeat his enemies. Even if David's descendants forsake God's law, God will punish them, but He will not break His covenant with David. The psalmist reiterates the eternal nature of this covenant, stating that God has sworn by His holiness to uphold it.
In the third section (verses 38-51), the tone of the psalm shifts dramatically from praise and trust to lament and despair. The psalmist laments that it appears as though God has rejected and renounced the covenant with David. He describes the humiliation and defeat of the king, who was once exalted, and the destruction of his kingdom. The psalmist questions why God has abandoned His anointed one and expresses the pain and reproach suffered by the people.
The psalm concludes (verses 52-52) with a plea for God's intervention. Despite the despair and lament, the psalmist still acknowledges God's sovereignty and power, ending the psalm with a doxology, a hymn of praise to God. This conclusion suggests that, even in the midst of despair and suffering, the psalmist maintains his faith in God's power and His ultimate plan for His people.
Several themes emerge from Psalm 89 that are significant in understanding its meaning. First, the theme of God's faithfulness and steadfast love is central to the psalm. Despite the circumstances, the psalmist continually refers back to these attributes of God, asserting that they are eternal and unchanging.
The second major theme is the covenant. The covenant with David is repeatedly referred to as an eternal covenant, one that God will not break even if His people are unfaithful. This theme underscores the psalmist's confidence in God's promises and His commitment to His people.
The third theme is the lament over the apparent broken covenant. This lament reflects the psalmist's anguish and confusion over the current circumstances that seem to contradict God's promises. Yet, despite this despair, the psalmist does not lose his faith in God.
Finally, the theme of hope and trust in God's intervention is evident in the concluding verses of the psalm. Despite the lament and despair, the psalmist remains hopeful that God will intervene and fulfill His promises.
Psalm 89 is a powerful testament to God's faithfulness, love, and commitment to His covenant with His people. Despite the circumstances that may seem to contradict God's promises, the psalmist maintains his trust in God's unchanging nature and His ultimate plan. The psalm serves as a reminder that even in the midst of suffering and despair, we can have confidence in God's promises and His steadfast love. It encourages us to keep our faith in God, even when we don't understand His ways, and to continue praising Him for His faithfulness and love.
In this light, Psalm 89 provides a profound message of hope, faith, and trust in God's promises. It reminds us that even in the darkest times, God's love and faithfulness remain constant. The psalmist's lament is not a sign of lost faith, but a heartfelt expression of trust in God's plans, despite the current circumstances. This psalm, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring nature of God's covenant, His steadfast love and faithfulness, and the hope we can find in Him, even in times of despair.
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