Psalms 89
Psalms 89 is part of “Book III: The Leviticus Book” (73–89) in the outline of Psalms.
Psalms 89 summary
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…
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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 (Psa 89:1) and his covenant (Psa 89:2-4), but more largely in the following verses, wherein, 1. He adores the glory and perfection of God (Psa 89:5-14). 2. He pleases himself in the happiness of those that are admitted into communion with him (Psa 89:15-18). 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 (Psa 89:38-45), expostulates with God upon it (Psa 89:46-49), and then concludes with prayer for redress (Psa 89:50, Psa 89:51). 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.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Psalms 89 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
I Will Sing of Your Steadfast Love
1Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the lovingkindness of Jehovah for ever: With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. 2For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever; Thy faithfulness wilt thou establish in the very heavens. 3I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant: 4Thy seed will I establish for ever, And build up thy throne to all generations. [Selah 5And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Jehovah; Thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. 6For who in the skies can be compared unto Jehovah? Who among the sons of the mighty is like unto Jehovah, 7A God very terrible in the council of the holy ones, And to be feared above all them that are round about him? 8O Jehovah God of hosts, Who is a mighty one, like unto thee, O Jehovah? And thy faithfulness is round about thee. 9Thou rulest the pride of the sea: When the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. 10Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; Thou hast scattered thine enemies with the arm of thy strength. 11The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: The world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. 12The north and the south, thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon rejoice in thy name. 13Thou hast a mighty arm; Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. 14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne: Lovingkindness and truth go before thy face. 15Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They walk, O Jehovah, in the light of thy countenance. 16In thy name do they rejoice all the day; And in thy righteousness are they exalted. 17For thou art the glory of their strength; And in thy favor our horn shall be exalted. 18For our shield belongeth unto Jehovah; And our king to the Holy One of Israel. 19Then 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. 20I have found David my servant; With my holy oil have I anointed him: 21With whom my hand shall be established; Mine arm also shall strengthen him. 22The enemy shall not exact from him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23And I will beat down his adversaries before him, And smite them that hate him. 24But my faithfulness and my lovingkindness shall be with him; And in my name shall his horn be exalted. 25I will set his hand also on the sea, And his right hand on the rivers. 26He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation. 27I also will make him [my] first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth. 28My lovingkindness will I keep for him for evermore; And my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29His seed also will I make to endure for ever, And his throne as the days of heaven. 30If his children forsake my law, And walk not in mine ordinances; 31If they break my statutes, And keep not my commandments; 32Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. 33But my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, Nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. 34My covenant will I not break, Nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. 35Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David: 36His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before me. 37It shall be established for ever as the moon, And [as] the faithful witness in the sky. [Selah 38But thou hast cast off and rejected, Thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. 39Thou hast abhorred the covenant of thy servant: Thou hast profaned his crown [by casting it] to the ground. 40Thou hast broken down all his hedges; Thou hast brought his strongholds to ruin. 41All that pass by the way rob him: He is become a reproach to his neighbors. 42Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries; Thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. 43Yea, thou turnest back the edge of his sword, And hast not made him to stand in the battle. 44Thou hast made his brightness to cease, And cast his throne down to the ground. 45The days of his youth hast thou shortened: Thou hast covered him with shame. [Selah 46How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? [How long] shall thy wrath burn like fire? 47Oh remember how short my time is: For what vanity hast thou created all the children of men! 48What man is he that shall live and not see death, That shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? [Selah 49Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, Which thou swarest unto David in thy faithfulness? 50Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; How I do bear in my bosom [the reproach of] all the mighty peoples, 51Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O Jehovah, Wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed. 52Blessed be Jehovah for evermore. Amen, and Amen.