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 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
I Will Sing of Your Steadfast Love
1A Psalme to give instruction, of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing the mercies of the Lord for euer: with my mouth will I declare thy trueth from generation to generation. 2For I said, Mercie shalbe set vp for euer: thy trueth shalt thou stablish in ye very heauens. 3I haue made a couenant with my chosen: I haue sworne to Dauid my seruant, 4Thy seede will I stablish for euer, and set vp thy throne from generation to generation. Selah. 5O Lord, euen the heauens shall prayse thy wonderous worke: yea, thy trueth in the Congregation of the Saints. 6For who is equall to the Lord in the heauen? and who is like the Lord among the sonnes of the gods? 7God is very terrible in the assemblie of the Saints, and to be reuerenced aboue all, that are about him. 8O Lord God of hostes, who is like vnto thee, which art a mightie Lord, and thy trueth is about thee? 9Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waues thereof arise, thou stillest them. 10Thou hast beaten downe Rahab as a man slaine: thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy mightie arme. 11The heauens are thine, the earth also is thine: thou hast layde the foundation of the world, and all that therein is. 12Thou hast created the North and the South: Tabor and Hermon shall reioyce in thy Name. 13Thou hast a mightie arme: strong is thine hand, and high is thy right hand. 14Righteousnesse and equitie are the stablishment of thy throne: mercy and trueth goe before thy face. 15Blessed is the people, that can reioyce in thee: they shall walke in the light of thy countenance, O Lord. 16They shall reioyce continually in thy Name, and in thy righteousnes shall they exalt them selues. 17For thou art the glory of their strength, and by thy fauour our hornes shall be exalted. 18For our shield apperteineth to the Lord, and our King to the holy one of Israel. 19Thou spakest then in a vision vnto thine Holy one, and saydest, I haue layde helpe vpon one that is mightie: I haue exalted one chosen out of the people. 20I haue found Dauid my seruant: with mine holy oyle haue I anoynted him. 21Therefore mine hande shall be established with him, and mine arme shall strengthen him. 22The enemie shall not oppresse him, neither shall the wicked hurt him. 23But I will destroy his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. 24My trueth also and my mercie shall be with him, and in my Name shall his horne be exalted. 25I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the floods. 26He shall cry vnto mee, Thou art my Father, my God and the rocke of my saluation. 27Also I wil make him my first borne, higher then the Kings of the earth. 28My mercie will I keepe for him for euermore, and my couenant shall stande fast with him. 29His seede also will I make to endure for euer, and his throne as the dayes of heauen. 30But if his children forsake my Lawe, and walke not in my iudgements: 31If they breake my statutes, and keepe not my commandements: 32Then will I visite their transgression with the rod, and their iniquitie with strokes. 33Yet my louing kindnesse will I not take from him, neither will I falsifie my trueth. 34My couenant wil I not breake, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. 35I haue sworne once by mine holines, that I will not fayle Dauid, saying, 36His seede shall endure for euer, and his throne shalbe as the sunne before me. 37He shalbe established for euermore as the moone, and as a faythfull witnes in the heauen. Selah. 38But thou hast reiected and abhorred, thou hast bene angry with thine Anoynted. 39Thou hast broken the couenant of thy seruant, and profaned his crowne, casting it on the ground. 40Thou hast broken downe all his walles: thou hast layd his fortresses in ruine. 41All that goe by the way, spoyle him: he is a rebuke vnto his neighbours. 42Thou hast set vp the right hand of his enemies, and made all his aduersaries to reioyce. 43Thou hast also turned the edge of his sworde, and hast not made him to stand in the battell. 44Thou hast caused his dignitie to decay, and cast his throne to the ground. 45The dayes of his youth hast thou shortned, and couered him with shame. Selah. 46Lord, howe long wilt thou hide thy selfe, for euer? shall thy wrath burne like fire? 47Remember of what time I am: wherefore shouldest thou create in vaine all the children of men? 48What man liueth, and shall not see death? shall hee deliuer his soule from the hande of the graue? Selah. 49Lord, where are thy former mercies, which thou swarest vnto Dauid in thy trueth? 50Remember, O Lord, the rebuke of thy seruants, which I beare in my bosome of all the mightie people. 51For thine enemies haue reproched thee, O Lord, because they haue reproched the footesteps of thine Anointed. 52Praised be the Lord for euermore. So be it, euen so be it.