PSALM LXXXIX _The psalmist shows God's great mercy to the house of David,_ _and the promises which he had given to it of support and_ _perpetuity_, 1-37; _complains that, notwithstanding these promises, the kingdom of_ _Judah is overthrown, and the royal family nearly ruined_, 38-45; _and earn... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:2. _MERCY SHALL BE BUILT UP FOR EVER_] God's _goodness_ is the _foundation_ on which his _mercy rests_; and from that source, and on that foundation, acts of mercy shall flow and be built up for ever and ever. _THY FAITHFULNESS SHALT THOU ESTABLISH_] What thou hast promised to do to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:3. _I HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH MY CHOSEN_] I have made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and renewed it with Moses and Joshua in reference to the Israelites in general: but I have made one with David in especial relation to himself and posterity, of whom, according to the f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:4. _THY SEED WILL I ESTABLISH FOR EVER, AND BUILD UP THY_ _THRONE TO ALL GENERATIONS._] And this covenant had most incontestably Jesus Christ in view. This is the _seed_, or posterity, that should sit on the throne, and reign for ever and ever. David and his family are long since bec... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:5. _THE HEAVENS SHALL PRAISE THY WONDERS_] The works that shall be wrought by this descendant of David shall be so plainly miraculous as shall prove their origin to be Divine: and both saints and angels shall join to celebrate his praises. _THY FAITHFULNESS ALSO_] All thy promises s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:6. _FOR WHO IN THE HEAVEN_] שחק _shachak_ signifies the ethereal regions, all visible or unbounded space; the universe. Who is like Jesus? given in his _human nature_ none of _the sons of_ _the mighty_ can be compared with him. He atones for the sin of the world, and saves to the utt... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:7. _GOD IS GREATLY TO BE FEARED_] In all religious assemblies the deepest reverence for God should rest upon the people. Where this does not prevail, there is no true worship. While some come with a proper Scriptural boldness to the throne of grace, there are others who come into the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:8. _O LORD GOD OF HOSTS_] Thou who hast all armies at thy command, and canst serve thyself by every part of thy creation, whether animate or inanimate. _WHO_ IS _A STRONG LORD_] See Psalms 89:6. _THY FAITHFULNESS ROUND ABOUT THEE?_] Or, more properly, _thy_ _faithfulness is round a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:9. _THOU RULEST THE RAGING OF THE SEA_] Whoever has seen the sea in a storm, when its waves run what is called _mountain high_, must acknowledge that nothing but omnipotent power could rule its raging. _WHEN THE WAVES THEREOF ARISE, THOU STILLEST THEM._] Thou governest both its _flu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:10. _THOU HAST BROKEN RAHAB_] Thou hast destroyed the power of _Egypt_, having overthrown the king and its people when they endeavoured to prevent thy people from regaining their liberty. _AS ONE THAT IS SLAIN_] The whole clause in the original is, אתה דכאת כחלל רהב _attah dikkitha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:11. _THE HEAVENS_ ARE _THINE_] Thou art the Governor of all things, and the Disposer of all events. _THE WORLD_] The terraqueous globe. _AND THE FULLNESS_] All the generations of men. _Thou hast founded_ _them_-thou hast _made_ them, and dost _sustain_ them. After this verse, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:12. _THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH_] It is generally supposed that by these _four_ terms all the four quarters of the globe are intended. _Tabor_, a mountain of Galilee, was on the _west_ of Mount _Hermon_, which was beyond Jordan, to the _east_ of the source of that river.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:14. _JUSTICE AND JUDGMENT_ ARE _THE HABITATION OF THY THRONE_] The throne - the government, of God, is founded in _righteousness_ and _judgment_. He knows what is right; he sees what is right; he does what is right; and his _judgments_ are ever according to righteousness. His decisio... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:15. _BLESSED_ IS _THE PEOPLE_] "O the blessednesses of that people (אשרי העם _ashrey haam_) that know the joyful sound;" that are spared to hear the sound of the trumpet on the morning of the _jubilee_, which proclaims deliverance to the captives, and the restoration of all their for... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:16. _IN THY NAME SHALL THEY REJOICE_] Or, "greatly exult," יגילון _yegilun_; "all that day," היום _haiyom_, the jubilee, referred to above. _AND IN THY RIGHTEOUSNESS_] In the declaration of thy righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, Romans 3:25. _SHALL THEY BE EXAL... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:17. _FOR THOU_ ART _THE GLORY OF THEIR STRENGTH_] They are strong in faith, and give glory to thee, because they know that their strength cometh from the Lord of hosts. _AND IN THY FAVOUR OUR HORN SHALL BE EXALTED._] Instead of תרום _tarum_, "shall be exalted," תרים _tarim_, "thou s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:19. _THEN THOU SPAKEST IN VISION TO THY HOLY ONE_] Instead of חסידך _chasidecha_, "thy holy one," חסידיך _chasideycha_, "thy holy ones," is the reading of _sixty-three_ of _Kennicott's_ and _seventy-one_ of _De Rossi's_ MSS., and a great number of _editions_ besides. If we take it i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:20. _I HAVE FOUND DAVID MY SERVANT_] This is the sum of what God had said in prophetic _visions_ to his _saints_ or holy persons, _Samuel, Nathan_, and _Gad_; see the parallel places in the _margin_. Here the psalmist begins to reason with God relative to David, his posterity, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:22. _THE ENEMY SHALL NOT EXACT UPON HIM_] None of his enemies shall be able to prevail against him. It is worthy of remark that David was never overthrown; he finally conquered every foe that rose up against him. Saul's persecution, Absalom's revolt, Sheba's conspiracy, and the strug... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:25. _I WILL SET HIS HAND ALSO IN THE SEA_] This was literally fulfilled in David. _Hand_ signifies power or authority; he set his hand on the sea in _conquering_ the Philistines, and extending his empire along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, from Tyre to Pelusium. All the coasts... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:27. _I WILL MAKE HIM_ MY _FIRST-BORN_] I will deal with him as a father by his _first-born son_, to whom a double portion of possessions and honours belong. _First-born_ is not always to be understood _literally_ in Scripture. It often signifies simply a _well-beloved_, or _best-bel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:29. _HIS SEED ALSO WILL I MAKE_ TO ENDURE _FOR EVER_] This can apply only to the spiritual David. The posterity of David are long since extinct, or so blended with the remaining Jews as to be utterly indiscernible; but Jesus ever liveth, and his seed (_Christians_) are spread, and ar... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:30. _IF HIS CHILDREN FORSAKE MY LAW_] 2 Samuel 7:13, where this and some of the following verses are explained.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:34. _MY COVENANT WILL I NOT BREAK_] My determination to establish a spiritual kingdom, the head of which shall be Jesus, the son of David, shall never fail. My prophets have declared this, and I will not alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:35. _ONCE HAVE I SWORN_] I have made one determination on this head, and have bound myself by my holiness; it is impossible that I should change, and there needs no second oath, the one already made is of endless obligation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:36. _HIS THRONE AS THE SUN_] Splendid and glorious! dispensing light, heat, life, and salvation to all mankind.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:37. _AS THE MOON, AND_ AS _A FAITHFUL WITNESS IN HEAVEN._] That is, as long as the sun and moon shall endure, as long as _time_ shall last, his kingdom shall last among men. The moon appears to be termed _a faithful witness_ here, because by her particularly _time_ is measured. Her... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:38. _BUT THOU HAST CAST OFF_] Hitherto the psalmist has spoken of the _covenant of God with David_ and his family, which led them to expect all manner of prosperity, and a perpetuity of the Jewish throne; now he shews what appears to him a failure of the promise, and what he calls in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:40. _THOU HAST BROKEN DOWN ALL HIS HEDGES_] Thou hart permitted the land to be stripped of all defence; there is not even one strong place in the hands of thy people.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:41. _ALL THAT PASS BY THE WAY SPOIL HIM._] The land is in the condition of a vineyard, the hedge of which is broken down, so that they who pass by may pull the grapes, and dismantle or tear down the vines. The _Chaldeans_ and the _Assyrians_ began the ravage; the _Samaritans_ on the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:42. _THOU HAST SET UP THE RIGHT HAND OF HIS ADVERSARIES_] Thou hast given them that strength which thou didst formerly give to thy own people; therefore _these_ are depressed, _those_ exalted.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:43. _THOU HAST ALSO TURNED THE EDGE OF HIS SWORD._] The arms and military prowess of thy people are no longer of any use to them; THOU art _against_ them, and therefore they are fallen. In what a perilous and hopeless situation must that soldier be who, while defending his life agai... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:44. _THOU HAST MADE HIS GLORY TO CEASE_] The kingly dignity is destroyed, and there is neither _king_ nor _throne_ remaining.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:45. _THE DAYS OF HIS YOUTH HAST THOU SHORTENED_] Our kings have not reigned half their days, nor lived out half their lives. The _four_ last kings of Judea reigned but a short time, and either died by the sword or in captivity. _Jehoahaz_ reigned only _three months_, and was led ca... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:46. _HOW LONG, LORD?_] The promise cannot utterly fail. When then, O Lord, wilt thou restore the kingdom to Israel?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:47. _HOW SHORT MY TIME IS_] If thou deliver not speedily, none of the present generations shall see thy salvation. Are all the remnants of our tribes created in vain? shall they never see happiness?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:48. _WHAT MAN_ IS HE THAT _LIVETH_] All men are mortal, and death is uncertain and no man, by wisdom, might, or riches, can deliver his life from the _hand_-the power, of death and the grave.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:49. _LORD, WHERE_ ARE _THY FORMER LOVINGKINDNESSES_] Wilt thou not deal with _us_ as thou didst with our _fathers_? Didst thou not swear unto David that thou wouldst distinguish _him_ as thou didst _them_?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:50. _I DO BEAR IN MY BOSOM_] Our enemies, knowing our confidence, having often heard our boast in thee, and now seeing our low and hopeless estate, mock us for our confidence, and blaspheme _thee_. This wounds my soul; I cannot bear to hear thy name blasphemed among the heathen. _All... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:51. _THEY HAVE REPROACHED THE FOOTSTEPS OF THINE ANOINTED._] They search into the whole history of thy people; they trace it up to the earliest times; and they find we have been disobedient and rebellious; and on this account we suffer much, alas, _deserved_ reproach. The _Chaldee_ g... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 89:52. _BLESSED_ BE _THE LORD FOR EVERMORE._] Let him treat us as he will, his name deserves eternal praises: our affliction, though great, is less than we have deserved. This verse concludes the THIRD BOOK of the PSALTER; and, I think, has been added by a later hand, in order to make... [ Continue Reading ]