Next, Ethan recounted what God had permitted to overtake David. He was now weak and defeated, rather than strong and successful. God had seemingly cut David off and gone back on His promises. The fall of Jerusalem is probably in view, and the Davidic king would have been Jehoiachin. read more
4. The appeal to God 89:38-52 read more
We have here another national and historical Ps., written when the Jewish kingdom and its king had fallen very low before their enemies, contrasting the promises made to David with their seeming lack of fulfilment in the course of events, and appealing to God to vindicate His faithfulness. Psalms 89:1-4 are introductory, announcing the Psalmist’s purpose of praising God, and recalling the covenant made with David. The following vv. celebrate God’s glory among His heavenly hosts (Psalms 89:5-7),... read more
Psalms 89:15 In these words David speaks of the blessedness of the people that know the joyful sound. Although year by year the sound of the trumpet brightened the hearts of God's chosen people, yet there was one year in which that sound brought them exceeding joy. It was the year of jubilee when on the day of atonement, when all the solemn services of that day were over, there was brought to the suffering and to the poor great joy. At the sound of that trumpet every slave was set free. Yet the... read more
Psalms 89:1-52THE foundation of this psalm is the promise in 2 Samuel 7:1-29 which guaranteed the perpetuity of the Davidic kingdom. Many of the characteristic phrases of the prophecy recur here-e.g., the promises that the children of wickedness shall not afflict, and that the transgressions of David’s descendants should be followed by chastisement only, not by rejection. The contents of Nathan’s oracle are first given in brief in Psalms 89:3-4 -" like a text," as Hupfeld says-and again in... read more
Psalms 89:0 God’s Faithfulness: His Oath-bound Covenant with David 1. Jehovah’s faithfulness (Psalms 89:1-18 ) 2. His covenant with David (Psalms 89:19-37 ) 3. The ruin and desolation (Psalms 89:38-45 ) 4. How long, Lord? Remember! (Psalms 89:46-52 ) A Maschil of Ethan, a Merarite (1 Chronicles 6:44 ; 1 Chronicles 15:17 ). The greater part of this Psalm extols Jehovah’s lovingkindness and faithfulness and makes prominent the covenant with David. We must of course look beyond David and... read more
The first psalm in this lesson suggests Psalms 74:0 on which we did not dwell, but both of which depict the desolations of Judah by the Babylonians (compare Jeremiah 52:12-14 ). On this supposition their date would be that of the captivity, and their author a later Asaph than the Asaph mentioned in David’s time. Psalms 80:0 Has captivity features also. Some would say it relates to the ten tribes, as the preceding psalm does to Judah. The next several psalms are much alike in this respect and... read more
Here is a new train of thoughts, arising out of the view of God's covenant love in redemption, celebrated before. The degeneracy of Israel, and the captivity of the people (probably with an eye to the Babylonish oppression) is here, by the Spirit of prophecy, dwelt upon. And if it doth not refer to that particular period of the church, yet it plainly refers to a season when the waters of the sanctuary ran low. The sacred writer pleads hard for deliverance; first, by claiming relationship and... read more
38-52 Sometimes it is not easy to reconcile God's providences with his promises, yet we are sure that God's works fulfil his word. When the great Anointed One, Christ himself, was upon the cross, God seemed to have cast him off, yet did not make void his covenant, for that was established for ever. The honour of the house of David was lost. Thrones and crowns are often laid in the dust; but there is a crown of glory reserved for Christ's spiritual seed, which fadeth not away. From all this... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 89:1-52
Psalms 89The writer of this royal psalm was Ethan, another wise Levitical musician in David’s service (1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chronicles 15:17-18). The occasion of writing is unclear. Judging from the content of the psalm it appears to have been a time after David had suffered defeat and some severe affliction.Ethan interceded for the king, claiming the Davidic Covenant promises (cf. 2 Samuel 7:5-16; 1 Chronicles 17). Why was God afflicting David so severely since He had promised to bless him so... read more