Psalm 89

Authorship

This psalm was authored by Ethan the Ezrahite.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. A preface of praise. (1-2)

A. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever.

B. With my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations.

C. For I have said:

1. Mercy shall be built up for ever.

2. Thy faithfulness shalt Thou establish in the very heavens.

II. God’s covenant with David. (3-4)

A. God has made a covenant with His chosen, He has sworn unto David, His servant.

B. He promised to establish David’s seed for ever and build up his throne to all generations.

III. A celebration of the covenant maker. (5-18)

A. The heavens shall praise Thy wonders, O Lord: Thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints:

1. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord?

2. Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?

B. 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.

C. O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto Thee or to Thy faithfulness round about Thee?

1. Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, Thou stillest them.

2. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain.

3. Thou hast scattered thine enemies with Thy strong arm.

D. The heavens are Thine, the earth also is Thine:

1. As for the world and the fulness thereof, Thou hast founded them.

2. The north and the south–Thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy name.

E. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is Thy hand, and high is Thy right hand.

1. Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne.

2. Mercy and truth shall go before Thy face.

IV. Blessed are the people who walk in covenant relationship with God. (15-18)

A. They shall know the joyful sound.

B. They shall walk in the light of God’s countenance.

C. In His name they will they rejoice all the day.

D. In Thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

E. God will be the glory of their strength.

F. In His favor their horn shall be exalted.

G. The Lord will be their defence.

H. The Holy One of Israel will be their king.

V. David’s vision. God spoke in a vision and said: (19-37)

A. I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

B. I have found David my servant; with My holy oil have I anointed him:

C. With whom My hand shall be established: Mine arm also shall strengthen him.

D. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

E. I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

F. My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.

G. In My name shall his horn be exalted.

H. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

I. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

J. I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

K. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

L. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

M. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in My judgments; If they break My statutes, and keep not My commandments;

1. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

2. Nevertheless My lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail.

N. The covenant will not be broken:

1. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips.

2. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

3. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me.

4. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

VI. Have You forgotten Your covenant with David? (38-51)

A. But Thou hast cast off and abhorred, Thou hast been wroth with Thine anointed.

1. Thou hast made void the covenant of Thy servant: Thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

2. Thou hast broken down all his hedges; Thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.

3. All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.

4. Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; Thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.

5. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.

6. Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.

7. The days of his youth hast Thou shortened: Thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

B. How long Lord?

1. Wilt Thou hide Thyself for ever?

2. Shall Thy wrath burn like fire?

C. Remember:

1. How short my time is: wherefore hast Thou made all men in vain?

2. What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

3. Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which Thou swarest unto David in thy truth?

4. Remember, Lord, the reproach of Thy servants: I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people wherewith Thine enemies have reproached, O Lord.

VII. The Lord is blessed forevermore. (52)

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 89,2(1) חַסְדֵי {A} MT, G, σ', Hebr // hapl: α' / lic: S? T? / assim-ctext: g

Ps 89,3(2) אָמַרְתִּי {C} MT, α', ε', σ', θ', T // err-graph: G, Hebr, S(?)

Ps 89,8(7) רַבָּה {B} MT, α', σ', Hebr // err-divis: G, S / paraphr: T

Ps 89,9(8) / חֲסִין יָהּ {B} MT, Hebr, T // err-divis: G / abr-styl: S

Ps 89,13(12) וְיָמִין {B} MT, α', σ', ε', Hebr, S, T // err-ponct: G

Ps 89,17(16) וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ יָרוּמוּ

Ps 89,20(19) עֵזֶר {A}

Ps 89,38(37) וְעֵד בַּשַּׁחַק {A}

Ps 89,44(43) אַף־תָּשִׁיב צוּר {A} MT, εβρ α', σ', ε', T // abr-styl: G, Hebr, S

Ps 89,45(44) מִטְּהָרוֹ {B} MT, σ', Hier // err-voc: m, G, ε', S, T

Ps 89,48(47) מֶה־חָלֶד {B} MT, G, σ' // assim-17,14: εβρ, α', ε', Hebr, S, T

Ps 89,51(50) רַבִּ֥ים עַמִּים {C} MT, εβρ, σ' // mutil: α', ε', Hebr, S clav רִבֵי / confl: T / abr-styl: G