Psalm 89

1. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
3. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
4. Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.
5. And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
6. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?
7. 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.
8. O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
9. Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
10. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.
11. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
12. The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
13. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
14. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
15. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
16. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
17. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
18. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
19. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
20. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
21. With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
22. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
23. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.
24. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.
26. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
27. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
28. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
29. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
30. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
31. If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
34. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
35. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
36. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
37. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
38. But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.
39. Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.
41. All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.
42. Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.
43. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.
44. Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.
45. The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.
46. How long, Lord? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?
47. Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
48. What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
49. Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?
50. Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;
51. Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O Lord; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.
52. Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

Psalm 89 is a profound expression of praise, reflection, and lament, capturing both the steadfast faithfulness of God and the psalmist’s struggle with perceived abandonment. The psalm opens with a jubilant declaration of God’s enduring mercy and faithfulness. The psalmist celebrates the covenant made with David, highlighting the eternal nature of God’s promises. This initial section establishes a foundation of trust, emphasizing that God’s commitments are as firm as the heavens.

Following this, the psalmist extols God’s unmatched power and majesty, asserting His sovereignty over all creation. The rhetorical questions posed underscore God’s supremacy, portraying Him as the ruler of the natural world and the arbiter of justice. The psalmist reflects on God’s omnipotence, justice, and righteousness, portraying Him as a deity who is both mighty and just.

The psalm then recounts God’s covenant with David, emphasizing the promise of an everlasting dynasty. The psalmist reminds God of His commitment to David and his descendants, stressing that this covenant is marked by divine faithfulness and mercy. Even if David’s descendants falter, the psalmist insists that God’s steadfast love will not fail them.

A dramatic shift occurs as the psalmist transitions to a lament over the current state of affairs. The psalmist expresses anguish, feeling that God’s promises have been broken and that the anointed king faces defeat and disgrace. This lament starkly contrasts with the earlier affirmations of God’s faithfulness, as the psalmist feels that God has cast off His chosen one, leading to destruction and humiliation.

In the final section, the psalmist pleads for God to remember His covenant. There is a poignant reminder of human mortality and the brevity of life, with the psalmist questioning the duration of God’s apparent anger. The psalmist implores God to recall His former mercies, ultimately returning to hope and trust in God’s ultimate faithfulness. The closing doxology, “Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen,” reflects a return to hope and trust in God’s ultimate faithfulness.

Psalm 89 teaches several key lessons. It underscores God’s unchanging nature and eternal promises, despite circumstances that may suggest otherwise. The psalm legitimizes expressing doubt and sorrow as part of faith, showing that it is acceptable to bring pain and confusion before God. It highlights that God’s governance is characterized by both justice and mercy, reinforcing the belief in His ultimate righteousness and goodness. Finally, it demonstrates that even in moments of despair, hope and trust in God can coexist with lament and questioning.

Overall, Psalm 89 serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of faith. It encourages believers to hold on to God’s promises, even when their fulfillment seems distant. The psalmist’s journey from praise to lament and back to praise mirrors the spiritual journey of many believers, offering a template for navigating the highs and lows of faith with honesty and hope.