Psalms 89:42

But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. -The people of the covenant contrast the sad state of things actually with what the covenant seemed to promise. Similarly in Psalms 44:9. Verse 38. BUT THOU HAST CAST OFF ... THINE ANOINTED. The suppliant fears, from existing appearances, that the prostrate state of David's house and people is not a mere chastisement with "the rod" (Psalms 89:32), but a final destruction. Still the fact that he brings the case before God, and makes it the ground of prayer (Psalms 89:46-19), as also of praises in the majority of the psalms ...

42_Thou hast exalted the right hand of his oppressors. _Here he states that God took part with the enemies of the king; for he was well aware that these enemies could not have prevailed but by the will of God, who inspires some with courage, and renders others faint-hearted. In short, in proportion to the number of the calamities which had befallen the chosen people, was the number of the evidences of their having been forsaken by God; for, so long as he continued his favor, the whole world, by all their machinations, were unable to impair the stability of that kingdom. Had it been said that the enemies of the king obtained the victory, the statement would have been quite true; but it would not have been a mode of expression so obviously fitted to exalt the Divine power; as it might have been thought that men setting themselves in opposition to God had, by their own power, forced their w...

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 complaint learn what work sin makes with families, noble families, with families in which religion has appeared. They plead with God for mercy. God's unchangeableness and faithfulness assure us that He will not cast off those whom he has chosen and covenanted with. They were reproached for serving him. The scoffers of the latter days, in like manner, reproach the footsteps of the Messiah when they ask...

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....

THOU HAST SET UP THE RIGHT HAND OF HIS ADVERSARIES - Hast given them the victory. Thou hast suffered them to accomplish their purposes. THOU HAST MADE ALL HIS ENEMIES TO REJOICE - They joy or rejoice in the success of their plans; in their triumphs over thy servant and over his people....

EXPOSITION At first sight, a psalm of praise; but, in reality, one of expostulation and complaint. The praises of God are sung in the opening section (Psalms 89:1); they culminated in the Davidical covenant. But this covenant has been "made void," annulled. The existing state of things is directly contrary to all its promises (Psalms 89:38-19). How long is this to continue? Does not God's faithfulness require the deliverance of Israel and of the Davidical house from their calamities, and their speedy restoration to his favour (Psalms 89:46-19)? Psalms 89:52 is no part of the psalm, but the doxology which

THOU HAST SET UP THE RIGHT HAND OF HIS ADVERSARIES,.... Suffered them to become powerful, and to prevail against him; as the wicked Jews, and Satan, and his principalities and powers, at the time of Christ's apprehension, crucifixion, and death; for then were their hour, and the power of darkness, Luke 22:53, death also had dominion over him, and held him under the power of it for awhile: the enemies of his interest, Rome Pagan, and Rome Papal, have, in their turns, had their right hands set up, and have had power, and prevailed over it; and the latter will again, at the slaying of the witnesses: all which, though it seems contrary to Psalms 89:21, yet is not; for Satan, though he bruised Christ's heel, yet Christ bruised his head, destroyed his works, and him himself, and that by dying; and spoiled his princip

Psalms 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. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens._ Here is an eternal song concerning eternal mercy. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, so the saints' praise for the never-ending mercy must itself be without end. The psalmist has made known God's faithfulness to all generations, not only by speaking of it, but especially by writing of it, for that which is written abides when that which is merely spoken is soon forgotten. God's faithfulness concerns heaven as well as earth, and he will establish it «in the very heavens.» Psalms 89:3. I have made a covenant with my chosen

Psalms 89 God's Faithfulness: His Oath-bound Covenant with David _ 1. Jehovah's faithfulness (Psalms 89:1)_ 2. His covenant with David (Psalms 89:19) 3. The ruin and desolation (Psalms 89:38) 4. How long, Lord? Remember! (Psalms 89:46) A Maschil of Ethan, a Merarite (1 Chronicles 6:44; 1 Chronicles 15:17). The greater pa

LXXXIX. THE COVENANT WITH DAVID. The Ps. may be divided thus: Psalms 89:1. The promise made to David (2 Samuel 7). Yahweh is all-powerful, so that He can, faithful so that He will, fulfil His word. Psalms 89:19. The promise considered at greater length. Observe the sobriety of tone. It is David's dynasty, not David himself, which is to endure for ever, and the kingdom promised is not world-wide but limited to the old boundaries, viz. the Euphrates and the Egyptian frontier. Psalms 89:38. In spite of this great promise Israel is in abject misery, and the time is short, for human life is soon over. The Ps. is generally admitted to be post-exilic. The sceptre had already ...