Psalms 89:48

How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? -The suppliant here turns from lamentation to prayer, that the Lord would remove the present prostration of David's house and people, as being apparently so at variance with His covenant and promise. Verse 46. HOW LONG, LORD? - How long wilt thou permit thy elect people to be so down-trodden? The cry of Verse 46. HOW LONG, LORD? - How long wilt thou permit thy elect people to be so down-trodden? The cry of the afflicted Church in all ages (), and of her intercessor (). WILT THOU HIDE THYSELF FOR EVER? SHALL THY WRATH BURN LIKE FIRE? - (cf. .) Verse 47. Remembe...

48._What man shall live, and shall not see death? _This verse contains a confirmation of what has been already stated concerning the brevity of human life. The amount is, that unless God speedily hasten to show himself a father to men, the opportunity of causing them to experience his grace will no longer exist. The original word גבר, _geber, _which we have translated _man, _is derived from the verb גבר, _gabar, he was strong, _or _he prevailed; _and the sacred writer employs this word, the more forcibly to express the truth, that no man is privileged with exemption from the dominion of death....

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 89:48. _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....

WHAT MAN IS HE THAT LIVETH, AND SHALL NOT SEE DEATH? - Shall not die - to see death being an expression often used to denote death itself. Death is represented as a real object, now invisible, but which will make itself visible to us when we die. The meaning here is, “All men are mortal; this universal law must apply to kings as well as to other men; in a short time he to whom these promises pertain will pass away from the earth; and the promises made to him cannot then be fulfilled.” SHALL HE DELIVER HIS SOUL FROM THE HAND OF THE GRAVE? - His life. Will he be able to deliver that from the power of the grave; in Hebrew, שׁאול _sh__e__'ôl_. Death - the grave - Sheol - asserts a universal dominion over mankind, and no one can be rescued from that stern power....

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

WHAT MAN IS HE THAT LIVETH, AND SHALL NOT SEE DEATH?.... Every living man must die; as sure as a man lives, so sure he shall die: be he strong and mighty, as the word signifies, or weak and sickly; be he high or low, rich or poor, prince or peasant, righteous or wicked; persons of all ranks, states, and conditions, age or sex, must die; for all have sinned; and it is the appointment of God that they should die, and very few are the exceptions; as Enoch and Elijah, and those that will be found alive at Christ's coming: SHALL HE DELIVER HIS SOUL FROM THE HAND OF THE GRAVE; either from going down into it, or coming under the power of it; so the Targum, "what man is he that shall live, and shall not see the angel of death (Hebrews 2:14) shall he deliver his soul from his hand, that he should not go down to the house of his grave?'' or deliver himself

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

GRAVE Hebrew, "Sheol," (_ See Scofield) - (Habakkuk 2:5). _...

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