Psalms 89:6

And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. -Inasmuch as the value of a promise depends on the power and the faithfulness of the promiser, the Psalmist sets forth these attributes as especially belonging to God (Psalms 89:5), and infers hence, the blessedness of the people who are the objects of His promises (Psalms 89:15). This whole part consists of fourteen verses-the general introduction in three verses (Psalms 89:5); the body of the subject in seven (Psalms 89:8); and the conclusion ...

6_For who in the clouds can be compared to Jehovah? _The prophet now proceeds to illustrate farther what he had said respecting God’s wonders, and exclaims emphatically, _Who in the clouds can be compared to God? _The reason why he speaks of _the clouds, _or _heaven, _is because, what is not surprising, nothing is to be found upon the earth which can at all approach the glory of God. Although man excels other living creatures, yet we see how contemptible and miserable his condition is, or rather, how full it is of shame and reproach. Whence it follows, that under heaven there is no excellence which can compete with that of God. But when we ascend to heaven, immediately ravished with admiration, we conceive of a multitude of gods, which do away with the true God. The last clause of the verse, in which it is said, _that among the sons of the gods there is none like the true and only God, _...

5-14 The more God's works are known, the more they are admired. And to praise the Lord, is to acknowledge him to be such a one that there is none like him. Surely then we should feel and express reverence when we worship God. But how little of this appears in our congregations, and how much cause have we to humble ourselves on this account! That almighty power which smote Egypt, will scatter the enemies of the church, while all who trust in God's mercy will rejoice in his name; for mercy and truth direct all he does. His counsels from eternity, and their consequences to eternity, are all justice and judgment....

Verse Psalms 89:6. _FOR WHO IN THE HEAVEN_] שחק _shachak_ signifies the ethereal regions, all visible or unbounded space; the universe. Who is like Jesus? given in his _human nature_ none of _the sons of_ _the mighty_ can be compared with him. He atones for the sin of the world, and saves to the uttermost all who come unto God through him. This may also be considered a reproof to idolaters. Is there any among the heavenly hosts like to God? Even the most glorious of them were made by his hands. Can the stars, or the more distant planets, or the moon, or the sun, be likened unto God most high? WHO _AMONG THE SONS OF THE MIGHTY_] Instead of אלים _elim, mighty_ _ones_, four of _Kennicott's_ and _De Rossi's_ MSS. have איל _eil,_ _strength_: - sons of strength, strong persons. Several of the

FOR WHO IN THE HEAVEN ... - literally, In the cloud; that is, in the sky. The idea is that none in the regions above - the upper world - can be compared with God. There is no other god - there is no one among the angels, great and glorious as they are, that can be likened to him. WHO AMONG THE SONS OF THE MIGHTY ... - The angels - regarded as mighty. The “sons of the mighty” on earth are spoken of as mighty men - as men of power - as men of exalted rank. So here, the idea is, that none of the angels, though of exalted rank (“principalities,” or “powers,” compare Romans 8:38; Ephesians 1:21), could be put in comparison with God. See the notes at Isaiah 40

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

FOR WHO IN THE HEAVEN CAN BE COMPARED UNTO THE LORD?.... Or "ranked" n, or put upon a par, with him; none of the angels in heaven; for though they are holy, wise, knowing, powerful, faithful, kind, and merciful creatures, yet not to be compared with the Lord for holiness, wisdom, knowledge, strength, faithfulness, and mercy; see Exodus 15:11, WHO AMONG THE SONS OF THE MIGHTY CAN BE LIKENED UNTO THE LORD? the Syriac version very wrongly renders it "the sons of angels", seeing angels do not propagate their species, Luke 20:36 to which Kimchi agrees, who makes the "mighty" to be angels, and their sons to be the host of heaven, which are moved and guided by them: the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Arabic versions, render it "the sons of God"; and this phrase, indeed, is app

Psalms 89:1. Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. That is to say, an instructive Psalm, written by or for one Ethan, one of the great singers of David's day. He sings of the covenant, the covenant with David, ordered in all things and sure. There is no higher theme for song than the covenant of God's grace, one marvels that it has not oftener been sung by those who are the gifted children of poetry. Psalms 89:1. _I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever:_ Another subject might wear out, but this glorious topic will never be exhausted, Here is a theme which we can sing of in eternity as well as in time. Let others choose what subject they may, «I will sing of the mercies of Jehovah for ever.» Psalm

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 ...