Ps. 89:0 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm manifestly treats of the declining and calamitous time and state of the house and kingdom of David, either, first, in Rehoboam’s reign, as a late judicious interpreter conceives; to which those expressions, Ps.

Intending to discourse of the doleful estate of David’s family and of his kingdom, he prefaceth this, partly lest the following complaints of present miseries should argue ingratitude for former mercies.

I have said within myself. I have been assured in my own mind. Mercy shall be built up for ever: as thou hast laid a sure foundation of mercy to David’s family, by that everlasting covenant which thou hast made and established with it; so I concluded that thou wouldst carry on the same project of…

With my chosen; with David, whom I have chosen to the kingdom.

I will perpetuate the kingdom to thy posterity; which was promised upon condition, and was literally and fully accomplished in Christ, who was of the seed of David.

The heavens, i.e. the inhabitants of heaven, the holy angels, as Job 15:15; who clearly discern and constantly adore thy mercy and faithfulness, when men upon earth are filled with doubts and perplexities about it.

Among the sons of the mighty; either, first, among the potentates of the earth; or rather, secondly, among the highest angels; who well may and needs must admire and adore time, because thou art incomparably and infinitely more excellent than they.

God is greatly to be feared; with a fear of reverence; for dread and terror have no place in those blessed mansions and holy spirits. In the assembly of the saints; to the whole society of angels, called saints, as Ps. 89:5.

Who is a strong Lord like unto thee? who is equal to thee in power, or, as it follows, in faithfulness? To thy faithfulness round about thee, Heb. and thy faithfulness is round about thee, like a girdle adorning and encompassing thee.

Giving commands and setting bounds to its waves when they are most impetuous and unruly.

Rahab; Egypt, as Ps. 87:4. As one that is slain; thou didst wound them not slightly, but unto death. See Ex. 14:15.

The fulness thereof; all the creatures wherewith it is replenished, as Ps. 24:1, Ps. 50:12. Thou hast founded them; they are all thy creatures, and therefore wholly subject to thy power and pleasure; and therefore all the monarchs and kingdoms of the earth cannot hinder thee from making good thy…

The north and the south; the northern and southern parts of the world, yea, even the remotest ends thereof; though not yet known to us, were made and are ruled by thee.

Thy hand; either thy left hand, because thy right hand seems to be opposed to it; or thy right hand, as it is limited and explained in the next clause. High is; or, is or shall be exalted, or lifted up.

Justice and judgment, i.e. just judgment, or justice in judging, as Jer. 9:24, Jer. 22:3. A common figure, called hendiaduo. The habitation; or, the basis or foundation, as this word is used Ezra 2:68, Ezra 3:3, Ps. 97:2, Ps.

The psalmist, intending to describe the doleful estate of the royal family and kingdom of Israel, aggravates it by the consideration of their former felicity. That know the joyful sound, i.e.

In thy name; in the knowledge and remembrance of thy name, i.e. of thy infinite power and goodness, revealed and imparted to them. In thy righteousness; whereby thou art both inclined and in some sort engaged to hear the prayers of thy people, and to save them from all their enemies.

All that strength in which they do or may glory is not their own, but is a mere vouchsafement of thy grace, and to thee alone belongs the glory of all their valiant achievements. Our horn shall be exalted, i.e. our power and honour, which now lies in the dust, shall be raised and recovered.

This verse gives a reason of the psalmist’s confidence that their horn would be exalted. The Holy One of Israel is our King; having therefore so potent a Friend, we have no reason to despair of our restitution to our former felicity.

Then, i.e. of old; for this particle is sometimes put indefinitely. Or, then, when thou didst set David in the throne. In vision; which then was the usual way by which God spake to the prophets, Num. 12:6.

I have found: this is spoken of God figuratively after the manner of men, to imply the great scarcity of such persons, and the difficulty of finding them out. With my holy oil; both. with material oil, 1 Sam. 16:13, 2 Sam.

With whom my hand shall be established, i.e. constantly abide to protect and assist him.

Not exact upon him; not conquer him, or make him tributary. Or, shall not deceive or circumvent him, as this word is used, Gen. 3:13, 2 Kings 18:29. Afflict him, to wit, so as to overthrow or destroy him.

Faithfulness, in making good all my promises to him, and mercy, in doing more for him than I have promised, or in pardoning his sins, for which I might justly make him to know my breach of promise. In my name; by my favour and help.

I will set his hand, i.e. establish his power and dominion. In the sea; the midland sea. The rivers, to wit, Euphrates, called rivers in the plural number, as Nilus also is, Isa. 18:1, Ezek. 29:3–4, in regard of divers branches of it, and rivers which flow into it.

He shall find me to be a true and a kind Father to him, and shall familiarly and confidently make his addresses to me as such, for all necessary supplies and assistances, which parents willingly afford to their children, as need requires.

As he calls me Father, Ps. 89:26, so I will make him my son, yea, my first-born, who had divers privileges above other sons. This and the following passage in some sort agree to David, who may well be called God’s first-born, as all the people of Israel are, Ex. 4:22; and so is Ephraim, Jer. 31:9.

My mercy, declared and promised to him and his seed, as it here follows. My covenant; of which see 2 Sam. 7:12–13;c.

To endure for ever, i.e. to sit upon the throne for ever, as the next words explain it. This was accomplished only in Christ, the eternal King of the church, and of the world, who was of David’s seed according to the flesh. As the days of heaven, i.e.

Of this and the two next verses, See Poole “2 Sam. 7:14”, See Poole “2 Sam. 7:15”.

By this variety of expressions he implies that God will pardon not only their lesser, but even their greater sins.

My loving-kindness; my mercy promised to David.

Here he gives some reasons why he would not break his covenant with David, though he should have just cause to do so, and though he had upon such just cause broke his covenant made with others; first, Because this covenant was confirmed by his oath, which adds not only more solemnity, but more…

In respect of perpetual duration, as appears both from the foregoing words, and from the following verse.

Whereby he understands, either, first, The moon, last mentioned, to which this clause may be added rather than to the sun, to imply that as the moon, though subject to eclipses and frequent and manifold changes, yet doth constantly and perpetually remain in heaven, as a witness of my covenant of…

Having hitherto declared the certainty of God’s promises, he now proceeds to show the unsuitableness of the present dispensations of God’s providence thereunto, and humbly expostulates with God about it. Thine anointed; that person and family which thou hast invested with the kingdom.

Made void the covenant; which seems contrary to thy word given Ps. 89:34. Of thy servant, i.e. made with him. Profained his crown, by exposing that sacred person, and family, and kingdom to contempt, and giving his sceptre and power into the hands of the uncircumcised.

All his hedges; all the means of his protection and safety.

An object of their scorn and reproach. Is this the anointed of the Lord? Is this the everlasting family and kingdom?

Thou hast given them courage, and power, and success.

Turned the edge of his sword; so that he can neither offend his enemies, nor defend himself. Not made him to stand, but to flee and fall before his enemies; for more is understood than what is expressed.

The youthful and flourishing estate of David’s kingdom was very short, and reached not beyond his next successor, and it hath been languishing by degrees till this time, when it seems to be dead and buried.

My time, i.e. our time, the time of our king and kingdom, in whose name the psalmist puts up this petition, and about whom he was much more solicitous than about himself, as is evident, both from the following verses, and from the whole body of the Psalm.

All men at their best estate are mortal and miserable, kings and people must unavoidably die by the condition of their natures; and therefore, Lord, do not increase our affliction, which of itself is more than enough; neither proceed in these violent courses upon us, who, without such severity,…

Hast thou forgotten or repented of all that mercy and kindness which thou hast promised and sworn, and sometimes performed, unto David and his family and kingdom?

I, i.e. we thy servants, as he now said; our king and his people; of whom he speaks as of one person, as is very usual in Holy Scripture. Or the psalmist showeth how particularly and passionately he resented those reproaches which were cast upon their king and kingdom, as if they were east upon…

Or, of thy Messiah; by whom he seems to understand either, first, the kings of Judah, the singular number being put for the plural; and by their footsteps may be meant either their ways or actions, and the sad consequences thereof; or the traces or memorials of their ancient splendour and dominion,…

Let thine enemies reproach thee, and thy promises concerning the sending of the Messiah, and the deliverance of thy people by his hand; I do and will heartily bless and praise thee for them, and encourage myself with them, not doubting but thou wilt consider and take away all our reproaches, and in…