Westminster Annotations, Psalms · Psalm 89
PSAL. LXXXIX.
Title. Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite] Or, a psalm for Ethan the Ezrahite, to give instruction.
Ethan] It seems to be that Ethan mentioned, 1 King. 4. 31. who living to see the kingdom divided in Rehoboams time, composed this psalm. Others think it was one of that name that lived in the captivity of Babylon.
Ezrahite] Of Zara, 1 Chron. 2. 6.
Vers. 1. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord] Though the horrible confusion of things might cause them to despair of Gods favour, yet the manifold examples of his mercies, cause them to trust in God, though, to mans judgement, they saw none occasion.
to all generations] Heb. to generation and generation.
V. 2. For I have said] As he that surely believed it in heart.
Mercy shall be built up for ever] Abide firm, like a strong building; not be moveable, like tents.
thy faithfulnesse shalt thou establish in the very heavens] Thy promise will be performed, as sure as the heavens abide: or, thou hast shewed the unchangeablenesse of thy truth, in setling the heavens.
heavens] Psal. 119. 89.
V. 3. I have made a covenant with my chosen] The prophet sheweth what was the promise of God whereon he grounded his faith.
sworn unto David my servant] 2 Sam. 7. 11, &c.
V. 4. Thy seed will I establish for ever] Vers. 29, 36. This is performed in Christ the Son of David.
to all generations] Heb. to generation and generation.
V. 5. the heavens shall praise thy wonders] The angels praise thy power and truth, and therefore it is the more to be marvelled at, that Davids kingdom flourisheth not, v. 38. to whom thou hast made such faithfull promises.
in the congregation of the saints] In heaven; or, among the saints on earth.
V. 6. who, among the sons of the mightie, can be likened unto the Lord?] That is, the angels: or, the great princes of the world, psal. 29. 1.
V. 7. in the assembly of the saints] If the angels tremble before Gods Majestie and infinite Justice, what earthly creature, by oppressing the Church, dare set himself against God?
V. 8. who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulnesse round] Or, who is like unto thee? a strong God, and thy faithfulnesse is round.
like unto thee?] Psal. 35. 10.
V. 9. Thou rulest the raging of the sea] We doubt not of thy power, for thou hast shewed it in ruling the sea in the greatest tempest, and pulling down the proud enemies of the Church, psal. 93. 3, 4.
raging of the sea] Psal. 65. 7.
V. 10. Rahab] Or, Egypt.
with thy strong arm] Heb. with the arm of thy strength.
V. 11. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine] Gen. 1. 1. Psal. 24. 1. and 50. 12.
V. 12. Tabor and Hermon shall rejoyce in thy Name] Tabor stands westward from Jerusalem, and Hermon eastward: so that all places, east, west, north and south, have cause to rejoyce in Gods power, which makes them fruitfull.
V. 13. a mightie arm] Heb. an arm with might.
V. 14. Justice and judgement are the habitation of thy throne] Psal. 97. 2. For hereby he judgeth the world, and sheweth himself a mercifull father and faithfull protectour unto his.
habitation] Or, establishment.
V. 15. the joyfull sound] Of the trumpet, calling them to the solemn assemblies, Num. 10. 6.
in the light of thy countenance] The tokens of thy favour seen in the Sanctuary.
V. 16. In thy Name shall they rejoyce] As thou art made known to them in thy publike ordinances.
V. 17. of their strength] They have all their strength from thee.
our horn shall be exalted] Psal. 75. 10.
V. 18. For the Lord is our defence: and the holy one of Israel is our King] Or, For our strength was of the Lord, and our king of the holy one of Israel. That is, thou gavest us David a strong king in those days, v. 19, &c.
V. 19. to the holy one] To thy holy one; that is, to Samuel.
that is mightie] Whom, as I have chosen, so have I given him strength to execute his office, psal. 4. 3.
out of the people] One of mean parentage: or, the choisest man, for parts, among all the people, 1 Sam. 10. 24.
V. 20. I have found David my servant] 1 Sam. 16. 12.
V. 23. I will heat down his foes before his face] Though there shall be evermore enemies against Gods Kingdom, yet he promiseth to overcome them.
V. 24. my merciemercy shall be with him] I will mercifully perform my promises to him, notwithstanding his defects and defaults.
in my Name shall his horn be exalted] His power, glory and estate.
horn be exalted] Verse 17.
V. 25. I will set his hand also in the sea] He shall enjoy the lands round about him by conquest.
V. 26. Thou art my Father] His excellent dignity shall appear herein, That he shall be named the son of God, and the first-born, wherein he is a figure of Christ.
V. 29. His seed also will I make to endure for ever] Vers. 4, 36. Though for the sins of the people the whole state of this kingdom decayed, yet God reserved still a root, till he had accomplished this promise in Christ.
V. 30. and walk not in my judgements] Gods law is divided into judgements, statutes and commandments: that is, judiciall, ceromoniall and morall laws, Mal. 4. 4.
V. 31. break my statutes] Heb. profane my statutes.
V. 32. visit their transgression with the rod] 2 Sam. 7. 14.
V. 33. Neverthelesse, my loving kindnesse will I not utterly take from him] Though the faithfull answer not in all points to their profession, yet God will not break his covenant with them.
will I not utterly take from him] Heb. I will not make void from him.
to fail] Heb. to lye.
V. 34. My covenant will I not break] If they profane my statutes, v. 31. yet I will not profane my covenant.
nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips] For God in promising, hath respect to his mercy, and not to mans power in performing, Mal. 3. 6. Jam. 1. 17.
V. 35. that I will not lye] Heb. If I lye.
V. 36. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me] Vers. 4. 29. 2 Sam. 7. 16. Luke 1. 33. John 12. 34.
as the sun before me] Perpetuall and glorious.
V. 37. as a faithfull witnesse in heaven] That is, as the moon, which, though it be sometimes in the wane, and in the eclipse, yet remains a true witnesse of Gods covenant, Jer. 33. 20.
V. 39. Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant] Because of the horrible confusion of things, the prophet complaineth to God, as though he saw not the performance of his promise.
thou hast profaned his crown] By this, he meaneth the horrible dissipation and renting of the kingdom by Jeroboam: unlesse it were another Ethan. See Notes on the title.
V. 40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges] Psal. 80. 12. Isai. 5. 5. Thou hast made his kingdom like a field without hedges, exposed to spoil.
V. 42. thou hast made all his enemies to rejoyce] By giving them victory over him.
V. 44. glory] Heb. brightnesse.
V. 45. The days of his youth hast thou shortened] He sheweth, that the kingdom fell before it came to perfection.
V. 46. How long, Lord] How long, LORD, wilt thou hide thy self? for ever?
How long, Lord, wilt thou hide thy self for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?] Psal. 79. 5.
V. 47. Remember how short my time is] Remember how short my life is, and to what vanity thou hast created men: that is, to mortality, v. 48. and therefore give us some comfort before we die, psal. 39. 13.
wherefore hast thou made all men vain?] Or, to what vanity thou hast made all men.
V. 48. see death] Heb. 11. 5. Or, suffer death. Die.
V. 49. swarest unto David in thy truth?] 2 Sam. 7. 15.
V. 50. how I do bear in my bosome the reproach of all the mighty people] Which I take exceedingly to heart, psal. 69. 9.
V. 51. Wherewith thine enemies have reproached] So he calleth them that persecute the Church.
the footsteps of thine anointed] They not onelyonly ruine his kingdom, but also revile his actions.
V. 52. Blessed be the Lord for evermore] The voice of faith and joy, in expectation of deliverance.