“THE PSALMIST’S PRAISE OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS” PSALM 89:1-52

This royal psalm is attributed to Ethan, a Levite and an Ezrahite (I Chronicles 15:17-18).  The superscription of this wonderful psalm reads, “Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.”  The term “maschil” means instruction, and the psalm before us is instructing us concerning God’s faithfulness to the Davidic Covenant that He made with David and his descendants (II Samuel 7:5-16).

Psalm 89:1-4 begins with Ethan praising God for His faithfulness in keeping His promises.  In verse 1 he declares,“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.”   In verses 5-18, the psalmist continues to praise God because of His awesome character (vv. 5-8).    He asks the question in verse 6, “For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD?  who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?”     In verses 9-14, the psalmist speaks of His unusual powerful deeds, “Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them” (v. 9).   Our God is worthy to be praised and we should praise Him every moment of our existence, for Psalm 113:1-3 states, “Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised.”

In verses 19-25, the psalmist rehearsed the fact that the Lord had chosen and promised to protect David from his enemies.  He has the assurance from the Lord in verse 19, “I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him.”  Also, it is shown how the Lord will deal with David’s enemies, “The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.  And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him” (vv. 22-23).

Because of God’s love and steadfast covenant with David, God’s promise to David ensures that David’s line and kingdom would last forever (vv. 26-29).  “His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven” (v.29).  The psalmist declares in verses 30-37 that God’s faithfulness to the Davidic covenant will be established forever despite the faithlessness of the people.  In other words, God will remain faithful to His covenant promises to David regardless to the disobedience of the people.   However, there is an admonition to those who forsake His laws “If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail” (30-33).

In this dispensation of grace, God is still faithful to us, despite our faithlessness!  In verses 38-45, the psalmist laments the fact that God’s anointed experiences sufferings and humiliation in view of God’s covenant promises to David.

However, in verses 46-52, the psalmist pleads with the Lord to remember His oath and to rescue him from his foes. In his despair he asks the question in verse 46, “How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?”  But his resolve is seen in verses 51 and 52  “Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.  Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.”   In a time of crisis, we should always present our plea to the only “One” who is able to help us.

May God Bless!