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Psalm Eighty-nine
New King James Version (NKJV)
YLT An instruction
by Ethan the Ezrahite.
INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 89
Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. Who this Ethan was is
not certain. Kimchi takes him to be the same with Ethan the wise man
a
grandson of Judah
1 Kings 4:31. But seeing he lived some
hundreds of years before the times of David
it is not likely that he should be
the writer of this psalm; for David is made mention of in it
which could not
be
unless it can be thought to be by a spirit of prophecy; which indeed is the
opinion of Doctor LightfootF11
who takes this Ethan to be the
penman of this psalm; and who
"from
the promise
Genesis 15:1 sings joyfully the deliverance
(of Israel); that the raging of the Red sea should be ruled
Psalm 89:9
and Rahab
or Egypt
should be
broken in pieces
Psalm 89:10
and that the people should
hear the joyful sound of the law
Psalm 89:15
and as for the name of David
in it
this
he says
might be done prophetically; as Samuel is thought to be
named by Moses
Psalm 99:6
which psalm is held to be made
by him; or else might be put into it
in later times
by some divine penman
endued with the same gift of prophecy
who might improve the ground work of
this psalm laid by Ethan
and set it to an higher key; namely
that whereas he
treated only of bodily deliverance from Egypt
it is wound up so high as to
reach the spiritual delivery by Christ; and therefore David is often named
from whence he should come.'
There
was another Ethan
a singer
in David's time; and it is more probable that he
is the person
who might live to the times of Rehoboam
and see the decline of
David's family
and the revolt of the ten tribes from it; or perhaps it was one
of this name who lived in the times of the Babylonish captivity
and saw the
low estate that David's family were come into; to which agrees the latter part
of this psalm; and
in order to comfort the people of God
he wrote this psalm
showing that the covenant and promises of God
made with David
nevertheless
stood firm
and would be accomplished: the title of the Septuagint version
calls him Etham the Israelite; and the Arabic version Nathan the Israelite: the
Targum makes him to be Abraham
paraphrasing it
"a
good understanding
which was said by the hand of Abraham
that came from the
east.'
But
whoever was the penman of this psalm
it is "maschil"
an instructive
psalm
a psalm causing to understand; it treats concerning the covenant of
grace
and the promises of it; and concerning the mercy and faithfulness of
God
in making and keeping the same; and concerning the Messiah and his seed
his
church and people; and the stability and duration of all these: many passages
in it are applied to the Messiah by Jewish writers
ancient and modern; and Psalm 89:20 is manifestly referred to in Acts 13:22.
Psalm 89:1 I
will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; With my mouth
will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
YLT
1Of the kind acts of
Jehovah
to the age I sing
To all generations I make known Thy faithfulness
with my mouth
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever
.... Both
temporal and spiritual
especially the latter
in which there is a large
display of the rich and abundant mercy of God
from whence they are so called;
as in the choice of men to everlasting life
who are said to be vessels of
mercy; in the covenant of grace made with them
the blessings of which are the
sure mercies of David; in the mission of Christ
whose coming
as the dayspring
from on high
is owing to the tender mercy of our God; in redemption by him
in
which mercy and truth have met together; in regeneration
which is according to
abundant mercy; in the forgiveness of sins
which is according to the multitude
of his tender mercies; and in the whole of salvation
which is not by works of
righteousness
but by the mercy of God through Christ: the word may be rendered
"graces
kindnesses
goodnesses"F12חסדי
"bonitates"
Tigurine version; "benignitates"
Junius &
Tremellius; "beneficia"
Piscator; "gratias"
Cocceius.
and designs the abundance of grace; as in the heart of God
in the covenant
in
the hands of Christ
as displayed through him
and in the several parts of
salvation
and the whole of it: and these are a proper subject for a song; and
a truly gracious soul
sensible of these things
thankful for them
cheerful on
account of them
and seeing his interest in them
cannot but "sing"
of them; and will determine to do it "for ever"
every day
and all
the day long
as long as he lives
and while he has any being
and which he
will do to all eternity:
with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all
generations; God is faithful to himself
to all the perfections of his
nature
to his truth
holiness
and justice
he cannot deny himself; he is so
to his Son
and to all engagements with him
and promises to him; to all his
counsels
purposes
and decrees; all which are faithfulness and truth
or
faithfully and truly performed; and to his covenant and promises made to his
people in Christ
in whom they are all yea and amen: and that this glorious
perfection of God might be made known to the saints in all successive
generations
and be taken notice of by them
the psalmist spoke and sung this
psalm with his mouth
and penned it with his hand; in which there is more
mention made of the faithfulness of God than perhaps in any other passage of
Scripture besides; see Psalm 89:2.
Psalm 89:2 2 For I have said
“Mercy
shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very
heavens.”
YLT 2For I said
`To the age is
kindness built
The heavens! Thou dost establish Thy faithfulness in them.'
For I have said
.... That is
in his heart he had said
he
had thought of it
was assured of it
strongly concluded it
from the Spirit
and word of God; he believed it
and therefore he spoke it; having it from the
Lord
it was all one as if he had spoke it:
Psalm 89:3 3 “I have made a covenant
with My chosen
I have sworn to My servant David:
YLT 3I have made a covenant for
My chosen
I have sworn to David My servant:
I have made a covenant with my chosen
.... Not with
Abraham
as the Targum expresses it: but with David
as in the following
clause; not David
literally understood
though he was chosen of the Lord to be
his servant
and a covenant was made with him
and a promise made to him of the
perpetuity of his throne and kingdom in his family
Psalm 78:70 but mystical David
the
Messiah
David's son and antitype; after
on this account
called David in Scripture
Ezekiel 34:23 and who is the Lord's
"chosen" One
foreordained to be the Redeemer of lost sinners
chosen
to be the Mediator between God and them
to be the head of the church
and
Saviour of the body; and his human nature was chosen to the grace of union to
the Son of God
Psalm 89:19
hence he is called God's elect
Isaiah 43:1 and with him the covenant of
grace was made from all eternity
and all the blessings and promises of it were
put into his hands; he is the Mediator
surety
and messenger of it
and by his
blood it is ratified and confirmed: the Septuagint render it
in the plural
number
"with mine elect ones"; and it is a truth
that the covenant
of grace is made with all the elect
considered in Christ
and is made with
them as such
and not as believers
converted persons
&c. election is the
foundation of the covenant
and the source of all covenant blessings:
I have sworn unto David my servant: to the Messiah
called
David
as before observed
and who is the Lord's servant
as man and Mediator
of his choosing
calling
sending
and supporting
Isaiah 42:1
to whom he swore
and he will
not repent; and which oath of his
joined to his covenant and promise
makes
for the strong consolation of the heirs of promise; see Psalm 89:35
the sum and substance of which
covenant and oath follow.
Psalm 89:4 4 ‘Your seed I will
establish forever
And build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah
YLT 4`Even to the age do I
establish thy seed
And have built to generation and generation thy throne.
Selah.
Thy seed will I establish for ever
.... Meaning not the
natural seed of David
at least not only them; whose family was indeed
preserved
though in very low circumstances
until the Messiah came
who sprung
from thence
Luke 1:27
but the spiritual seed of
Christ
to whom it was promised that he should have a seed
and should see and
enjoy it
and which should endure for ever; see Psalm 89:29
and so he always has had a
seed to serve him in all generations
in the worst of times
and will; and who
are established in him
and will be kept and preserved by him
and whom he will
present to his Father
saying
"Lo
I and the children whom thou hast
given me"
Hebrews 2:13.
and build up thy throne to all generations; and this
shows that the passage is not to be understood literally of David
and of his
temporal throne and kingdom
which did not last many generations; but of the
spiritual throne and kingdom of the Messiah
who sprung from him
called the
throne of his father David
whose throne is for ever and ever
and whose
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom
Luke 1:32
Psalm 45:6
his throne is in the heavens
where he will reign until all enemies are put under his feet; and it is also in
the midst of his church
and in the hearts of his people
where he reigns as
King of saints; and he is on the same throne with his Father; it is the same
with his
as to glory
power
and authority; on this he will sit
and judge the
world at the last day; and on it he will reign with his people a thousand
years
in the New Jerusalem state
and after that to all eternity
Revelation 3:21.
Selah. See Gill on Psalm 3:2.
Psalm 89:5 5 And the heavens will
praise Your wonders
O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
YLT 5and the heavens confess Thy
wonders
O Jehovah
Thy faithfulness also [is] in an assembly of holy ones.
And the heavens shall praise thy wonders
O Lord
.... Which
by
a prosopopceia
may be understood of the heavens literally
in the same sense
as other inanimate creatures praise the Lord
Psalm 148:3
or mystically of the church
consisting of heaven born souls
and whose doctrines and ordinances are from
heaven; or of the apostles
as Jerom
who had their ministry
mission
commission
and gifts
from thence; or rather of the angels
the inhabitants of
heaven
who praise the Lord for his wonderful works of nature
providence
and
grace
Psalm 148:2
particularly they admire and
praise the wonderful work of redemption "that wonderful thing of thine"F13פלאך "mirabile tuum"
Pagninus
Montanus
Cocceius
Gerjus; "mirabile apus tuum"
Junius & Tremellius;
"illud miraculum tuum"
Michaelis.
as the word may be rendered
being in the singular number: the person of the Redeemer is wonderful
and that
is his name; his incarnation is a most amazing thing
it is the great mystery
of godliness; and the redemption wrought out by him is the wonder of men and
angels: when he appeared in the world
the angels of God worshipped him; at his
birth
they sung glory to God in the highest; and the mysteries of his grace
are what they look into with wonder and praise
Hebrews 1:6
thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints; i.e. is
praised there; which Aben Ezra and Kimchi interpret of the angels also
who are
called saints
Deuteronomy 33:2
of which there is a
congregation
even an innumerable company
Revelation 19:6
these not only admire and
praise the wonderful works of the Lord
but his perfections also; and
particularly his faithfulness in the execution of promises and threatenings
Revelation 7:11
but rather holy men are
meant
such as are called to be saints
and are gathered together in a Gospel
church state
designed by a congregation of them
among and by whom the truth
and faithfulness of God
as well as his lovingkindness and mercy
are spoken of
with the highest commendation
Psalm 40:9.
Psalm 89:6 6 For who in the heavens can
be compared to the Lord?
Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?
YLT 6For who in the sky
Compareth himself to Jehovah? Is like to Jehovah among sons of the mighty?
For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord?.... Or
"ranked"F14יערך "par
aestimetur"
Junius & Tremellius; "par aestimabitur"
Piscator.
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 applicable to the angels
Job 38:7
and so the Targum interprets it
of the multitude of the angels; but rather the mighty men of the earth
and
their children
are meant; princes
nobles
judges
and civil magistrates of
all sorts
men of power and authority in the world; there are none of them to
be likened to the Lord
who is King of kings
and Lord of lords; see Psalm 82:1.
Psalm 89:7 7 God is greatly to be
feared in the assembly of the saints
And to be held in reverence by all those
around Him.
YLT 7God is very terrible
In
the secret counsel of His holy ones
And fearful over all surrounding Him.
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints
.... Which
Jarchi and Kimchi understand of angels again
and render it "God is to be
feared in the great assembly of them"; for they are a very large number
even an innumerable company
in and by whom the Lord is feared and worshipped
Hebrews 12:21
but rather an assembly or
congregation of holy men are designed: it is the duty of such to assemble
together publicly for religious worship; they ought to do it on account of the
Lord
who requires it
and encourages it by his presence
he has promised; on
the account of themselves
it being for their profit and pleasure; and on the
account of others
for their conversion and comfort; and in imitation of the
people of God
in all ages; nor should they forsake the assembling of
themselves: the word סוד rendered
"assembly"
signifies "counsel" or "secret"; see Genesis 49:6 and so the Targum
"God
is mighty in the secrets of the saints
sitting on a throne of glory;'
in
the assembly of the saints
the secrets of God's love are disclosed unto them;
the doctrines and mysteries of his grace
called the whole counsel of God
Acts 20:27 are there made known; and the
ordinances of the Gospel
which also are styled the counsel of God
Luke 7:30
are there administered: now
where all this is done
God is greatly feared herein; not with a slavish fear
a fear of hell and damnation
such as may be in devils; nor with an
hypocritical fear
such as is taught by the precepts of men; but with a filial
godly fear
such as is peculiar to the children of God; with an holy and humble
fear
with a fiducial and fearless one; with a reverential affection for the
Divine Being
and such as includes all worship of him
internal and external:
and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him; which the Targum
paraphrases
"and
is to be feared above all the angels that stand round about him'
and
so Kimchi interprets it; see Revelation 5:11
but the same thing
in
different words
is meant
as in the preceding clause.
Psalm 89:8 8 O Lord God of hosts
Who
is mighty like You
O Lord? Your faithfulness also
surrounds You.
YLT 8O Jehovah
God of Hosts
Who [is] like Thee -- a strong Jah? And Thy faithfulness [is] round about Thee.
O Lord God of hosts
.... Of all the hosts of
heaven
the sun
moon
and stars
and of all the heavenly hosts of angels
of
all the armies in heaven
and the inhabitants of the earth:
who is a strong Lord like unto thee? he is Jah
or Jehovah
and he alone is so
and is the most High in all the earth
Psalm 83:18 and there is none like him for
his great power and strength
by which he has made the heavens and the earth
and upholds them in their being; and by which he has redeemed his people
plucked them out of the hands of sin and Satan
and preserves them safe to his
kingdom and glory: see Job 40:9
or to thy faithfulness round about thee; none so
faithful as the Lord
none to be trusted as he
either angels or men; some
understand it of the faithful ones that are about him
his trusty servants the
angels
who stand round about him ready to do his will; or the glorified saints
that are with him
the called
chosen
and faithful; see Psalm 103:19 or rather the words are to be
read
"and thy faithfulness is round about thee"; and so the Targum
"and
thy truth (or faithfulness) surroundeth thee:'
look
all around him
and his faithfulness is everywhere to be seen; to himself
and
the perfections of his nature; to his Son
and agreements with him; and to his
counsels of old
his purposes and decrees
and to his covenant and promises: he
is as it were clothed with faithfulness
and it appears in all the
dispensations of his providence and grace.
Psalm 89:9 9 You rule the raging of the
sea; When its waves rise
You still them.
YLT 9Thou [art] ruler over the
pride of the sea
In the lifting up of its billows Thou dost restrain them.
Thou rulest the raging of the sea
.... The power
pride
and elation of it
when it swells
and foams
and rages
and becomes
boisterous
and threatens vessels upon it with utter ruin and destruction; but
the Lord
who has it under his dominion and government
restrains it; he has
made and can manage it
and he only: his power over it is seen in assigning it
its place
and ordering the waters of it to it when first made; in placing the
sand for its boundary by a perpetual decree
which it cannot pass; by
commanding the stormy wind to lift up its waves
and by making the storm a
calm
and the waves thereof still; see Psalm 107:25
instances of this were at the
universal deluge
and at the Red sea:
when the waves thereof arise
thou stillest them; when the sea
lifts up its waves
and both lift up their voice
and make a noise
and roar
the Lord hushes them
and makes them still and quiet
as a parent its child
when it cries
or a master his scholars
when they are noisy and tumultuous; so
Christ rebuked the wind
and checked the raging sea
and made it calm
when the
ship in which he was with his disciples was covered with its waves; and as this
is mentioned here as an instance of the great power and strength of the Lord of
hosts
so that was a proof and evidence of the true and proper divinity of our
Lord Jesus Christ
Matthew 8:24
all this may be understood
in a mystical sense
of the sea of this world
and the wicked inhabitants of
it
who are as the troubled sea
and cannot rest
casting up mire and dirt
reproaching and blaspheming God and man; and particularly of tyrannical princes
and potentates
who are like the proud waters and raging waves of the sea; but
the Lord on high is mightier than they
and can and does restrain their wrath
and rage
so that his people have nothing to fear from them; see Psalm 124:3.
Psalm 89:10 10 You have broken Rahab in
pieces
as one who is slain; You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty
arm.
YLT 10Thou hast bruised Rahab
as
one wounded. With the arm of Thy strength Thou hast scattered Thine enemies.
Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces
as one that is slain
.... Or Egypt
as in Psalm 87:4 or the Egyptians
and
particularly Pharaoh their king; so the Targum explains it
"Rahab
or the proud one
this is Pharaoh the wicked;'
who
and his people were broken to pieces by the plagues that were brought upon
them
especially when all their firstborn were slain; and he and his host were
broke in pieces at the Red sea
and were seen by the Israelites on the shore
all dead men; and this was done as easily by the Lord
as one slain with the
sword
as a dead carcass which has no life
power
and strength to defend
itself
may be trampled upon
crushed
bruised
and broken to pieces
by a
living man. All this may be an emblem of the Lord's breaking in pieces the
proud and insolent one Satan
as Rahab signifies; of his breaking his head
destroying his works
and spoiling his principalities and powers; and indeed of
his destruction of every proud and haughty sinner
that says
Pharaoh like
who
is the Lord
that I should obey him? and of every vain boaster
and
self-righteous person
that trusts in his own righteousness
and will not
submit to the righteousness of Christ; and particularly of mystical Egypt
the
proud beast of Rome
antichrist
who sits in the temple of God as if he was
God
showing himself to be so
blaspheming God
his name
his tabernacle
and
his saints; who will be broken to shivers as a potter's vessel
when the vials
of God's wrath are poured out
and at and by the coming of Christ:
thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm; as the
Egyptians were in the Red sea
by the waves of it
and cast upon the shore by
them; and as the Amorites were by Moses
and the Canaanites by Joshua; which
instances may be here referred unto; see Numbers 10:35 these are further proofs of
the power and strength of the Lord
Job 40:9.
Psalm 89:11 11 The heavens are
Yours
the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness
You have
founded them.
YLT 11Thine [are] the heavens --
the earth also [is] Thine
The habitable world and its fulness
Thou hast
founded them.
The heavens are thine
.... They are made and
inhabited by him
they are the work of his hands
and the seat of his majesty
and the throne of his glory; the angels of heaven are his
his creatures and
servants; the several heavens are his
the airy
starry
and third heavens; the
place and state of the blessed and glorified saints is of his preparing and
giving:
the earth also is thine; the whole terraqueous
globe
and all that is in it
being made
preserved
and continued by him
and
by him given to the sons of men
Psalm 116:15
as for the world
and the fulness thereof: the habitable
world
and all that dwell therein
all the children of men
the beasts of the
field
and cattle on a thousand hills
and the provisions for them all; which
is the goodness of the Lord
the earth is full of; these are all the Lord's;
see Psalm 24:1
thou hast founded them; the world
and the
inhabitants of it; the earth is founded upon the seas
and the world upon
nothing; and the inhabitants are wonderfully preserved and continued by the
power and providence of God; see Psalm 24:2.
Psalm 89:12 12 The north and the south
You have created them; Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name.
YLT 12North and south Thou hast
appointed them
Tabor and Hermon in Thy name do sing.
The
two extreme parts of the world
the northern and southern poles
whether
inhabited or uninhabited
are created by the Lord
to answer some purpose or
another; see Job 26:7.
Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name; Tabor was a
mountain in the western part of Galilee
in the tribe of Zebulun
Joshua 19:12. This mountain
according to
Mr. MaundrellF1Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem
p. 113
114
Ed. 7.
stands by itself in the plain of Esdraelon
about 1200 to 1800 yards within
the plain; it has a plain area at top
most fertile and delicious
of an oval
figure
extended about six hundred yards in breadth
and twice that in length;
this area is enclosed with trees on all parts
except towards the south
in
which there are in several places cisterns of good water. It is generally
thought to be the mountain Christ was transfigured upon before his disciples;
and if so
it might then be said to rejoice in his name
when he appeared in so
glorious a form upon it; Moses and Elias talking with him
and a voice from the
excellent Glory declaring him his beloved Son; and especially the disciples
rejoiced in his name there and then
who could say
It is good for us to be
here
Matthew 17:1. Hermon was a mountain called
by the Sidonians Sirion
and by the Amorites Shenir
Deuteronomy 3:8 and was in the east; and so
Mr. MaundrellF2Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem
p. 115
Ed. 7.
speaking of Tabor
says
not many miles eastward you see Mount Hermon
at the
foot of which is seated Nain
famous for our Lord's raising the widow's son
there
Luke 7:11
there was an Hermon near Mount
Tabor
thought likely to be here meant; but
be these mountains where and what
they may
they were no doubt very high and fruitful ones
clothed with fruitful
trees and grass
and covered with flocks; which made the proprietors and all
the beholders rejoice in the goodness
wisdom
and power of God: the Targum in
the king's Bible gives the four quarters very truly
"the
desert of the north
and the inhabitants of the south
thou hast created; Tabor
on the west
and Hermon on the east
praise in thy name.'
Psalm 89:13 13 You have a mighty arm; Strong
is Your hand
and high is Your right hand.
YLT 13Thou hast an arm with might
Strong is Thy hand -- high Thy right hand.
Thou hast a mighty arm
.... Christ is the arm of
the Lord
and a mighty one he is
and so is the Gospel
which is the power of
God unto salvation; here it seems to design the almighty power of God
displayed in the works of creation and providence; see Isaiah 51:9.
strong is thy hand; thy "left hand"
as some
it
being distinguished from his right hand
mentioned in the next clause; the
Targum adds
"to
redeem thy people;'
the
work of redemption was put into the hand of Christ
and it prospered in his
hand
and his own arm brought salvation to him; and his hand is strong to keep
and preserve his people
where they are put
and where they are safe; and the
hand of the Lord is strong to correct and chastise them
and sometimes his hand
lies heavy upon them
and presses them sore
when it becomes them to humble
themselves under his "mighty hand": and it also strong to punish his
and their enemies:
and high is thy right hand; when it is lifted up in
a way of judgment against wicked men
and for the defence of his people
then
may it be said to be exalted: and it is high enough to reach the highest and
most powerful of his adversaries; see Psalm 118:16. The Targum adds
"to
build the house of thy sanctuary.'
Some
renderF3So Paginus
Montana
and V. L. these two last clauses as a
wish or prayer; "let thy hand be strong
and let thy right hand be lifted
up".
Psalm 89:14 14 Righteousness and justice are
the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.
YLT 14Righteousness and judgment
[Are] the fixed place of Thy throne
Kindness and truth go before Thy face.
Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne
.... The seat
and throne on which he sits; all the administrations of his kingly power in the
government of the world
in the salvation of his people
and in the punishment
of his enemies
being according to the strict rules of justice and judgment: or
"the preparation of thy throne"F4מכון
כסאך "praeparatio sedis tuae". V. L. so the
Sept. ; all that the Lord does according to the counsel of his will; and these
counsels were of old
and were formed in strict justice and judgment
and were
a preparation for his future government in providence and grace: or "the
establishment of thy throne"F5Basis
"fulchrum et
stabilimentum"
Michaelis. ; the throne of an earthly king is established
by righteousness; and so the throne of God
and of Christ
is ordered and
established with justice and judgment in the exercise of righteousness for
evermore
Proverbs 16:12.
mercy and truth shall go before thy face; be and appear
wherever he is; all his ways are mercy and truth
Psalm 25:10
"mercy" in pardoning
and saving sinners that come unto him by Christ; and "truth" in
performing all his purposes and promises; and these make the joyful sound next
mentioned.
Psalm 89:15 15 Blessed are the
people who know the joyful sound! They walk
O Lord
in the light
of Your countenance.
YLT 15O the happiness of the
people knowing the shout
O Jehovah
in the light of Thy face they walk
habitually.
Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound
.... Of the
love
grace
and mercy of God displayed in Christ
of peace and pardon by his
blood
of justification by his righteousness
of atonement by his sacrifice
and of complete salvation by his obedience
sufferings
and death; this is the
sound of the Gospel
and a joyful one it is to sensible sinners; and is so
called in allusion either to a shout made upon a victory gained
and such a
sound is the Gospel; it declares victory by Christ over sin
Satan
the world
and death
and every enemy; and that he has made his people more than
conquerors over them; or to the jubilee trumpet
which proclaimed liberty and a
restoration of inheritances
Leviticus 25:9 and so the Gospel proclaims
liberty to the captives
freedom from the dominion of sin
and condemnation by
it
from the tyranny of Satan
and the bondage of the law; and gives an account
of the inheritance the saints have in Christ
and through his death
to which
they are regenerated
and for which they are made meet by the Spirit of God
and of which he is the seal and earnest: or to the silver trumpets
for the use
of the congregation of Israel
and blown at their solemn feasts
and other
times
and were all of a piece
Numbers 10:1
the trumpet of the Gospel
gives a certain sound
an even one
a very musical one; there is no jar nor
discord in it; is a soul charming alluring sound
and very loud; it has
reached
and will reach again
to the ends of the earth
Romans 10:18
it is a blessing to hear it
but it is a greater to "know" it
not merely notionally
but
spiritually and experimentally; so as not only to approve of it
and be
delighted with it
but so as to distinguish it from all other sounds; and by
faith to receive it
and appropriate the things it publishes to a man's own
soul; and such must be "blessed"
or happy persons
for the reasons
following in this verse
and in Psalm 89:16
they shall walk
O Lord
in the light of thy countenance: enjoy the
gracious presence of God
have the manifestation of himself
the discoveries of
his love
communion with him through Christ
and the comforts of the Holy Spirit
and these continued; so that they shall walk in the sunshine of these things
though not always; for sometimes they walk in darkness
and see no light; but
it is an unspeakable mercy and blessing to walk herein at any time
for ever so
short a season
see Psalm 4:6.
Psalm 89:16 16 In Your name they rejoice
all day long
And in Your righteousness they are exalted.
YLT 16In Thy name they rejoice
all the day
And in Thy righteousness they are exalted
In thy name shall they rejoice all the day
.... That know
the joyful sound
and walk in the light of God's countenance
as they have
reason to do; these will "rejoice" in the Lord himself
for his
"name" is himself; in the perfections of his nature
as displayed in
redemption and salvation by Christ; in him as the God of all grace
as their
covenant God and Father in Christ
and the God of their salvation; and they
will rejoice in Christ
in his name
in which is salvation
and therefore
precious; in his person
blood
righteousness
sacrifice
and fitness; and that
"all the day" long
continually; there is always reason
ground
and
matter for rejoicing in Christ
though it is sometimes interrupted by sin
temptation
and desertion; see Philemon 4:4.
and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted; from a low
estate of sin and misery to an high estate of grace and glory; from a state of
condemnation and death to a state of justification of life; from being beggars
on the dunghill
to sit among princes
and to inherit the throne of glory; such
as are clothed with the righteousness of the Son of God are exalted to great honour
as to be admitted into the presence of the King of kings in raiment of
needlework
to stand at his right hand in gold of Ophir
and to live and reign
with him for evermore in his kingdom and glory.
Psalm 89:17 17 For You are the
glory of their strength
And in Your favor our horn is exalted.
YLT 17For the beauty of their
strength [art] Thou
And in Thy good will is our horn exalted
For thou art the glory of their strength
.... By which
they walk
and do all they do
exercise every grace
and discharge their duty;
they have their strength from Christ
as well as their righteousness
without
whom they can do nothing
but all things through him strengthening them; and as
his righteousness exalts them
his strength adorns and glorifies them; how glorious
and beautiful does a believer look
that is strong in the Lord
and in the
power of his might
in the grace that is in Christ
and in the exercise of
faith on him
giving glory to God; on whom the power of Christ rests
and it
overshadows
and in whose weakness his strength is made perfect!
and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted; either
Christ
the Horn of their salvation
who in an acceptable time
in the time of
God's favour
or good will
was heard and helped by him as man
carried through
his sufferings and death
was raised from the dead
and exalted at his right
hand; see Psalm 89:24 or the saints themselves
their
power and strength
kingdom and glory; by the special favour of God in Christ
their mountain is made so strong
and they so highly exalted
as that they
think they shall never be moved; and in the latter day the mountain of the
Lord's house shall be exalted above the hills
Psalm 30:6.
Psalm 89:18 18 For our shield belongs
to the Lord
And our king to the Holy One of Israel.
YLT 18For of Jehovah [is] our
shield
And of the Holy One of Israel our king.
For the Lord is our defence
.... From all their
enemies
being all around them
as a wall of fire to protect them
and as the
mountains were round about Jerusalem
and being kept by his power as in a
fortress
strong hold
or garrison
unto salvation; or our shieldF6מגננו "clypeus noster"
Pagninus
Montanus
Vatablus
Tigurine version; "scutum nostrum"
Junius &
Tremellius
Piscator. ; see Psalm 84:9 as are his favour
righteousness
and salvation
Psalm 5:12 or "to the Lord belongs our
defence or shield"F7ליהוה
"Domino"
Pagninus
Montanus. our protection and salvation is from
him:
and the Holy One of Israel is our King; he who was to
be
and is of Israel according to the flesh
and is holy in his nature
life
and office; he is King of saints
that rules over them
protects and defends
them
and therefore they must be happy: or "to" or "with the
Holy One of Israel is our king"F8ולקדש
ישראל "et sancto Israelis"
Pagninus
Montanus. ; Christ is King of Zion by designation
appointment
and
constitution
of God the Holy One of Israel
the holy God that has chosen
Israel for his peculiar people; though it rather seems that Christ is the Holy
One by what follows.
Psalm 89:19 19 Then You spoke in a vision
to Your holy one
[b] And said:
“I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from
the people.
YLT 19Then Thou hast spoken in
vision
To Thy saint
yea
Thou sayest
I have placed help upon a mighty one
Exalted a chosen one out of the people
Then thou spakest in vision to thy Holy One
.... Samuel
the prophet
that holy man of God
to whom the Lord spoke in vision
or by a
spirit of prophecy
concerning David
the choice and exaltation of him to the
kingdom
and his unction for it
1 Samuel 16:1. The Vulgate Latin version
reads it "to thy Holy Ones": and so the Targum
with which agree the
Septuagint and Arabic versions
which render it "thy sons"; and the
Syriac version "his righteous ones"
and so takes in Nathan also
to
whom the Lord spake in a vision
by night
concerning the settlement and
perpetuity of the kingdom in David's family
2 Samuel 7:4
&c. Aben Ezra interprets
it of the singers
Heman
Ethan
and others; and Jarchi of Gad and Nathan: but
the whole is rather to be understood of David's son
the Messiah; and it may be
rendered "concerning thy Holy One"F9לחסידך
"de pio tuo"
Cocceius; "de sancto tuo"
Gejerus. as he is
called
Psalm 16:10
concerning whom in vision
that is
in prophecy
see Isaiah 1:1. The Lord said
by the mouth of
his holy prophets
from the beginning of the world
the following things:
and saidst
I have laid help upon one that is mighty; this
"mighty" One is the Messiah
the mighty God
the mighty Man
the
mighty Mediator and Redeemer; who was mighty to save to the uttermost
and was
every way fit for and equal to the work of a Redeemer; for which reason the
Lord "laid help" upon him
not for himself; for this is not to be
understood of help promised or given him as man and Mediator: this is after
spoken of
Psalm 89:21
but for others; and so the
Targum adds
"for my people": laying it on him is no other than
ordering or enjoining him
to which he agreed
to help his people out of that
miserable condition they were fallen into
through Adam's transgression
and
their own sins
out of which they could not help themselves: the work assigned
to Christ
and devolved on him in council and covenant
was to help them out of
this estate by price and power; and to help them on in their way to heaven
through all difficulties
trials
and temptations; and to help them to heaven
itself
and introduce them there: and being thus laid upon him
according to
his Father's will and purpose
and with his own consent
it was found in him
and exercised by him
Hosea 13:9.
I have exalted one chosen out of the people; the same as
before
the Messiah
God's elect
his chosen One
Isaiah 42:1 "chosen" to be the
head of the church
to be the Mediator between God and man
and to be the
Saviour and Redeemer of lost sinners; to be the foundation and corner stone in
the spiritual building
and to be the Judge of quick and dead: and he was
"chosen out of the people"; out of the vast number of the individuals
of human nature God determined to create
there was a certain number which he
selected for himself
for his own glory
and to be eternally happy with him;
and out of these he singled one "individuum" of human nature
to be
united to the eternal Word
the second Person in the Trinity; and which may be
truly said to be the "chiefest among"
or
as the Septuagint version
has it
"chosen out of ten thousand"
Song of Solomon 5:10
this the Lord
"exalted" to the grace of union to the Son of God
whereby it became
higher than angels and men
and to have a more excellent name than either of
them
it bearing the name of him to whom it is united
Hebrews 1:4
and he has exalted him to the
offices of Prophet
Priest
and King
for which he is
anointed above his fellows; and he has also
having
done his work
highly exalted him at his right hand; angels
principalities
and powers
being subject to him.
Psalm 89:20 20 I have found My servant
David; With My holy oil I have anointed him
YLT 20I have found David My servant
With My holy oil I have anointed him.
I have found David my servant
.... Not David literally;
but his Son and antitype
the Messiah
who is sometimes called by his name; See
Gill on Psalm 89:3
and his "finding" him
does not suppose any ignorance of him
nor anxious solicitude in seeking him
nor any
fortuitous
event; but is attributed to God by an anthropopathy
or speaking after the
manner of men; for it is an act of the highest wisdom
and richest grace
to
find out
that is
to pick and appoint
in council and covenant
his own Son to
be his servant
to be the Redeemer and Saviour of sinners
and to be a ransom
for them
Job 33:24. The Apostle Paul seems to refer
to this passage in Acts 13:22.
with my holy oil have I anointed him: not with
material oil
as David
his type
1 Samuel 16:13 but with the Holy Ghost
which may well be called holy oil
in allusion to the holy anointing oil under
the law; the oil of gladness with which Christ was anointed above his fellows
and without measure
at the time of his conception and birth
at his baptism
and ascension to heaven
and even
in some sense
from all eternity; for so
early is he said to be anointed
and to be possessed with all fulness of grace
being invested with and installed into his office as Mediator; and from this
anointing he has the name of Messiah and Christ
both which signify anointed
Acts 10:38.
Psalm 89:21 21 With whom My hand shall be
established; Also My arm shall strengthen him.
YLT 21With whom My hand is
established
My arm also doth strengthen him.
With whom my hand shall be established
.... A promise
of God's gracious presence with Christ
as man and Mediator
which is his work;
of a communication of grace and strength from him
to carry him through it; and
of his supporting and upholding him under it; which hand of his power and grace
would be always prepared and ready for him
as the wordF1תכון "parate erit"
Musculus
Muis; so the
Targum. signifies
and stable and firm with him
so that he should have success
in it; the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand; so the Targum
"for
my hands are prepared for his help;'
the
Septuagint
Vulgate Latin
and all the eastern versions
"mine hand shall
help him"; and which is confirmed in the next words: mine arm also shall
strengthen him; in the human nature
subject to and encompassed with
infirmities: this shows the greatness of the work of man's redemption
which no
creature could effect; it required the arm and power of the Lord to be exerted
and by which Christ was made strong by the Lord
both for himself
and for the
working out of salvation for us; which he did when he travelled in the
greatness of his strength
standing up under the mighty weight of our sins
and
the wrath of God; and yet failed not
nor was he discouraged
till his own arm
brought salvation to him; see Psalm 80:17.
Psalm 89:22 22 The enemy shall not outwit
him
Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
YLT 22An enemy exacteth not upon
him
And a son of perverseness afflicteth him not.
The enemy shall not exact upon him
.... The enemy is the
devil
as in the interpretation of the parable of the tares
Matthew 13:39
the implacable enemy of
Christ and his church; and yet
notwithstanding all his enmity and malice
he
could not "exact"
or get more inflicted on him
than the law and
justice of God required of him
as the sinner's surety; or could not "exact"
a tribute of him
or make him tributary to him; or
in other words
conquer
him
and subject him to him: so far from it
that he was conquered by Christ
and all his principalities and powers spoiled; or could not "deceive"
him
in which sense the wordF2ישיא
"non imponet ei"
Tigurine version; "non seducet eum"
so
some in Vatablus; "non decipiet eum"
Gejerus
Schmidt. is sometimes
used; and so the Targum here: though he deceived Eve
he could not deceive the
Messiah
the seed of the woman; he tried it
in person
by his temptations in
the wilderness
and by his agents and instruments
the Scribes and Pharisees:
but in vain
and to no purpose; he could not succeed:
nor the son of wickedness afflict him: at least not
always: he was indeed afflicted
as by wicked men
and by Satan the wicked one
yet not so as to be overcome by any; and as Christ personal
so Christ
mystical
or his church and people
are afflicted by the sons of wickedness;
yet
sooner or later
they are delivered out of all their afflictions.
Antichrist
that man of sin
and son of perdition
that wicked one
that is
eminently so
and may be well called "the son of wickedness"
has
long and greatly oppressed the people of Christ
and his interest; but he shall
not always; he shall be destroyed with the spirit of his mouth
and with the
brightness of his coming
2 Thessalonians 2:3. This passage is
applied to the Messiah by the JewsF3Yalkut Simeoni
par. 2. fol. 56.
3. .
Psalm 89:23 23 I will beat down his foes
before his face
And plague those who hate him.
YLT 23And I have beaten down
before him his adversaries
And those hating him I plague
And I will beat down his foes before his face
.... In Judea
and in the Gentile world; more especially in Rome Pagan
and Rome Papal; in the
most public manner
before his Gospel
and the ministry of it by his servants;
and they shall either submit unto it
or be broken to pieces as a potter's vessel;
for he must reign till all enemies are put under his feet
1 Corinthians 15:25
and plague them that hate him; that would not have him
to reign over them
the unbelieving Jews
and all the followers of antichrist;
who are either plagued with the judgments of God here
or with everlasting
punishment hereafter
with which they will be tormented for ever and ever
Luke 19:14 or "strike"F4אגוף "percutiam"
Pagninus
Montanus
Musculus
Piscator
Michaelis. them with a rod of iron
with his wrath and vengeance;
strike them down to the ground
and to the lowest hell.
Psalm 89:24 24 “But My faithfulness and
My mercy shall be with him
And in My name his horn shall be exalted.
YLT 24And My faithfulness and
kindness [are] with him
And in My name is his horn exalted.
But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him
.... The
"faithfulness" of God was and is with Christ
in performing promises
made to him respecting his work
and strength to do it
as man
and the glory
that should follow; and also those made to his people in him
relating to grace
here
and happiness hereafter: and though there was no "mercy" shown
to Christ
as the surety of his people
but he was dealt with in strict
justice; yet
as Mediator of the covenant
the special mercy of God is with
him
even every blessing of it
called "the sure mercies of David";
and is only communicated through him; he is the mercy seat
from whence mercy
is dispensed
and the propitiation through whom God is merciful to men; the
words may be rendered
"my truth and my grace"F5ואמונתי וחסדי "et veritas
mea
et gratia mea"
Cocceius
Gejerus
Michaelis.
as they are by the
Targum; and both are with Christ
the truth of doctrine
and all the fulness of
grace
justifying
sanctifying
pardoning
adopting
and persevering grace
John 1:14
and in my name shall his horn be exalted
or "his
glory"
as the Targum; his power and dominion
of which the horn is an
emblem; and his glory is displayed in having the same name his Father has: his
name is expressive of his nature
being
and perfections
the name Jehovah; and
his name of title and office "King of Kings
and Lord of lords"; or
his name the Word of God
as the Targum; who
as such
is the brightness of his
Father's glory: or the sense is
that
by the power of God
he should be raised
from the dead
and have glory given him
and be exalted at his right hand
and
made Lord and Christ; or by means of the Gospel
which is the name of the Lord
John 17:6
his kingdom and dominion should
be spread in the world; see 1 Samuel 2:10.
Psalm 89:25 25 Also I will set his hand
over the sea
And his right hand over the rivers.
YLT 25And I have set on the sea
his hand
And on the rivers his right hand.
I will set his hand also in the sea
.... Which is expressive
not of his dominion over the sea
and of his power and authority over all
things in it
which: he has by right of creation
and as Mediator
Psalm 8:5
of which there were instances in
the days of his flesh
Matthew 8:26
but of his kingdom taking
place in
and of his government over the inhabitants of the isles of the sea;
and so the Targum
"I
will set or place his government in the provinces of the sea;'
and
which has been remarkably accomplished in our isles
where his Gospel has been
preached
his kingdom set up
and he has had a race of subjects
and a seed
to
serve him for many years:
and his right hand in the rivers: or
as the Targum
"the
power of his right hand in those that dwell by rivers;'
meaning
such that dwell upon the continent
afar off from the sea
and whose countries
are watered by rivers: so that both phrases denote the extent of Christ's
kingdom in the continent
and in the islands of the sea; signifying
that it
should reach everywhere
and be from sea to sea
and from the river to the ends
of the earth
Psalm 72:8. Compare with this Revelation 10:1. Aben Ezra interprets it of
David's prevailing over those that go in ships in the sea
and in rivers.
Psalm 89:26 26 He shall cry to Me
‘You are
my Father
My God
and the rock of my salvation.’
YLT 26He proclaimeth me: `Thou
[art] my Father
My God
and the rock of my salvation.'
He shall cry unto me
thou art my Father
.... Not by
creation
as he is the Father of angels and men; nor by adoption
as he is the
Father of saints; but by generation
being the begotter of him
Psalm 2:7 so that he is Christ's own and
proper Father
and Christ is his own and proper Son
John 5:18
and he frequently called him his
Father
and asserted him to be in this relation to him
John 5:17
John 10:30
and addressed him
called upon
him
and prayed unto him as such
Matthew 11:25
"my God"; that
chose him to be the Mediator
Redeemer
and Saviour; who made a covenant with
him
his chosen; who prepared and provided the human nature of Christ; anointed
him with the gifts and graces of his Spirit
and supported him in his
sufferings
and crowned him with glory and honour; whom Christ loved as his
God
trusted in him as such
obeyed him
and prayed unto him: he called him his
God
owned him to be so
and called upon him
and cried unto him
as such
John 20:17. God is the Father of Christ
as
Christ is a divine Person; and he is the God of Christ
as Christ is man: these
two relations frequently go together in the New Testament
John 20:17. It is added
and the Rock of my salvation; that bore him up
and
where he stood firm
while he was working out the salvation of his people; and
though he was not saved from sufferings and death
yet he was quickly delivered
from the grave
and raised from the dead
and set at the right hand of God
where he must reign till all enemies are put under his feet.
Psalm 89:27 27 Also I will make him My
firstborn
The highest of the kings of the earth.
YLT 27I also first-born do
appoint him
Highest of the kings of the earth.
Also I will make him my firstborn
.... Or
"make him
the firstborn"; make him great
as Jarchi interprets it; give him the
blessing
the double portion of inheritance: so Christ is made most blessed for
ever
and has all spiritual blessings in his hands; and is heir of all things
and his people joint-heirs with him. Christ is God's "firstborn"
or
"first begotten"
Hebrews 1:6
being begotten by him
and of
him; and his firstbegotten
though none begotten after him; as the first that
opened the womb
under the law
was called the firstborn
though none were ever
born after; and in such sense his first begotten
as that he is his only
begotten: and he is the firstborn
with respect to creatures; "he is the
firstborn of every creature"; Colossians 1:15
being begotten and brought
forth before any creature was in being
Proverbs 8:22
and
with respect to the
saints
"he is the firstborn among many brethren"
Romans 8:29
they are of the same nature
and in the same family
and in which Christ is a son
and the firstborn; and in
all things he has the preeminence; and he is also "the firstborn from the
dead"
or "the first begotten of the dead"
Colossians 1:18 being raised first from
thence by his own power
and to an immortal life; and is the first fruits of
them that sleep
and the efficient and meritorious cause of the resurrection of
life
and the pattern and exemplar of it: even him the Father promises to make
"higher than the kings of the earth"; having a kingdom of a superior
nature to theirs
and a more extensive and durable one; and even they
themselves shall be subject to him; hence he is called "King of
kings"
Revelation 19:16. This will be when their
kingdoms become his; when they shall fall down before him
and worship him
and
bring their riches and glory into his kingdom
or the New Jerusalem church
state
Psalm 72:10. This passage is interpreted of
the Messiah by the JewsF6In Shemot Rabba
s. 19. fol. 104. 4. .
Psalm 89:28 28 My mercy I will keep for
him forever
And My covenant shall stand firm with him.
YLT 28To the age I keep for him
My kindness
And My covenant [is] stedfast with him.
My mercy will I keep for him for evermore
.... That is
for his mystical body
his church and people; for whom stores of mercy are kept
with him
to be laid out in their regeneration
pardon
salvation
and eternal
life; for to them the mercy of God is from everlasting to everlasting
Psalm 103:17
unless this is to be
understood of the "grace" and "kindness"F7חסדי "bonitatem meam"
Musculus
Tigurine
version; "benignitatem meam"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator;
"gratiam meam"
Cocceius
Gejerus
Michaelis. of God
as the word may
be rendered; his free favour and love to Christ
which always continues; for as
he was always his dearly beloved Son
that lay in his bosom from eternity
so
he continued
throughout his state
of humiliation
his well beloved
in whom
he was well pleased
and still is
and ever will:
and my covenant shall stand fast with him; being made
with him as the head and representative of his people
it remains
and will
remain
sure
firm
and immoveable; its blessings are "sure mercies"
and its promises are all "yea and amen in Christ": the stability of
it
and of all that is in it
is owing to its being made with him
and being in
his hands
who is the surety
Mediator
and messenger of it.
Psalm 89:29 29 His seed also I will make to
endure forever
And his throne as the days of heaven.
YLT 29And I have set his seed for
ever
And his throne as the days of the heavens.
His seed also will I make to endure for ever
.... Not a
race of kings from David
which ended at the Babylonish captivity; not the
natural seed of David
not the Messiah himself
who sprung from him
but the
Messiah's spiritual seed
which were given him by the Father
adopted through
him
regenerated by his Spirit and grace
begotten through his Gospel
and the
ministry of it
and born again in his church
and to whom he stands in the
relation of the everlasting Father
Isaiah 9:6. The "enduring" of
these "for ever" may denote the final perseverance of particular
believers; which may be concluded from the relation of Christ
as an everlasting
Father to them
who therefore must continue as his children; from his affection
to them
from which there can be no separation; from their security in and by
him
being in his hand
and in his heart; from their adoption
which is never
revoked
being sons they are no more servants; from their regeneration of
incorruptible seed; and from the nature of faith
which can never be lost: they
that trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion
which endures for ever
Psalm 125:1 or it may be expressive of the
duration of the church of Christ in general
throughout all periods of time
notwithstanding the malice and opposition of men and devils against it; see Matthew 16:18
and his throne as the days of heaven; a phrase
signifying a great length of time
Deuteronomy 11:21 yea
invariable constancy
and duration
Jeremiah 31:25 and indeed the throne of
Christ is for ever and ever
and will be when the present earth and heavens are
fled away
Psalm 45:6. Christ is upon a throne now in
heaven
the same with his divine Father's; and here he must sit and reign
till
all enemies are put under him; and he will be on a throne of glory when he
judges the world
and in the New Jerusalem state for the space of a thousand
years; and
after that
he will reign with his saints
and they with him
for
evermore; his throne and kingdom are everlasting
Isaiah 9:7.
Psalm 89:30 30 “If his sons forsake My
law And do not walk in My judgments
YLT 30If his sons forsake My law
And in My judgments do not walk;
If his children forsake my law
.... The same with the
seed before mentioned
the children of the Messiah: it is not said "if he
forsakes"
which cannot be supposed of Christ
because he knew no sin
nor
did any; which yet might be supposed of David
had he been literally meant; but
not he
nor his natural children
but the spiritual seed of mystical David
are
here designed
who may sin
and do sin
of which there is too much proof and
evidence; and who sin not only through infirmity
but sometimes very grossly
and which sins are here expressed by various phrases: they sometimes
"forsake the law of God"; do not attend to it
as they should
as the
rule of their walk and conversation; are remiss in their observance of it
and
obedience to it
and transgress its precepts; or his "doctrine"F8תורתי "verbum meaum revelatum"
Gejerus;
"legem et doctrinam meam"
Michaelis.
even the doctrine of the
Gospel; which may be said to be forsaken when men grow indifferent to it; go
off from it in any measure
drop their profession of it
or hold it remissly
or become careless in their attendance on it: forsaking the assembling together
to hear it
in some sense
is a forsaking of it; and this the Lord takes notice
of
and resents
in his people:
and walk not in my judgments; those laws of his house
by which he judges
regulates
and governs his people; by which they are
directed by him
as their Judge and Lawgiver
how to behave themselves in the
church of God; and in which they are to walk
and continue in the observance
of; and so to do is to walk as becomes the Gospel
and worthy of their calling;
but to do otherwise is to walk disorderly; and such are cognizable by the Lord
and by his people.
Psalm 89:31 31 If they break My statutes And
do not keep My commandments
YLT 31If My statutes they pollute
And My commands do not keep
If they break my statutes
.... Fixed
settled
appointed ordinances; such as are baptism and the Lord's supper
under the New
Testament dispensation; which are the things that are unshaken
and will remain
until the second coming of Christ: these are to be kept as they were first
delivered; no change and alteration ought to be made in them; so to do is to
break and violate them
or "profane" them
as the wordF9יחללו "prophanaverint"
V. L. Pagninus
Montanus
Tigurine version
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator
&c. here used
signifies; and which may be done by an unbecoming
irreverent
and indecent
attendance on them; as was by some in the Corinthian church
of which the
apostle complains
and who for it were taken notice of
and chastened by the
Lord
1 Corinthians 11:2
and keep not my
commandments; which should be kept impartially
with great affection to them
from a principle of love to the Lord
with a view to his glory
and without
trusting to and depending upon an obedience to them; for they are not grievous;
and
besides
"in"
though not "for"
keeping them
there
is great reward; and a contrary behaviour is displeasing to God: now this
particular enumeration of offences
that may be committed by the children of
God to Christ
show that all sorts of sins may be committed by them; sins of
omission and commission; sins against the law
and against the Gospel; all but
the unpardonable one; and that these
though they are observed in a way
hereafter mentioned
yet are all forgiven.
Psalm 89:32 32 Then I will punish their
transgression with the rod
And their iniquity with stripes.
YLT 32I have looked after with a
rod their transgression
And with strokes their iniquity
Then will I visit their transgression with the rod
.... That is
of men; as in 2 Samuel 7:14
the Lord making use of men
to chastise his people by
as he did of the neighbouring nations of the Jews
when they sinned against him; and so the Targum interprets it here
"I
will visit their transgressions by the hands of the tribes of the ungodly;'
or
with such afflictions as are common to men
1 Corinthians 10:13
in a kind
humane
moderate way
in measure
in judgment
and not in wrath and hot displeasure; or
in such like manner as a man chastises his children
which is in love
Deuteronomy 8:5.
and their iniquity with stripes; such as diseases of
body
loss of relations
crosses and disappointments in the world; not with the
stripes of divine vengeance
of vindictive justice
such as Christ
the surety
of his people
endured for them; but with the scourges of a father
Isaiah 53:8.
Psalm 89:33 33 Nevertheless My
lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him
Nor allow My faithfulness to
fail.
YLT 33And My kindness I break not
from him
Nor do I deal falsely in My faithfulness.
Nevertheless
my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him
.... Or
"make it void"F11אפיר "not
irritam faciam"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator
Gejerus.
not from
Christ
who always was
and ever will be
the dear Son of his love
even while
he was obeying
suffering
and dying; nor from all those that are in him
loved
and chosen in him
from everyone of his spiritual seed
who are all dear sons
and pleasant children; and the love of God to his people is in Christ; and
therefore there can he no separation from it; nor will it ever depart from
them
or be utterly or at all taken from them
as to that itself
though
sometimes the manifestations of it are withdrawn from them; but the love of God
itself is invariable and unchangeable; see Romans 8:38
nor is it removed when God
afflicts and chastens his people; for his chastenings are from love
and in
love; the reason why he chastens them is because he loves them
and he loves
them while he is chastening them; he visits and comforts them
sympathizes with
them
supports them
and supplies them
and makes all things work together for
their good
Revelation 3:19
nor suffer my faithfulness to fail; in making good his
engagements to Christ
in keeping the covenant made with him
and in fulfilling
his promises to his people; and even when he afflicts them
it is in
faithfulness to them; nor will he suffer them to be afflicted above what they
are able to bear
and will support them under it
and deliver out of it
Psalm 119:75 or "I will not falsify in
my truth"F9ולא אשקר
באמונתי "neque faciam mendacium"
("neque fallam"
Montanus) "in veritate mea"
Pagninus;
"neque mentiar aut fallam in veritate mea"
Michaelis. ; or falsify
his word; he is faithful that has promised
who will do it
yea
notwithstanding the unbelief of his people
Hebrews 10:23.
Psalm 89:34 34 My covenant I will not
break
Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.
YLT 34I profane not My covenant
And that which is going forth from My lips I change not.
My covenant will I not break
.... Not the covenant at
Sinai
as Aben Ezra
but the covenant of grace made with Christ
and which
stands fast with him
Psalm 89:3
which is firm
sure
and
stable
and as immovable as mountains and hills
and more so
2 Samuel 23:5 or "profane"F13לא אחלל "non
prophanabo"
V. L. Pagninus
Montanus
Tigurine version
&c. it
though his people profane his statutes
Psalm 89:31
he will not profane his
covenant; though they violate his laws
he is a God keeping covenant with them
and will not break his word with them:
nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips; any promise
of his
respecting either the temporal
spiritual
or eternal welfare of his
people: or "not change"F14לא אשנה "non mutabo"
Pagninus
Montanus
Tigurine
version
Junius & Tremellius
&c. ; as he changes not in his nature and
perfections
nor in his love and affections
nor in his counsels and purposes;
so neither in his covenant and promises
they are always the same
and have a
certain and unchangeable accomplishment; there is a performance of whatsoever
is spoken by the Lord
Luke 1:45.
Psalm 89:35 35 Once I have sworn by My
holiness; I will not lie to David:
YLT 35Once I have sworn by My
holiness
I lie not to David
Once have I sworn by my holiness
.... Swearing is ascribed
to God after the manner of men
and is done in condescension to the weakness of
his people
and to remove doubts and hesitations from them
relating to things
spiritual and eternal; as to his everlasting love to them
his covenant with
them in Christ
and their perseverance in his grace; and it is made by himself
or one or other of his perfections
as here by his "holiness"; see Amos 4:2
and indeed his holiness being his
nature
is no other than he himself
the holy God; and because he could swear
by no greater
he sware by himself
that as sure as he was
and was holy
just
and true
he would make good what he promises
Hebrews 6:13 and this is done but once
once for all
that being sufficient; it need not be repeated
nor is it ever
revoked; when he swears
he never repents of it
nor changes his mind; and it
is to show the immutability of his counsel that he swears at all
Psalm 110:4
that I will not lie unto David; he will not lie to any
he cannot
it is impossible he should; it would be to deny himself
it is
contrary to his being as God
he is not a man that he should lie; it is
contrary to his character as the God of truth; he will not lie
neither in his
counsel nor covenant
in his purposes nor promises; these are the two immutable
things
in which it is impossible he should lie: and he has swore to it that he
will not lie to David
to David's son the Messiah
with whom the covenant is
made
and stands fast; all the prophecies concerning him he has fulfilled; and
all the promises made to him of help and assistance
as man and Mediator
in
his work
and of the reward of it
a glory with him
he has made good.
Psalm 89:36 36 His seed shall endure
forever
And his throne as the sun before Me;
YLT 36His seed is to the age
And
his throne [is] as the sun before Me
His seed shall endure for ever
.... This is a
confirmation by his oath of what he had before said
Psalm 89:29 which may be understood either
of the perseverance of particular believers
of everyone of the spiritual seed
of Christ; or of the duration of the church in general
throughout all ages
as
before observed; and these being matters of moment and importance
and of which
there are sometimes doubts in the minds of the Lord's people about them
and that
they may be firmly believed by them
he confirms them with an oath; for God
never swears to trivial things; and when he does swear
it is to remove the
doubts of his people
and make their minds easy:
and his throne as the sun before me; that is
shall continue
as long as it does; see Psalm 89:29
or shall be bright
splendid
and glorious as the sun
so the Targum
"and
his throne light as the sun before me;'
meaning
his church and kingdom
of which the throne is an emblem
and which became so
in Gospel times
clear and lucid as the sun
Song of Solomon 6:10
when day was made by
the rising of the sun of righteousness
and by the bright shining of the Gospel
ministry; and at particular periods since
as in the times of Constantine
when
the church was clothed with the sun
and at the Reformation
when Christ
appeared with a rainbow on his head
and his face was as the sun
Revelation 12:1 and especially this will be
the case of the church in the latter day
when the light of the moon will be as
the light of the sun
and the light of the sun seven fold
as the light of
seven days; and when the city
the church
will stand in no need of the sun
nor of the moon; and also in the ultimate glory
when the saints will shine as
the sun in the kingdom of God; see Isaiah 30:26. This passage is applied to
the Messiah by the JewsF1Zohar in Gen. fol. 30. 1. .
Psalm 89:37 37 It shall be established
forever like the moon
Even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah
YLT 37As the moon it is
established -- to the age
And the witness in the sky is stedfast. Selah.
It shall be established for ever as the moon
.... Either
Christ's seed
or throne
which comes to much the same sense; for by both are
meant his church and people
his kingdom and interest in the world; the moon is
as perpetual as the sun
and is used as elsewhere to signify the continuance of
the people
church
and interest of Christ
Psalm 72:5
for though the moon has its
spots
and is changeable
sometimes in the full
and sometimes in the decline
yet always is
and always continues
and ever will; and so though the people of
God have their spots and imperfections
and are sometimes on the decline in the
frames and dispositions of their minds
in the exercise of grace
in their
spirituality
liveliness
and zeal
and in their walk and conversation in the
church and world; yet they shall abide and persevere to the end; and though the
church may be like the moon in the wane
be declining as to numbers
gifts
and
graces
yet it shall continue and be established; it is sometimes indeed in a
fluctuating state
and is not always in the same place
but is removed from one
country to another; yet it always is somewhere
even though in the wilderness
and ere long will be established on the top of the mountains
and be no more a tabernacle
that shall be taken down; see Psalm 48:8.
and as a faithful witness in heaven: or "in the sky or
cloud"F2בשחק "in aethere"
Montanus
Tigurine version
Vatablus; "in superiore nube"
Junius
& Tremellius; "in nubibus"
Gejerus. ; some understand this of
the moon
others of both sun and moon; but it seems best to interpret it of something
distinct from either
even of the rainbow
which though it does not always
appear in the clouds
yet it has appeared at times
and does and will unto the
end of the world; and be a faithful and an everlasting token and witness of the
covenant of God made with all creatures
that he will no more destroy the world
by a flood
Genesis 9:12
and is an emblem of the
covenant of grace
and of the continuance
perpetuity
and immutability of it;
see Isaiah 54:9.
Selah. See Gill on Psalm 3:2.
Psalm 89:38 38 But You have cast off and
abhorred
You have been furious with Your anointed.
YLT 38And Thou
Thou hast cast
off
and dost reject
Thou hast shown Thyself wroth With Thine anointed
But thou hast cast off
.... Here begin
objections to what is before said
and swore to; even to the everlasting love
of God
to Christ
and to his seed
to the unchangeableness and unalterableness
of the covenant
and to the continuance and perpetuity of the kingdom and
church of Christ
taken from the dealings of the Lord with the Messiah and his
people; which were made either by the psalmist
under a spirit of prophecy
foreseeing what would come to pass; or by the apostles and church of Christ
about the time of his sufferings and death
and after; when he seemed to be "cast
off"
and rejected by the Lord
particularly when he forsook him
and hid
his face from him
Matthew 27:46
as when he hides his face
from his people
it is interpreted by them a casting them off; see Psalm 44:22
and abhorred; not that he abhorred the person of Christ
who was his own Son
his beloved Son; nor his afflictions and sufferings
which
were a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to him; see Psalm 22:24
though these might be
interpreted by others as if the Lord abhorred or rejected him; because he
suffered him to be used in the manner he was
and particularly to be abhorred
by the Jews
even by the nation in general
Isaiah 49:7
though the sins of his people
which he had upon him
and for which he suffered
were an abhorring to the
Lord; and when he was made sin
he was made a curse:
thou hast been wroth with thine Anointed; with thy
Messiah; not Rehoboam
from whom the ten tribes were rent; nor Josiah
who was
killed by Pharaohnecho; nor Zedekiah
carried captive into Babylon; but the
true Messiah
the son of David
before said to be found by the Lord
and
anointed with his holy oil
Psalm 89:20
which is to be understood of
him
not as his own son
who was always the object of his love
but as the
sinner's surety
bearing the sins of his people
and all the wrath and
punishment due unto them; and so is reconcilable to the promise
that
lovingkindness should not be taken from him
Psalm 89:33 and is no objection to it
though made one.
Psalm 89:39 39 You have renounced the
covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown by casting it to
the ground.
YLT 39Hast rejected the covenant
of Thy servant
Thou hast polluted to the earth his crown
Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant
.... His
servant David the Messiah
Psalm 89:3
meaning not the covenant of
circumcision
nor the covenant at Sinai
which were really made void at the
death of Christ; but the covenant of grace and redemption made with Christ
which it was promised should stand fast
and never be broken
Psalm 89:3
but was thought to be null and
void when the Redeemer was in the grave
and all hopes of redemption by him
were gone
Luke 24:21
but so far was it from being
so
that it was confirmed by the sufferings and death of Christ; and every
blessing and promise of it were ratified by his blood
hence called the blood
of the everlasting covenant
Hebrews 13:20
thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground: by suffering
it to be cast to the ground
and used contemptibly; as when Jesus was crowned
with thorns
and saluted in a mock manner; when an "if" was put upon
his being the King of Israel
Matthew 27:29
and which seemed very
inconsistent with the promise
Psalm 89:27 that he should be made higher
than the kings of the earth; and yet so it was
and is; he is highly exalted
made Lord and Christ
crowned with glory and honour
and is set far above all
principality and power
and every name that is named in this world or that to
come
notwithstanding all the above usage of him.
Psalm 89:40 40 You have broken down all
his hedges; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
YLT 40Thou hast broken down all
his hedges
Thou hast made his fenced places a ruin.
Thou hast broken down all his hedges
.... Round
about his vine
the church; see Psalm 80:12. A famous church was raised at
Jerusalem
quickly after the death
resurrection
and ascension of Christ
which seemed to be well filled
fenced
and protected; but on a sudden a
violent persecution arose
and the members of it were made havoc of
and the
ministers of the word were scattered abroad
and which was the breaking down of
the hedges; and what was done to the church was taken by Christ as done to
himself
as it is here spoken of him; see Acts 8:1
and this might seem contrary to
the word and oath of God
that his seed should endure for ever
and his throne
as the days of heaven
Psalm 89:29
when the first Christian
church was used in this manner; but that providence was overruled
for the
spread of the Gospel
and the interest of Christ
in other parts; see Acts 8:4
and so no objection to what is
before said:
thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin; the same as
before
the church of Christ
which seemed to be so well built and fortified;
see Isaiah 26:1.
Psalm 89:41 41 All who pass by the way
plunder him; He is a reproach to his neighbors.
YLT 41Spoiled him have all
passing by the way
He hath been a reproach to his neighbours
All that pass by the way spoil him
.... His church
his members
which are himself
when made havoc of by their persecutors
and they took
joyfully the spoiling of their goods
Hebrews 10:34
so the church of Christ may
be spoiled
however
attempted to be spoiled
by false teachers
who are the
foxes
the little foxes
that spoil the vines; crafty seducers
who spoil
Christians of their peace and comfort
through philosophy and vain deceit
Song of Solomon 2:15. Christ himself may be
said to be spoiled
when he was stripped of his clothes by the Roman soldiers
who also parted his garments
casting lots on his vesture; when they that
passed by his cross
as he hung upon it
reviled him
and robbed him of his
good name
and of his kingly and priestly offices; and he is also spoiled by
false teachers
who rob him of his deity
his divine and eternal sonship
and
of his satisfaction and righteousness
by whom he is trodden under foot
and
his blood counted as an unholy thing; and so the Targum
"all
that pass by the way tread upon him;'
see
Hebrews 10:29
these are they that walk not
in the right way; but go out of it
and choose their own way; they are such as
pass over the right way
or cross it; they are they that transgress
and abide
not in the doctrine of Christ
that so use him
2 John 1:9
he is a reproach to his neighbours; his name and character
were reproached by the Jews
his countrymen
who called him a glutton and a wine
bibber; and represented him as a notorious sinner; his miracles as done by the
help of Satan; his doctrine as hard sayings
novel opinions
contrary to common
sense and reason
and tending to licentiousness; and his followers and members
as the offscouring of all things: but all this has been or will be rolled off
and is no objection to the glory promised him.
Psalm 89:42 42 You have exalted the right
hand of his adversaries; You have made all his enemies rejoice.
YLT 42Thou hast exalted the right
hand of his adversaries
Thou hast caused all his enemies to rejoice.
Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries
.... Suffered
them to become powerful
and to prevail against him; as the wicked Jews
and
Satan
and his principalities and powers
at the time of Christ's apprehension
crucifixion
and death; for then were their hour
and the power of darkness
Luke 22:53
death also had dominion over
him
and held him under the power of it for awhile: the enemies of his
interest
Rome Pagan
and Rome Papal
have
in their turns
had their right
hands set up
and have had power
and prevailed over it; and the latter will
again
at the slaying of the witnesses: all which
though it seems contrary to Psalm 89:21
yet is not; for Satan
though
he bruised Christ's heel
yet Christ bruised his head
destroyed his works
and
him himself
and that by dying; and spoiled his principalities and powers; and
death could not hold him long
nor has it now any dominion over him
and is
abolished by him; and antichrist
and all the antichristian powers
will be
destroyed by him ere long:
thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice; as they did
when they had got him on the cross; and especially when he was laid in the
grave
Psalm 22:7
and as the antichristian party
will when his witnesses are slain
Revelation 11:10
but as the joy of the
former was short lived
and was soon turned into sorrow
so will be that of the
latter.
Psalm 89:43 43 You have also turned back
the edge of his sword
And have not sustained him in the battle.
YLT 43Also -- Thou turnest back
the sharpness of his sword
And hast not established him in battle
Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword
.... Or the
"sharpness"F1צור
"acumen"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator. of it blunted it
so
that it could do no execution: the disciples of Christ were not allowed the use
of the temporal sword to defend their master; and his house
his kingdom
not
being of this world
Matthew 26:51
other weapons were put into
their hands; the sword of the Spirit
which is the word of God; and the edge of
this was blunted
with respect to the Jews
being of little or no efficacy
among them; it was turned off by them
and put away from them; but then it was
turned towards the Gentiles
and was powerful and effectual among them; Christ
girt it on his thigh
and rode forth in his glory and majesty
conquering
and
to conquer
and by it subdued many
who fell under him
and gave up themselves
unto him; see Ephesians 6:17
and ere long
with the
twoedged sword
which proceeds out of his mouth
will he smite the
antichristian nations; and the remnant of those that escape at the battle of
Armageddon shall be slain with it
Revelation 19:15
and hast not made him to stand in the battle; but to fall
in it
being delivered up into the hands of wicked men
of justice
and death;
and yet
by dying
he put away sin
finished it
made an end of it
and
destroyed it; he conquered Satan
and led him captive; overcame the world
the
spite and malice of it
and its prince; and abolished death itself.
Psalm 89:44 44 You have made his glory
cease
And cast his throne down to the ground.
YLT 44Hast caused [him] to cease
from his brightness
And his throne to the earth hast cast down.
Thou hast made his glory to cease
.... The glory of his
deity
though it did not properly cease
yet it seemed to do so
being covered
and out of sight
and seen but by a very few
while he appeared in the likeness
of sinful flesh; and the glory of his humanity was made to cease
in which he
was fairer than the children of men
and his visage was more marred than any
man's
and his form than the sons of men; and the glory of his offices
prophetical
priestly
and kingly
which were reproached and vilified
and
disputed and contradicted by the Jews
Matthew 26:68
it may be rendered
"his purity"F2מטהרו "puritatem
ejus"
Montanus
Michaelis.
which seemed to cease when he was clothed
with our filthy garments; or had all our sins laid upon him
and imputed to
him
by his Father; and he was made sin for us
who knew none: the Targum is
"thou
hast made the priests to cease who sprinkle upon the altar
and purify his
people:'
and
cast his throne down to the ground; this seems contrary
and is an objection to
Psalm 89:29
but is not; for not
withstanding the usage of Christ by the Jews
who rejected him as the King
Messiah; see Gill on Psalm 89:39
yet he is now upon the same throne
with his Father
and will sit upon a throne of glory when he comes to judge the
world
and so in the New Jerusalem church state
and to all eternity.
Psalm 89:45 45 The days of his youth You
have shortened; You have covered him with shame. Selah
YLT 45Thou hast shortened the
days of his youth
Hast covered him over [with] shame. Selah.
The days of his youth hast thou shortened
.... His days
of joy and pleasure; such as days of youth are
in opposition to the days of
old age
which are evil
Ecclesiastes 11:9
these were shortened
when his sorrows and sufferings came on
and God hid his face from him; and
indeed he was a man of sorrows
and acquainted with grief all his days: the
Vulgate Latin version renders it
"the days of his time"; and the
Arabic version "the days of his years"; for he did not live out half
the time of man's age
which is threescore years and ten
Psalm 90:10
he dying at the age of thirty
three or four; but
notwithstanding this
he lives again
and lives for
evermore; he has length of days for ever and ever
Psalm 21:4
though his days were in some
sense shortened
yet in another sense they are and will be prolonged
even his
own
and those of his spiritual seed
according to the promise of God
Isaiah 53:10
thou hast covered him with shame; see Psalm 69:7
when his face was covered with
shame and spitting
from which he hid it not
Isaiah 1:6
but now he is crowned with
glory and honour; wherefore all these complaints
though true
are no
objections to what is before said and swore to.
Selah. See Gill on Psalm 3:2.
Psalm 89:46 46 How long
Lord? Will You hide
Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire?
YLT 46Till when
O Jehovah
art
Thou hidden? For ever doth Thy fury burn as fire?
How long
Lord
wilt thou hide thyself? for ever?.... When God
hides his face front his people
though it is but for a little while
it seems
long
and a kind of an eternity to them; and so it seemed to the man Christ
Jesus; and indeed what he endured
when his Father hid his face from him
was
of the same kind with an eternal absence; see Psalm 13:1
shall thy wrath burn like fire? it did so when Christ
bore the sins of his people
and all the punishment due unto them; when his
strength was dried up like a potsherd; when he
the antitype of the passover
lamb roasted with fire
was sacrificed for us; all which is entirely consistent
with God's everlasting and invariable love to him
as his own Son. See Gill on Psalm 89:38.
Psalm 89:47 47 Remember how short my time
is; For what futility have You created all the children of men?
YLT 47Remember
I pray Thee
what
[is] life-time? Wherefore in vain hast Thou created All the sons of men?
Remember how short my time is
.... In this world man's
time here is fixed
and it is but a short time; his life is but a vapour
which
appeareth for a little while; his days are as an hand's breadth; they pass away
like a tale that is told; the common term of life is but threescore years and
ten
and few arrive to that: to know and observe this is proper and useful; it
may awaken a concern for a future state
excite to a vigorous discharge of
duty
and animate to patience under afflictions: the clause in connection with
the preceding verse seems to be a plea for mercy; that
since time was short
it might not be consumed in bearing the wrath of God; but be spent in peace and
comfort
like that of Job 10:20
Compare with this Psalm 103:13
the Targum is
"remember
that I am created out of the dust:'
but
these words
with what follow
are the words of the psalmist
representing the
apostles of Christ
and other saints
at the time of his sufferings and death
and when under the power of the grave
and when they were almost out of hope of
his resurrection: see Luke 24:21
expostulating with the Lord on
that account; and here entreat him to remember the shortness of their time
if
there was no resurrection from the dead
as there would be none if Christ rose
not; and therefore
as their life was a short one
it would be of all men's the
most miserable:
wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? none of the
sons of men are made in vain; for they are all made for the glory of God
which
end is answered
some way or another
in everyone of them; either in the
salvation of them by Christ
or in the just destruction of them through their
own sin; and though the time of life is short
and afflictions many
yet men
are not made in vain
and especially those of them who believe in Christ; for
for them to live is Christ
they live to his glory: whether they live a longer
or shorter time
they live to the Lord; and when they die
they die to him; and
their afflictions are always for good
temporal
or spiritual
and eternal:
indeed
if there was no future state after this
men might seem to be made in
vain
and there might be some reason for such a question or complaint; but so
it is not; there is an immortal life and state after this
either of bliss or
woe: also
if there was no such thing as the redemption
justification
and
salvation of any of the sons of men
through the sufferings and death of
Christ
and which could not be without his resurrection from the dead
with a
view to which the question is put
then there would seem some room for it; but
there is a redemption of them
and therefore are not made in vain; and Christ
who was delivered for their offences
is risen for their justification.
Psalm 89:48 48 What man can live and not
see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah
YLT 48Who [is] the man that
liveth
and doth not see death? He delivereth his soul from the hand of Sheol.
Selah.
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 from the power of it
when in it; that is
raise himself from
the dead: none ever did this
or ever can: Christ indeed undertook
and has
promised
to redeem his people from the power of the grave
upon which they
have believed they should be delivered; see Hosea 13:14
but if Christ rose not
himself
which was the thing now in question
how could it be? the case stands
thus; every man must die; no man can raise himself from the dead; if Christ
rise not
everyone must continue under the power of the grave; for then there
could be no resurrection.
Selah. See Gill on Psalm 3:2.
Psalm 89:49 49 Lord
where are
Your former lovingkindnesses
Which You swore to David in Your truth?
YLT 49Where [are] Thy former
kindnesses
O Lord. Thou hast sworn to David in Thy faithfulness
Lord
where are thy former lovingkindnesses
.... The
spiritual blessings said to be in Christ; the grace said to be given to us in
him; the sure mercies of David
such as redemption
justification
remission of
sins
and eternal life; so called because they flow from the free favour and
love of God
and
being many
are expressed in the plural number; and which
were former or ancient ones
even promised and secured in Christ before the
world began; springing from the love of God
which
both to Christ and his
people
was from everlasting
and provided for in a covenant
which was as
early:
which thou swarest unto David in thy truth? which were
promised to Christ
the antitype of David
and that with an oath
by the truth
or faithfulness of God
for the certainty thereof: but now where are all these?
or how will they take place
if Christ rise not from the dead? where will be
the redemption of his people
the justification of their persons
the remission
of their sins
and their everlasting salvation? and what will become then of
the covenant
oath
and faithfulness of God?
Psalm 89:50 50 Remember
Lord
the
reproach of Your servants—How I bear in my bosom the reproach of
all the many peoples
YLT 50Remember
O Lord
the
reproach of Thy servants
I have borne in my bosom all the strivings of the
peoples
Remember
Lord
the reproach of thy servants
.... The
apostles of Christ
his servants
and the servants of the living God
that
showed unto men the way of salvation
and other saints with them that believed
in Christ
and were made willing to serve and follow him; these were now
reproached by the Scribes and Pharisees for believing in him
and professing
him; and were scoffed and laughed at
when they had crucified him
and laid him
in the grave
triumphing over him and them
believing he would never rise
again
as he had given out he should
and for which his followers were
reproached; and therefore desire the Lord would remember the reproach cast upon
Christ
and them
for his sake
and roll it away:
how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people; the
ecclesiastical and civil rulers of the Jews
their chief priests
Scribes
and
Pharisees
who poured out their reproaches very plentifully on the followers of
Christ
whom the psalmist here represents; which fell very heavily upon them
as a very great weight and burden
and pressed them sore
and went to their
very hearts
and therefore said to be "in their bosom"; and which is
mentioned to excite the divine compassion
that he would appear for them
and
raise his Son from the dead
as was promised and expected; that their enemies
might have no more occasion to reproach him and them: it is in the original
"I bear in my bosom all the many people"F3כל רבים עמים
"omnes multos populos"
Montanus; "omnes
quam multi sunt
populos"
Cocceius. ; which some understand of the people of God
and of
Christ's sustaining their persons
and making satisfaction for their sins; but
the other sense is preferable: Kimchi supplies the words as we do; and so the
Targum
which renders them thus
"I
bear in my bosom all the reproaches of many people.'
Psalm 89:51 51 With which Your enemies
have reproached
O Lord
With which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed.
YLT 51Wherewith Thine enemies
reproached
O Jehovah
Wherewith they have reproached The steps of Thine
anointed.
Wherewith thine enemies have reproached
O Lord
.... Which
carries in it another argument why the Lord should take notice of these
reproaches; because they come not only from their enemies
but from his also
and the enemies of his Son
who would not have him
the King Messiah
to reign
over them
and are said to reproach him in the next clause:
wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine Anointed; or thy
Messiah; so Aben Ezra and Kimchi interpret it of the Messiah: Jarchi renders it
"the ends of the Messiah"; and all of them understand it of the
coming of the Messiah
as in the TalmudF4Bab. Sanhedrin
fol. 97. 1.
; which
because delayed
or was not so soon as expected
was scoffed at and
reproached by wicked men; see Malachi 2:17
but it rather designs the
ways and works
actions
and especially the miracles of Christ
which were
reproached
either as done on the sabbath day
or by the help of Satan; and he
was traduced in his kindest actions to the bodies and souls of men
as a friend
of publicans and sinners
and himself as a sinner: and it may have a particular
view to the latter end of the Messiah
the last part of his life
his
sufferings and death
and when he hung on the cross; at which time he was
in
the most insolent manner
reviled and reproached by his enemies: the words may
be rendered "the heels of the Messiah"F5עקבות "calcibus"
Vatablus;
"calcaneos"; Gussetius
Michaelis.
and are thought by some to have
reference to the promise in Genesis 3:15
and may regard either the
human nature of Christ
which was both reproached and bruised; or his members
suffering disgrace and persecution for his sake
and which he takes as done to
himself. SuidasF6In voce ανταλλαγμα. interprets it
of the ancestors of Christ
according to the flesh; and Theodoret of the kings
of that time.
Psalm 89:52 52 Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen
and Amen.
YLT 52Blessed [is] Jehovah to the
age. Amen
and amen!
Blessed be the Lord for evermore
.... In this world
and
in the world to come
as the Targum; for reproaches and afflictions for
Christ's sake
since they work together for good; as Job blessed the Lord in
the midst of his troubles
Job 1:21
or rather the psalmist
viewing
by a spirit of prophecy
Christ rising from the dead
ascending to heaven
sitting at the right hand of God
and interceding for the application of all
the blessings of the covenant; and now
seeing all before objected and complained
of was reconcilable to the love
covenant
and oath of God
breaks out into
this benediction
and with it closes the psalm; which agrees with Christ
not
only as God over all
blessed for ever
but as Mediator
who
as such
is made
most blessed for evermore; see Psalm 21:6. These are not the words of the
copier of the Psalms
blessing God for assistance in prosecuting the work thus
far
which is the sense of some Jewish writers mentioned by Aben Ezra and
Kimchi
but of the psalmist himself:
Amen
and Amen; which words are added to express the wish
and faith of the psalmist; and the word is repeated to denote the vehemence and
strength of the same. Here ends the third part of the book of Psalms
and so
the Syriac version closes it. See Gill on Psalm 41:13. See Gill on Psalm 72:20.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)