Psalm 89: Psalm of the Davidic Covenant

This psalm is a lesson in history. It describes the reign of David, and  the promise God makes to David to keep his descendants on the throne forever.  God will in time destroy Jerusalem, but these verses look forward prophetically to the future reign of Jesus Christ—who is a descendant of David. 
Righteousness, justice, love, and faithfulness are the foundations of God's throne. 

 As God's 'ambassadors,' with careful reading of this  psalm, we will discover how to live before God and know that the true believer can rely on God’s promises for encouragement as we go on the path of bearing our own cross "for the sake of the covenant.” God has established the same  with us, those who are one in Christ.  
      We should deal with all people the similarly.  Any action on our part that does not flow out of righteous, justice, love, and faithfulness to Him, does not come from God. 

In light of Israels continual disobedience throughout history, this is an amazing promise. God promised David his descendants would always sit on the throne... and, if these people disobeyed they would see punishment.  Yet, even though their disobedience caused much havoc and destruction in Israels history, God would never forsake or break his covenant with them. The PSALM:

God's Mercy, Truth and His Covenant

89:1-4   I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever—

   With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
    For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever, Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.”
   “I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David:

   Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations. ”  

Verses 1-4   God's promises are established in the heavens—they are out of the reach of all who oppose Him—whether on the earth or hell itself.  We of faith find God’s boundless mercy and everlasting love in the truth of God’s ways.  His glory is ours that brings comfort even in our deepest trials. Although God's mercy is over all his works, delivering us from sin through Christ was the supreme act of God's mercy.

 The Glory and Perfection of God

89:5-14   …And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord, Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
     For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?
    God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
    O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
   You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them.   
   You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain—You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

   The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours, the world and all its fullness, You have founded them.
   The north and the south, You have created them–Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name.
   You have a mighty arm, strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
   Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne, mercy and truth go before Your face.

Verses 5-14    All who trust in God's mercy will rejoice in his name, for mercy and truth direct all he does.  To praise the Lord, is to acknowledge him as such that there is none like him. They shall feel and express reverence when we worship.  How much more should we humble ourselves—very soon that same power will also scatter all the enemies of the church.

They will find Happiness who have Communion with Him

 89:15-18   … Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!  

      They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.    In Your name they rejoice all day long, 

      and in Your righteousness they are exalted.

     For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our horn is exalted.

     For our shield belongs to the Lord, and our king to the Holy One of Israel. 

Verses 15-18    Happy are those who know the joyful sound of the gospel and will also obey it. They know and experience its power upon their hearts, and bring forth its fruit in their lives. Even though we each are nothing of ourselves, but having all in Christ Jesus, we may rejoice in his name. The joy of the Lord is the strength of his people. Christ is the Holy One of Israel; and in him we are His peculiar people—more blessed than in any other way.

God's Covenant with David (as a type of Christ)

89:19-37  …Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one, and said: 

 “I have given help to one who is mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people.   I have found My servant David, with My holy oil I have anointed him, with whom My hand shall be established.  Also My arm shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him.  I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague those who hate him.  But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, and in My name his horn shall be exalted."

    Also I will set his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers.

    He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.’

    Also I will make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

    My mercy I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall stand firm with him.

    His seed also I will make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

   “If his sons forsake My law and do not walk in My judgments, if they break My statutes and do not keep My commandments,

    Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

    Nevertheless, in My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail.

    My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips—

    Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness,  and I will not lie to David;

    That his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun.

    It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.”  

Verses 19-37   The Lord anointed David with the holy oil—he represented the grace and gifts he received.  He was also “a type of Christ, the King Priest, and Prophet” anointed with the Holy Ghost and without measure.  David was persecuted, but none could gain advantage against him—all but a faint shadow of the sufferings of Christ the Redeemer. 

The Psalm describes deliverance, glory, and authority, in whom all predictions and promises are fully brought to pass. He is the mighty God. Christ alone is the Redeemer appointed for us, who alone is able to complete the work of our salvation.   As the Lord worked out the posterity of David for his transgressions, so we also shall be corrected for our sins.  Yet it is but a rod, not a sword—it is to correct, not to destroy. The hand of God, is wise in His judgments and knows what is best. Whatever changes that take place in our lives, should not be questioned.

 A calamitous State, a lament and prayer for redirection 

89:38-52  …But you have rejected, you have spurned, you have been very angry with your anointed one.

     You have renounced the covenant with your servantand have defiled his crown in the dust.

     You have broken through all his walls and reduced his strongholds to ruins.

    All who pass by have plundered him; he has become the scorn of his neighbors.

    You have exalted the right hand of his foes, You have made all his enemies rejoice.

    You have turned back the edge of his sword and have not supported him in battle.

   You have put an end to his splendor and cast his throne to the ground.

   You have cut short the days of his youth; You have covered him with a mantle of shame. 

    How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?

    Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all men!

   What man can live and not see death, or save himself  from the power of the grave? 

    O Lord, where is your former great love, which in your faithfulness you swore to David?

    Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations—

   The taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O Lord, with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.  Praise be to the Lord forever!   

    Amen and Amen.

Verses 38-52   Sometimes it is not easy to understand with what God's will is, and how what He does remains in line with his promises. Yet we know that God's works fulfill His word. 

The honor of the house of David was lost. The nation was thrown into captivity. Thrones and crowns through out Israel were laid in the dust; but there will always be a crown of glory reserved for Christ's spiritual seed. We may plead to God for mercy.  God's unchanging and faithful nature assure us that He will not cast off those He has chosen and covenanted with.

 The scoffers of the last days, and those who by their own careless walk will bring themselves into darkness and distress. Their afflictions and distresses may be very difficult and grievous.  But, He will never leave nor forsake His own. Let the true believer rely on this promise for encouragement as they go on the path of bearing their cross as His servants.  The psalm ends with praise, even after this sad turn of events. Those who give God thanks for what He has done, may give Him thanks for what He will also do. God will follow with His mercies—those who follow Him with their praises.