Psalm 89

Psalm Category: Song of the Covenant

Central Thought: God’s mercies are for all His people forever in His Savior-King.

God’s kingdom is a crowned republic. His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, is given to be His King—“head over all things to the church” (Eph. 1:22). His faithful subjects are those whom He has “bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23), bound to Himself in the covenant of His grace (Gal. 3:17), and brought to saving faith in Christ so as to “love Him because He first loved” them (1 John 4:19).

The character of God’s King is described in Psalm 89 and set out in connection with the promises of God’s covenant. This draws on the covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7, and looks through the language of prophecy from an earthly king and a temporary kingdom to the eternal King and His everlasting kingdom.

God’s mediatorial King (vv. 1-29) has three vital characteristics:

1. He is the Seed of everlasting mercies (vv. 1-4). The psalmist testifies of God’s mercies and faithfulness. His mercies, unlike ours, are “forever” and “established in the very heavens.” God responds, explaining how He is able to show mercy (vv. 3-4). It is by His covenant promise of a “son” on a “throne” established “forever” (2 Sam. 7:14-16). Christ is that son—the promised “Seed” of Abraham (Gen. 12:7; Gal. 3:16) and the only Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5).

2. He is the Suzerain of incomparable glory (vv. 5-18). Human achievements are not inconsiderable. And how we love our own glory! In the end, however, “all flesh is as grass” (1 Pet. 1:24) and we “fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). God’s glory is truly incomparable. It is in heaven (vv. 5-8) and on earth (vv. 9-13). It is seen in His wonderful holiness and truth (v. 14) and in His redeemed people (vv. 15-18).

3. He is the Savior revealed from heaven (vv. 19-29). In His covenant with David (2 Sam. 7), God revealed five promises to His “holy one”: (a) divine salvation (vv. 19-20); (b) victory over enemies (vv. 21-23); (c) mercy and faithfulness (vv. 24-25); (d) exaltation as God’s “first-born, the highest of the kings” (vv. 26-27); and (e) an everlasting kingship—“forever…as the days of heaven” (vv. 28-29). Clearly, we are led beyond David to the Seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ, the “King of kings and Lord of Lords” (Rev. 19:16).

God’s unbreakable promises (vv. 30-52) are set out in terms of our calling to follow wholeheartedly in covenant faithfulness:

1. Act in faithfulness to God’s covenant promises (vv. 30-37). If God’s own people won’t keep covenant with Him, He will “punish” them with “the rod” (vv. 30-32). The good news is that it is only the rod, not the sword! He chastises as a loving father (Heb. 12:7-11). Even better news is that our covenant–breaking will not invalidate God’s promises. He will have His King over His creation and save a people to be the subjects of His kingdom (vv. 33-37)!

2. Analyze the Lord’s dealings with you (vv. 38-45). Israel’s recent kings had not done well. Israel had suffered greatly. It looked as if God’s covenant had been abrogated. But there are lessons to be learned: (a) See what sin does in human lives (Rom. 3:23); (b) Don’t blame God for not blessing your life of unbelief; (c) Count your blessings and ask if He has actually punished you less than your iniquities deserve (Ezra 9:13); and (d) remember that Jesus’ kingdom is “not of this world” (John 18:36) and so His death, which looks like defeat, is actually new life from the dead for all He saves by His atoning sacrifice (1 John 1:7).

3. Apply to Christ’s love and mercy for your redemption here and hereafter (vv. 46-52). The psalmist believes God’s promise is unbreakable, so he prays for those who are blaming God for their troubles instead of themselves. He offers four petitions: (a) “How long?” is a plea for God’s free grace (v. 46); (b) “Remember how short my time is” is a plea for compassion upon so much time misspent (vv. 47-48); (c) “Where are Your former loving-kindnesses?” is a cry of faith, believing the promises afresh (v. 49); and (d) “Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants” is an appeal to the Lord to come and vindicate His promises, cause, kingdom and people before the ridiculing world that loves to mock God’s people when they are down (vv. 50-51).

Again we are pointed to Christ. Only Christ can be our covenant head and therefore our Savior and Lord. As the man born blind said when he was told Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” (Luke 18:37ff). He knew that the crown of heaven and earth was given to Jesus, and that in Him all the promises of God’s covenant were unbreakable—“Yes” and “Amen,” (2 Cor. 1:20).