DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 89 the Psalmist centers his thoughts on the covenant God and his covenant. The occasion seems to be the rebellion of Absalom, especially when verse 39 is taken into account where it speaks of David's crown being defiled and cast to the ground. The Psalmist is shocked by this since it is so contrary to the everlasting, generation-to-generation covenant which the LORD established with David. Today's painting was chosen to represent blessing and harmony within a multi-generation family, which is what the Psalmist was expecting for David and his family.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 2 Samuel 7:11-16. 2 Samuel 15-18. KINGSHIP AND COVENANT PSALMS: Psalm 2. Psalm 18. Psalm 20. Psalm 21. Psalm 24. Psalm 29. Psalm 45. Psalm 47. Psalm 50. Psalm 72. Psalm 81. Psalm 89. Psalm 93. Psalm 95. Psalm 96. Psalm 97. Psalm 98. Psalm 99. Psalm 100. Psalm 101. Psalm 132. Psalm 144. MASCHIL (INSTRUCTION) PSALMS. Psalm 32. Psalm 42. Psalm 44. Psalm 45. Psalm 52. Psalm 53. Psalm 54. Psalm 55. Psalm 74. Psalm 78. Psalm 87. Psalm 88. Psalm 89. Psalm 142. MESSIANIC PSALMS: Psalm 2. Psalm 8. Psalm 16. Psalm 22. Psalm 34. Psalm 35. Psalm 40. Psalm 41. Psalm 45. Psalm 68. Psalm 69. Psalm 89. Psalm 102. Psalm 109. Psalm 110. Psalm 118. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. ]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 89 - #1. Psalm 89 - #2. Psalm 89 - #3. Psalm 89 - #4. Psalm 89 - #5. Psalm 89 - #6. ]

     The Psalmist begins by stating that he will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. The LORD's mercy will be forever; and he will establish his faithfulness in the heavens. In reply, the LORD says that he has made a covenant with his chosen servant, David, to establish his seed forever, and his throne throughout all generations (1-4). The heavens will praise the wonders and the faithfulness of the LORD because no one in heaven can be compared to him; and none among the sons of the mighty is like him. He deserves fear and reverence (5-7). The Psalmist then praises the LORD's strength. He is both strong and faithful. He rules the raging sea; he broke Rahab (Egypt); heaven and earth belong to him; he created the north and the south regions; Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon were created by him (8-13). God is also noted for his justice, his judgment, his mercy, and his truth. Because of them his people are blessed; and they walk in the light of God's countenance. They rejoice in his name. He bestows glory, and strength, and favor upon them; he defends them as their king (14-18). He chose David, and anointed him, and established him, and strengthened him. He promised that the enemy would not impose some debt (real or figurative) upon him, nor would wicked men afflict him. He promised to beat down David's foes and plague them. And he promised to be with him and exalt him (19-24). God also promised to give him dominion in the sea and in the rivers. He would be David's father and the rock of his salvation. And, in a Messianic reference, he promised to make David his firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth (Colossians 1:15, 18; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 19:16). He would give him mercy forever and make a firm covenant with him (25-28). Moreover, God would cause his descendants to endure forever; and his throne would endure while the heavens endured. If his children sinned against God, he would chastise them; but he would not take his lovingkindness from them; and he would continue to be faithful. These promises to David are as sure and lasting as the sun, the moon, and the stars. (29-37). But, says the Psalmist, to God, "you have cast off and abhorred, you have been wroth with your anointed." He says that God voided the covenant, profaned David's crown, broke his hedges, ruined his strongholds, allowed passers-by to spoil him, and allowed him to become a reproach to his neighbors (38-41). God made David's enemies strong and let him be defeated. His glory ceased; his throne fell to the ground; his days were shortened; and he covered him with shame (42-45). How long, says the Psalmist, would God hide himself; and how long would his wrath burn like fire. He asks that God would remember how short his time is and asks why God made all men in vain. (These may be the words or the thoughts of David, spoken on his behalf by the Psalmist; or they may be the words of the Psalmist himself, who, presumably, was suffering the same affliction as David due to his loyalty to David. The Psalmist also asks God to remember that all men will die; and that no one can deliver himself from the grave (46-48). He closes by asking God "where are your former lovingkindnesses, which you swore unto David in your truth?" He asks the LORD to remember the reproach of the LORD's enemies against his anointed. He closes by blessing the LORD forever (49-52).

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
² For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
³ I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
⁴ Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

⁵ And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
⁶ For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?
⁷ God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

⁸ O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
⁹ Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
¹⁰ Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.
¹¹ The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
¹² The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
¹³ Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

¹⁴ Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
¹⁵ Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
¹⁶ In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
¹⁷ For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
¹⁸ For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

¹⁹ Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one,
and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
²⁰ I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
²¹ With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
²² The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
²³ And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.
²⁴ But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

²⁵ I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.
²⁶ He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
²⁷ Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
²⁸ My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

²⁹ His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
³⁰ If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
³¹ If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
³² Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
³³ Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
³⁴ My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
³⁵ Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
³⁶ His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
³⁷ It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

³⁸ But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.
³⁹ Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
⁴⁰ Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.
⁴¹ All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.

⁴² Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.
⁴³ Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.
⁴⁴ Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.
⁴⁵ The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

⁴⁶ How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?
⁴⁷ Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
⁴⁸ What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?
shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

⁴⁹ Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?
⁵⁰ Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;
⁵¹ Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.
⁵² Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.