Psalm 89:1-23, Psalm 89 Revisited (1)

We deal with the Psalms on Sunday and repeat the posts every few years as we move from 1 to 150 and then start over again.  Psalm 89 was last Sunday’s post, but I had such a wonderful time I felt I wanted to revisit this Psalm.  I don’t think this and last Sunday’s post will conflict.  It’s more like I’m at a different point in life and different things might come to my mind as I look at the passage.

For one thing, unlike when I first posted on Psalm 89, I have an appreciation for the context.  It is the last Psalm in Book III, and the last of the collection of Psalms by Asaph and Korah.  We posted on this recently (cf. Oct. 13, 2022 on Blog, or Day 4 in this section of miscellaneous posts.)  It was written after the Babylonian destruction, either from Babylon or in post-exile Judea.  The emphasis on God’s goodness and faithfulness found in Ps. 89 undoubtedly was a message that was needed at that time.  One clue in the Psalm is the reference to “Rahab” (v10), which is a name for Egypt.  Babylon had reduced Egypt to an insignificant role in the region before they then took Judah and Jerusalem.

The Psalm begins with two levels of foundational truth.  First, v1-2, God’s goodness (checed) and truth/faithfulness (emunah).  Both of these are eternal.  The second level of truth, v3-4, is that out of that goodness and faithfulness God chose David and made an eternal covenant with him.  We are reminded here that the Davidic Covenant is just as critical in terms of Israel’s future hope as is the Abrahamic Covenant.  One must come first, of course.  But both are fundamental to Israel in the Messianic Kingdom.  The people of Abraham, through Isaac and Jacob, must be in that Kingdom along with the land that was promised.  Just as certainly, there must be a Davidic presence. 

In v5-10 the Psalmist gives a strong testimony as to his confidence in the truths of v1-2.  Remember where this is going.  At the end of the Psalm there will be a “how long” section.  The people of Israel are not under a Davidic king, they are not strong as a nation, and they are ruled by others.  To complain to God without the testimony of v5-10 casts doubt on God.  The Psalmist is not playing games, trying to shame or bully God into doing what he wants.  He knows and believes God in all His perfections, and he knows God’s covenant with David will be honored. 

There are additional statements of confident faith.  In v11-18 the Psalmist reminds God (or perhaps himself) that it was always good when Israel trusted God.  God has never acted in such a way as to deny his goodness and faithfulness. 

In v19-23 the Psalmist turns to the subject of David.  Before we pick this up in the next post, I would suggest reading 1 Sam. 7, especially v14-16.  Psalm 89 is a case of one of God’s men quoting God’s word back to Him in prayer.  That is powerful praying!  This is so helpful to me in Christ’s “school of prayer.”