June 17, 2025
Undivided Hearts
Psalm 86-89
Flor Quintanilla
Big Book Idea
Worship is our response to God for who He is and what He has done!
Key Verse | Psalm 86:11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
Psalm 86-89
Chapter 86
Great Is Your Steadfast Love
A Prayer of David.
1
Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
3
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
4
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
7
In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.
8
There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
9
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
10
For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
12
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
14
O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
15
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16
Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant,
and save the son of your maidservant.
17
Show me a sign of your favor,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Chapter 87
Glorious Things of You Are Spoken
A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song.
1
On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2
the LORD loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3
Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God. Selah
4
Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush
1
87:4
Probably Nubia
—
“This one was born there,” they say.
5
And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her”;
for the Most High himself will establish her.
6
The LORD records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah
7
Singers and dancers alike say,
“All my springs are in you.”
Chapter 88
I Cry Out Day and Night Before You
A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil 2 88:1 Probably musical or liturgical terms of Heman the Ezrahite.
1
O LORD, God of my salvation,
I cry out day and night before you.
2
Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry!
3
For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.
4
I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I am a man who has no strength,
5
like one set loose among the dead,
like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom you remember no more,
for they are cut off from your hand.
6
You have put me in the depths of the pit,
in the regions dark and deep.
7
Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah
8
You have caused my companions to shun me;
you have made me a horror
3
88:8
Or an abomination
to them.
I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
9
my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon you, O LORD;
I spread out my hands to you.
10
Do you work wonders for the dead?
Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah
11
Is your steadfast love declared in the grave,
or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12
Are your wonders known in the darkness,
or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13
But I, O LORD, cry to you;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14
O LORD, why do you cast my soul away?
Why do you hide your face from me?
15
Afflicted and close to death from my youth up,
I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.
4
88:15
The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
16
Your wrath has swept over me;
your dreadful assaults destroy me.
17
They surround me like a flood all day long;
they close in on me together.
18
You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
my companions have become darkness.
5
88:18
Or darkness has become my only companion
Chapter 89
I Will Sing of the Steadfast Love of the LORD
A Maskil 6 89:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1
I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2
For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3
You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
4
‘I will establish your offspring forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah
5
Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
6
For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?
Who among the heavenly beings
7
89:6
Hebrew the sons of God, or the sons of might
is like the LORD,
7
a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
and awesome above all who are around him?
8
O LORD God of hosts,
who is mighty as you are, O LORD,
with your faithfulness all around you?
9
You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you still them.
10
You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11
The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.
12
The north and the south, you have created them;
Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
13
You have a mighty arm;
strong is your hand, high your right hand.
14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
15
Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
16
who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.
17
For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.
18
For our shield belongs to the LORD,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19
Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one,
8
89:19
Some Hebrew manuscripts godly ones
and said:
“I have granted help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20
I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
21
so that my hand shall be established with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
22
The enemy shall not outwit him;
the wicked shall not humble him.
23
I will crush his foes before him
and strike down those who hate him.
24
My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,
and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25
I will set his hand on the sea
and his right hand on the rivers.
26
He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
27
And I will make him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.
28
My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,
and my covenant will stand firm
9
89:28
Or will remain faithful
for him.
29
I will establish his offspring forever
and his throne as the days of the heavens.
30
If his children forsake my law
and do not walk according to my rules,
10
89:30
Or my just decrees
31
if they violate my statutes
and do not keep my commandments,
32
then I will punish their transgression with the rod
and their iniquity with stripes,
33
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love
or be false to my faithfulness.
34
I will not violate my covenant
or alter the word that went forth from my lips.
35
Once for all I have sworn by my holiness;
I will not lie to David.
36
His offspring shall endure forever,
his throne as long as the sun before me.
37
Like the moon it shall be established forever,
a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah
38
But now you have cast off and rejected;
you are full of wrath against your anointed.
39
You have renounced the covenant with your servant;
you have defiled his crown in the dust.
40
You have breached all his walls;
you have laid his strongholds in ruins.
41
All who pass by plunder him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42
You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43
You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
and you have not made him stand in battle.
44
You have made his splendor to cease
and cast his throne to the ground.
45
You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with shame. Selah
46
How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?
47
Remember how short my time is!
For what vanity you have created all the children of man!
48
What man can live and never see death?
Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah
49
Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,
which by your faithfulness you swore to David?
50
Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked,
and how I bear in my heart the insults
11
89:50
Hebrew lacks the insults
of all the many nations,
51
with which your enemies mock, O LORD,
with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.
52
Blessed be the LORD forever!
Amen and Amen.
Footnotes
[1] 87:4 Probably Nubia[2] 88:1 Probably musical or liturgical terms
[3] 88:8 Or an abomination
[4] 88:15 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
[5] 88:18 Or darkness has become my only companion
[6] 89:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
[7] 89:6 Hebrew the sons of God, or the sons of might
[8] 89:19 Some Hebrew manuscripts godly ones
[9] 89:28 Or will remain faithful
[10] 89:30 Or my just decrees
[11] 89:50 Hebrew lacks the insults
Table of Contents
Introduction to The Psalms
Timeline
Author and Date
Individual psalms come from diverse periods of Israel’s history, but at every stage they served as the songbook of God’s people. David wrote about half of the Psalms. His role as king was more than that of a ruler. He was to represent and even embody the people, and their well-being was tied to his faithfulness. David, then, writes as a representative, and the readers must discern whether the emphasis of a psalm is more on his role as ruler or more on his role as ideal Israelite, in which he is an example for all. The historical occasions mentioned in the psalm titles help the reader see how faith applies to real-life situations.
Key Themes
The Psalter is fundamentally the hymnbook of God’s people. It takes the basic themes of OT theology and turns them into song:
- Monotheism. The one God, Maker and Ruler of all, will vindicate his goodness and justice in his own time. Everyone must know and love this God, whose purity, power, wisdom, faithfulness, and unceasing love are breathtakingly beautiful.
- Creation and fall. Though God made man with dignity and purpose, all people since the fall are beset with sins and weaknesses that only God’s grace can heal.
- Election and covenant. The one true God chose a people for himself and bound himself to them by his covenant. This covenant expressed God’s intention to save his people, and through them to bring light to the world.
- Covenant membership. In his covenant, God offers grace to his people: forgiveness of their sins, the shaping of their lives to reflect his own glory, and a part to play as light to the Gentiles. Each member of God’s people is responsible to believe God’s promises and to grow in obeying his commands. Those who do this enjoy the full benefits of God’s love and find delight in knowing him. The well-being of God’s people as a whole affects the well-being of each member. Each one shares the joys and sorrows of the others. When believers suffer, they should not seek revenge but should pray. They can be confident that God will make all things right in his own time.
- Eschatology. The story of God’s people is headed toward a glorious future, in which all kinds of people will come to know the Lord. The personal faithfulness of God’s people contributes to his ultimate purpose. The Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, will lead his people in the great task of bringing light to the Gentiles.
Types of Psalms
The Psalms can be identified according to some basic categories:
Laments, which lay a troubled situation before the Lord, asking him for help. There are community (Psalm 12) and individual (Psalm 13) laments. This category is the largest by far, including up to a third of all Psalms.
Hymns of praise, which call God’s people to admire his great attributes and deeds. Examples include Psalms 8; 93; and 145.
Hymns of thanksgiving. As with laments, there are community (Psalm 9) and individual (Psalm 30) thanksgiving psalms.
Hymns celebrating God’s law (Psalm 119).
Wisdom psalms (Psalms 1; 37), which reflect themes from the Wisdom Books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon).
Songs of confidence, which enable worshipers to deepen their trust in God amid difficult circumstances (Psalm 23).
Royal psalms, which present the Davidic monarchy as the vehicle of blessing for God’s people. Some of these are prayers (Psalm 20), some are thanksgivings (Psalm 21). All relate to the Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, either by setting a pattern (Psalms 20–21) or by portraying the king’s reign in such a way that only the Messiah can completely fulfill it (Psalms 2; 72), or by focusing on the future (Psalm 110).
Historical psalms, which take lessons from the history of God’s dealings with his people (Psalm 78).
Prophetic hymns, which echo the Prophets, calling people to covenant faithfulness (Psalm 81).
Structure
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
Fact: What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God?
What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God? The Psalms were the songbook of the people of God when they gathered for worship.
Fact: What is a psalm of lament?
What is a psalm of lament? The main purpose of a psalm of lament is to tell the Lord about a difficult situation, to ask him for his help, and to praise him for helping. Some laments are community, congregational psalms. Others are individual, personal laments. One third of all the Psalms are psalms of lament.
Fact: What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel?
What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel? The “enemies” mentioned in the Psalms (e.g., 18:17) were people hostile to the faith of God’s people. Sometimes they expressed their hatred by physically attacking the people of Israel, while other times they merely rejoiced when Israel faced misfortunes.
Fact: Selah
What does Selah mean? Although the word Selah is found 39 times in the book of Psalms, its exact meaning is uncertain. Most scholars believe it is a musical term or a term to be used by a worship leader, possibly to mark a pause.
Fact: Snares
Snares (38:12) were traps used to catch birds and animals. Some snares used ropes or nets that would be triggered as soon as the bait was touched. Pits disguised with sticks and leaves were also used as snares. In the Psalms, snares serve as symbols of danger or death at the hands of the wicked.
Fact: A helpful guide
A helpful guide. The writers of the Psalms understood the importance of constant communication with God. They knew that God would hear their prayers, and they trusted him to act on their behalf. Believers today can benefit greatly by patterning their prayers after specific psalms.
Fact: Keeping a record of the population
Keeping a record of the population (87:6) was a very important task in the ancient world. In fact, sometimes entire cities were employed for this purpose. People who performed such royal duties were sometimes rewarded by being exempt from imprisonment and military service, and from having to pay taxes.
Fact: Finding your way
Finding your way in the ancient world was often an inexact science. Without a compass or map, topographical features such as oases and mountains were heavily relied upon. The few maps available were often unreliable because they may have been produced to mark a kingdom’s boundaries rather than as a tool for navigation.
Structure of Psalms
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
OT Testimony that All Are under Sin (3:9)
| Romans 3 | OT Reference |
|---|---|
| Sinful Condition | |
| v. 10, none is righteous | Ps. 14:3/53:3; Eccles. 7:20 |
| v. 11a, no one understands | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 11b, no one seeks for God | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 12, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one | Ps. 14:3/53:3 |
| Sinful Speech (note progression from throat to tongue to lips) | |
| v. 13a, b, their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive | Ps. 5:10, Septuagint (English, 5:9) |
| v. 13c, the venom of asps is under their lips | Ps. 140:3 |
| v. 14, their mouth is full of curses and bitterness | Ps. 10:7 |
| Sinful Action | |
| v. 15, their feet are swift to shed blood | Prov. 1:16/Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 16, in their paths are ruin and misery | Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 17, and the way of peace they have not known | Isa. 59:8 |
| Summary Statement | |
| v. 18, there is no fear of God before their eyes | Ps. 36:1 |
Ps. 86:1–7 The beginning of the psalm is a general call for help, without specifying the nature of the trouble. The person praying offers reasons that God should answer (see for in vv. 2–5). The first reason is the genuineness of his faith (v. 2); second is the earnestness with which he prays, relying on the Lord, not other gods (vv. 3–4); and third is the crucial confession of God’s benevolent character, as revealed in the Pentateuch (v. 5).
Ps. 86:8–10 The psalm moves from there is none like you who is worthy of worship among the gods (that is, the angels and other heavenly beings), to you alone are God. This is why all the nations you have made shall come and worship before you. All human beings were made to know and love the one true God. God called Abraham so that his family would be the vehicle of bringing this knowledge to the rest of mankind (Gen. 12:3).
Ps. 86:11 Teach me your way. See 25:12; 27:11 (and note on 25:4–5). The Bible regularly pictures the moral course of one’s life as a “way” or path, and one’s conduct as a “walk” or journey.
Psalm Ps. 86. This is an individual lament in a situation in which “a band of insolent men seek my life” (v. 14). The psalm confesses that the Lord is “good and forgiving” (v. 5), acknowledging that the singer’s own sins may have contributed to his enemies’ plans. The psalmist explicitly grounds his request in Ex. 34:6, a fundamental confessional statement of the OT (Ps. 86:15; see vv. 5, 13). This is the only psalm of David in Book 3 of the Psalms.
Ps. 86:14–17 The last section of the psalm explains the source of the trouble: insolent men and a band of ruthless men. These people do not set you before them (that is, they have no respect for God). Therefore it is not surprising that they seek the faithful one’s life. But the faithful have not sinned, so they have no reason to worry that God will abandon them to enemies as a punishment. God is merciful and gracious, and therefore his faithful ones can trust him to forgive and to guard. The singer is bold and finishes by repeating his request.
Ps. 87:1–3 The opening section describes Zion, the capital of God’s people, as the city God founded, the city whose gates the Lord loves, the city of God. Its location on the holy mount shows why it is so glorious: it is the place of the temple, where God’s people meet him.
Ps. 87:4–6 The second section is startling. One expects a reference to those who know me, but the list is composed of Gentile nations. Yet, the Most High himself will establish Zion, in order to allow the peoples to be treated as born in her, as Israelites. When the people of God sing this psalm, they stay focused on their God-given purpose, to be a light for the Gentiles; see note on 86:8–10.
Fact: Keeping a record of the population
Keeping a record of the population (87:6) was a very important task in the ancient world. In fact, sometimes entire cities were employed for this purpose. People who performed such royal duties were sometimes rewarded by being exempt from imprisonment and military service, and from having to pay taxes.
Ps. 88:1–2 The psalm reflects an ongoing (day and night) and urgent (I cry out, my cry) circumstance.
Ps. 88:3–9 The next section describes the trouble in general terms, focusing more on the feelings (my soul is full of troubles) than on the external circumstances. Your wrath lies heavy upon me. That is, “it feels like I am dying, and worse than that, dying under your wrath, with no hope either now or ever.” The members of the singing congregation are learning to keep coming to the Lord, even when they feel this way.
Ps. 88:10–12 The mention of dying under God’s wrath (vv. 3–7) leads to the question: Do you work wonders for the dead? If one were to die under God’s wrath, then he could not anticipate any experience of God’s wonders, or any chance to praise him.
Psalm Ps. 88. This is an individual lament. It is suited for a person who is so overwhelmed with troubles that even his friends shun him, and who suspects that the Lord has shunned him as well. The psalm does not specify the troubles, only that they feel like God’s punishment. Most laments close on a confidant note, but Psalm 88 has no explicit statement of confidence. However, there is insistent appeal to God (v. 1, “day and night”; v. 9, “every day”; v. 13, “in the morning”). The psalm instills a tough faith in its singers by reminding them to keep turning to God (the “God of my salvation,” v. 1), even during times when it seems that God does not answer.
Ps. 88:13–18 Darkness is the last word in the psalm. Yet the faithful know that there is no alternative but to keep seeking the Lord in prayer.
Ps. 89:1–4 In raising up David and his descendants to be kings for his people, God has displayed his steadfast love and faithfulness. These words, which recall Ex. 34:6, appear throughout the psalm (Ps. 89:1, 2, 14, 24, 28 [see ESV footnote], 33, 49). Verses 3–4 refer to the events of 2 Sam. 7:8–16, God’s promise to David to establish his offspring forever. Because the promise is rooted in God’s enduring love for his people, and because it is a covenant, the term “forever” is important. If the covenant is forever, then why has humiliation come (Ps. 89:38–45)? But “forever” also means they can offer this prayer confidently, knowing that God will be true to his own word.
Ps. 89:8–10 God is more mighty than any other being. He governs even the raging of the sea; to the people of that day, the sea represented humanly unmanageable chaos.
Fact: Finding your way
Finding your way in the ancient world was often an inexact science. Without a compass or map, topographical features such as oases and mountains were heavily relied upon. The few maps available were often unreliable because they may have been produced to mark a kingdom’s boundaries rather than as a tool for navigation.
Ps. 89:13–14 The pairing of God’s hand and his right hand refers to his power for the sake of his own people (see 74:11; 138:7).
Ps. 89:15–18 God has given his people a special place in his plan for the world. They are exalted, and God pledges his strength on their behalf.
Ps. 89:19 Your godly one most likely refers to Nathan, who received God’s instructions by night in a vision (see 2 Sam. 7:17).
Ps. 89:24–25 steadfast love. See v. 33; 2 Sam. 7:15. For hand and right hand, see Ps. 89:13, where it is God’s hand. The king also serves the people as God’s representative.
Ps. 89:26–28 Father . . . firstborn. See 2 Sam. 7:14. Just as Israel is God’s “firstborn” (Ex. 4:22), so the king is the firstborn as he represents the people (see note on Ps. 2:7).
Ps. 89:19–37 The mention of the king’s role in Israel (v. 18) leads to the story of how David and his heirs came to be the royal family (1 Sam. 16:1–13) and what promises God made to them (2 Sam. 7:4–17).
Ps. 89:38–45 It looks and feels as if God has not kept his promises to the house of David (and thus to his people). This section repeats words from the preceding parts of the psalm to stress the feeling of betrayal. God’s anointed (v. 38) was his special choice (v. 20), but now God is full of wrath against him. The covenant (v. 39) should have meant security (v. 34), but God has renounced it. The king’s “right hand” (v. 42) should govern even the rivers (v. 25), but now God has exalted the right hand of his foes. David’s throne (v. 44) was to endure as long as the sun (vv. 29, 36), but now God has cast it to the ground. Rather than David’s heir being “the highest of the kings of the earth” (v. 27), now all the Gentiles triumph over him and his people (vv. 40–43). Although things seem bleak, the psalm is not hopeless. The current hardship may be God’s punishment of the king for unfaithfulness, and so it is a call to repentance.
Ps. 89:46–51 There is great comfort in the promise of an enduring Davidic house. The people can be confident that their present low condition is not the end of their story. The appeal is to God’s steadfast love and faithfulness (v. 49, see note on vv. 1–4) as expressed in his oath to David (v. 24).
Psalm Ps. 89. This is a community lament, but with a distinctive flavor. The people celebrate the Davidic kingship as God’s special gift to his people, but they also mourn the distress into which they have fallen. They interpret that distress as God’s wrath against his anointed king. They pray earnestly for God to bless his people by blessing their king with wisdom, goodness, and might.
How can we have an undivided heart?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Psalm 86-89
During this time of affliction, I realized I needed to surrender and recognize that I am not God. When we realize what each of our roles are, and, more importantly, how God offers us His "Enormous Grace" daily, that is when we can trust Him not only when good happens in our life, but also when not so good things happen.
This reveals that God has always pursued us and that He loves us so much that He would allow us to go through these trials, but still use them for our good. As His Word says in Philippians 1:6 "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
While writing the psalms, David highlighted to us that there is no other God like Him, nor one whose works are like His. If David, who experienced struggles, victories, and weaknesses as we do, said this, we can trust it for our own lives. David's life allows us to see that God loves us and will take control of our life and future when we allow it.
If you are going through a struggle at this moment, one way to help you draw close to God would be joining a Bible study with godly people who are committed to dive deep into Scripture. Doing so will allow God's Word to come alive in both you and the people around you and to focus your sight on God—for He is enough.
As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 about what the Lord said to him in his own struggles: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
This month's memory verse
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
– Psalm 119:9-11
Discussion Questions
1. How is your heart this season? Who leads your heart?
2. Who leads your battles? Are you letting God rule your battles, or are you helping God solve them?
3. How are you seeing God's grace in your life in this process?
4. What thought comes to you in your process? Are you remembering the promises written in His Word?
5. Are you surrounded by godly people who are speaking true life to you?