Psalm 89 praises God's love and faithfulness, but it also highlights the struggles of God's Chosen One. It reminds us that God's promises don't mean that life will always be easy.
Structure
Psalm 89 is the third longest psalm and is the concluding psalm in Book 3. The Psalms are divided into five books, and Book 3 is the darkest in content, making a clear comparison to Lamentations. For more on the structure of the Psalms, see our Overview of the Psalms. This psalm divides into three main sections:
- Psalm 89:1-18 Our Great God
- Psalm 89:19-37 The Chosen One
- Psalm 89:38-52 Why Have You Rejected Your Chosen One?
Structural Devices
- Selahs. The psalm includes 4 selahs which are used to highlight key stanzas of the psalm.
- Change of Address. The psalm has many changes of address. Section 1 changes address frequently at the beginning but then is followed by a lengthy prayer of praise. Section 2 is primarily spoken by God, and Section 3 is primarily a prayer to God.
Key Words
Four words are repeated throughout the text. Each of these words is related to the concept of consistency:
- Steadfast Love
- Faithfullness
- Forever
- Covenant
Meaningful Center
The meaningful center is found at Psalm 89:25a.
I will set his hand on the sea
The image of the sea in the Bible is often a picture of chaos and trouble. God's Chosen One has power over the chaos. Although the original text is referring to King David, this text is also seen as a Messianic text. In the Gospels, we see Jesus, the Messiah, walking on water and calming the sea with just a word. He not only figuratively had his hand over the sea, He literally had power over the sea. Jesus is sovereign over the chaos of this world.
Our Great God
Psalm 89:1-18
God's Promise
Psalm 89:1-7
Psalm 89 opens by praising God for his promise to David.
‘I will establish your offspring forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah
This promise is highlighted by a chiastic structure (a sequence of ideas is presented and then repeated in reverse order). Thematically, the chiastic structure is Praise - Promise - Praise. This is also overlaid with a change of address chiasm: About God - To God - By God - To God - About God.
The promise is further highlighted by being the only text spoken by God in the first section of the psalm and by ending with a "selah".
The key words are also introduced in these opening verses: steadfast love, faithfulness, forever, and covenant. The psalmist makes it clear that God has made a promise based on His great love and faithfulness. This promise is forever and sealed as a covenant by God's oath.
What the author does not fully understand is that this promise is greater than he ever imagined. The promise points to Jesus, God's Son, David's heir, the Messiah, who truly will rule forever. David's heir will rule forever because he will be God in the flesh!
In Jesus, we have the fulfillment of God's promise to David made 3,000 years ago!
Praise God!
Psalm 89:8-18
The author continues to pour out his praise:
- God is mighty
- God is faithful
- God rules over chaos and defeats His enemies
- He is sovereign over heaven and earth
- He is the Creator
- He is righteous and just
- He is loving
- He brings joy to His people
- He is the strength of His people
What an amazing God we serve!
The first section of the psalm is bookmarked by two phrases spoken about God:
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; Psalm 89:1a
For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel. Psalm 89:18
This section is full of praise from beginning to end. It reminds us that we have a loving God who protects us through His Chosen One, Jesus.
The Chosen One
Psalm 89:19-37
The Chosen One
Psalm 89:19-29
With the exception of the first two lines, section 2 is all spoken by God. It is an extended poetic statement of God's promise.
Over and over in this section, God declares what He will do for His Chosen One, David, and his descendants.
God will:
- Grant him help and exalt him
- Defeat his foes
- Be with him in faithfulness and steadfast love
- Place his hand over the sea
- Be his Father
- Be his salvation
- Make him the greatest king
- Be with him and his offspring forever
- Establish his throne forever
It is in this section that we come upon the meaningful center at Psalm 89:25a.
I will set his hand on the sea
God's Chosen One will rule even over chaos. Jesus demonstrated His power to rule the seas when He walked on water and calmed the seas. He is the ultimate fulfillment of all these promises.
The Warning
Psalm 89:30-32
The mood changes for a few verses as God gives His warning to the Chosen One and his descendants. They will be punished if they don't remain faithful to God.
But God promises to never violate His promise to the Chosen One.
The Oath
Psalm 89:33-37
The second section ends with an oath. God promises that David's throne will last forever. This oath is highlighted by the second use of the word "selah".
At this point in the psalm, the author has painted a rather positive image. God has promised David that his throne will last forever. The first section was primarily praise, and the second section was a reminder of God's wonderful promise. We find the fulfillment of this great promise in Jesus.
But the third section makes an unexpected shift in tone.
Why Have You Rejected Your Chosen One?
Psalm 89:38-52
Rejected!
Psalm 89:38-45
Section 3 is a sudden and unexpected shift in mood. So far, the psalm has been primarily praise and promise. Everything changes, though, with the words, "But now ..."
The author, Ethan, has carefully set it up so that this section will be a big shock to his listeners. He has given us almost no warning. Suddenly, we find a list of God's wrathful acts against His people and His Chosen One.
The contrast could not be greater. God promised with an oath that He would not violate this covenant (Psalm 89:34). But now the psalmist brashly declares, "You have renounced the covenant with your servant" (Psalm 89:39)!
How can this be? How can God renounce the covenant that He made with an oath and promised would last forever?
This is exactly the point psalmist Ethan wants to make. What is God doing?
With the exception of the final verse, the whole third section is written as a prayer to God. As we have seen over and over in the psalms, the poets are not afraid to speak honestly with God—in this case, to even accuse God of going against His own word. The psalmist knows God cannot lie, and yet it certainly looks like God has rejected the covenant.
This must have been what it felt like to Jesus' disciples as they gathered together in those days between His death and resurrection. The Messiah wasn't supposed to die - or so they thought. But the suffering Messiah was already portrayed in this psalm. They just didn't understand it at the time.
This part is concluded by the third "selah".
How Long?
Psalm 89:46-48
How long will this last? Instead of the promise lasting forever, it looks like God's wrath will continue forever (Psalm 89:46).
The psalmist calls on God to remember how short life is. Death is coming soon if God doesn't relent.
This short part is conluded with the last of the four uses of the word "selah".
Remember Your Promise!
Psalm 89:49-52
The psalm closes by reminding God of His promise and the mocking of His enemies. But there is no response from God—only silence!
The final verse still declares God as blessed forever. No matter what happens in our lives, God is still God. He is still worthy of our praise.
But this one short verse does not override the emptiness of the ending of this psalm. We are left in despair. Our only hope is that God will remember His promise.
Book 3 has been a difficult journey of pain and lament. But the good news is that the Psalms are not done! We are only on Psalm 89, and we still have 61 psalms to go!
Don't give up just because your life looks terrible right now. Your story is not finished. Like the psalms, you have more praise to come.
This final section is also a picture of Jesus. It portrays the suffering of God's Chosen One—a suffering that even led to death. But Jesus' story was not done at the cross. The resurrection was coming!
Application
God's promises do not mean that we will never suffer. This psalm is a picture of Christ's suffering, and we are sometimes invited to share in that suffering as well.
But, this is not the end of the Psalms—just the end of Book 3, the Book of Suffering. Christ's suffering was not the end of the Messiah. Your suffering is not the end of your story either.
So, how should we handle suffering? Why not use the outline of this psalm as an outline for your own prayers?
- Start with praise.
- Remind God of His promises.
- Honestly pour out your pain to God.
- End with praise.
God is still faithful and loving. Don't give up! Keep trusting and keep drawing close to God.
This post is part of a series on the Psalms.
by Jerry Wyrick, President of Worship Arts Conservatory