Psalms Chapter 89

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever, etc.] Both temporal and spiritual, especially the latter, in which there is a large display of the rich and abundant mercy of God, from whence they are so called; as in the choice of men to everlasting life, who are said to be vessels of mercy; in the covenant of grace made with them, the blessings of which are the sure mercies of David; in the mission of Christ, whose coming, as the dayspring from on high, is owing to the tender mercy of our God; in redemption by him, in which mercy and truth have met together; in regeneration, which is according to abundant…”

“Contrasting man's frailty with God's eternity, the writer mourns over it as the punishment of sin, and prays for a return of the divine favor. A Prayer [mainly such] of Moses the man of God-- (Deu 33:1; Jos 14:6); as such he wrote this (see on Psa 18:1, title, and Psa 36:1, title). (Psa. 90:1-17) dwelling-place--home (compare Eze 11:16), as a refuge (Deu 33:27).”

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever - Particularly how the “mercy” was manifested in the promise made to David; the solemn covenant made with him in respect to the perpetuity of his throne. The appointment of David to the throne was an act of mere mercy or favor, since he was not in the royal line, and had no claim to the crown. It will be seen, also, that if it be supposed that the covenant with David, and the promise therein made to him, was intended to include the Messiah as descending from him, there was a still higher reason for celebrating the “mercies” of God, inasmuch as all mercy to our world…”

“Sing - He prefaces this, lest the following complainers of present miseries should argue ingratitude for former mercies. Faithfulness - Whatsoever hath befallen us, it proceeded not from thy unfaithfulness. Psalms 89:2”

“Ps 89 Book Three (Pss 73–89) begins and ends with weighty questions. Though Ps 89 begins with a praise-filled account of how the Lord exalted the throne of David (89:1-37), the psalmist protests the Lord’s apparent rejection of his covenant with David (89:38-51; see 2 Sam 7:8-16). 89:title Ethan the Ezrahite was a wise man (1 Kgs 4:31; cp. Ps 88:title). 89:1 God’s unfailing love gives reason to celebrate forever.”

“Ethan: Kg1 4:31; Ch1 2:6 I will: Psa 86:12, Psa 86:13, Psa 101:1, Psa 106:1, 136:1-26 with: Psa 40:9, Psa 40:10, Psa 71:8, Psa 71:15-19 thy faithfulness: Psa 89:5, Psa 89:8, Psa 89:33, Psa 89:49, Psa 36:5, Psa 92:2; Isa 25:1; Lam 3:23; Mic 7:20; Tit 1:2 all generations: Heb. generation and generation, Psa 89:4, Psa 119:90 \*marg. Psalms 89:2”

“The poet, who, as one soon observes, is a חכם (for the very beginning of the Psalm is remarkable and ingenious), begins with the confession of the inviolability of the mercies promised to the house of David, i.e., of the הסדי דוד הנּאמנים, Isa 55:3. (Note: The Vulgate renders: Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo. The second Sunday after Easter takes its name from this rendering.) God's faithful love towards the house of David, a love faithful to His promises, will he sing without ceasing, and make it known with his mouth, i.e., audibly and publicly (cf. Job 19:16), to the distant posterity. Instead of חסדי,…”