PSALMS 89

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

NASB	NKJV	NRSV	TEV	NJB
The Lord’s Covenant with David, and Israel’s Afflictions MT Intro A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite	Remembering the Covenant with David, and Sorrow for Lost Blessings	A King Prays for Deliverance From His Enemies	A Hymn in Time of National Trouble	Hymn and Prayer to God the Faithful
89:1-4	89:1-2	89:1-2	89:1-4	89:1-2
	89:3-4	89:3-4		89:3-4
89:5-10	89:5-10	89:5-18	89:5-14	89:5-6
				89:7-8
				89:9-10
89:11-18	89:11-18			89:11-12
				89:13-14
			89:15-18	89:15-16
			God’s Promise to David	89:17-18
89:19-29	89:19-23	89:19-37	89:19-29	89:19
				89:20-21
				89:22-23
	89:24-29			89:24-25
				89:26-27
				89:28-29
89:30-37	89:30-37		89:30-34	89:30-31
				89:32-33
				89:34-35
			89:35-37
			Lament Over the Defeat of the King	89:36-37
89:38-45	89:38-45	89:38-45	89:38-45	89:38-39
				89:40-41
				89:42-43
				89:44-45
89:46-48	89:46-48	89:46-48	89:46-48	89:46-48
89:49-51	89:49-51	89:49-51	89:49-51	89:49-51
89:52	89:52	89:52	89:52	89:52

READING CYCLE THREE (see
“Bible
Interpretation Seminar”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR’S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which
means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the
light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not
relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare
your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is
the key to following the original author’s intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every
paragraph has one and only one subject.

First paragraph
Second paragraph
Third paragraph, etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

This Psalm affirms YHWH’s permanent choice of Abraham and his descendants by covenant promise
(cf. Gen. 12:1-3; 15:12-21). These covenant promises are fully embodied in David and his
royal Judean seed (cf. 2 Samuel 7; 1 Kgs. 8:16).
YHWH is the creator and sustainer of His people (Ps. 89:11-18). He is the leader of the
heavenly council (Ps. 89:5-10,19), which exists to accomplish His purposes.
But a tragedy has occurred: His people and their leaders are not faithful, not obedient
(Ps. 89:38-45). Now there is a problem.
1. God has made promises
2. His people have failed
  What will He do (Ps. 89:46-48,49-51)?
It is interesting that this Psalm, unlike most Psalms, does not focus on Jerusalem
(but Ps. 89:1-2,15 implies temple worship) and the temple, but on the Davidic seed. It is
surely drawing from 2 Samuel 7, which is about both
1. the building of the temple
2. the continuing of the Davidic dynasty
  Number 1 is not even specifically mentioned in this Psalm.
Just a note about how the NT reinterprets these OT promises to Israel. Please see my
commentaries online
(
www.freebiblecommentary.org)
on Romans 2:28-29; 9:6; Gal. 3:7-9,26; 6:16; 1 Pet. 3:6! The NT has widened the
promises of God to include all the children of Adam (see
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH’s Eternal
Redemptive Plan).
On the theological tension between conditional and unconditional covenant promises, see notes
at Ps. 89:30-37.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 89:1-4
¹I will sing of the
lovingkindness of the Lord forever;
To all generations I will make
known Your faithfulness with my mouth.
²For I have said,
“Lovingkindness will be built up forever;
In the heavens You will
establish Your faithfulness.”
³“I have made a
covenant with My chosen;
I have sworn to David My
servant,
⁴I will establish
your seed forever
And build up your throne to
all generations.”
Selah.

89:1-4 This strophe in NASB is divided into two strophes (Ps. 89:1-2, 3-4) by NKJV, NRSV, NJB
because there are two speakers.

the psalmist in Ps. 89:1-2
1. I will sing ‒ BDB 1010, KB 1479, Qal COHORTATIVE
2. I will make known ‒ BDB 393, KB 390, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in
  a COHORTATIVE sense
3. I have said. . . ‒ BDB 55, KB 65, Qal PERFECT
YHWH Himself in Ps. 89:3-4
1. I have made a covenant ‒ BDB 503, KB 500, Qal PERFECT
2. I have sworn ‒ BDB 989, KB 1396, Niphal PERFECT
3. I will establish ‒ BDB 465, KB 464, Hiphil IMPERFECT
4. I will build up ‒ BDB 124, KB 139, Qal PERFECT with waw
  (links to PERFECTS in a and b)

89:1 There are three words that occur several times in this Psalm.

lovingkindness, Ps. 89:1,2,14,24,28,33,49 ‒ see
SPECIAL
TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (HESED)
forever, Ps. 89:1,2,4,28,37,52 ‒ see
SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER
(‘olam)
faithfulness, Ps. 89:1,2,5,8,24,33,49 ‒ see
SPECIAL
TOPIC: Believe, Trust, Faith and Faithfulness in the OT

They establish the hope of Israel in God’s call, grace, protection, and provision forever.

The term “forever” is parallel to “all generations” (Ps. 89:1b, 4b).

89:3 “covenant” See
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

▣ “My chosen. . .David” This probably refers to

the choice of David as king over Saul, 1 Samuel 16; 2 Sam. 7:8
the promise to David about his descendants, 2 Sam. 7:12-17

▣ “My Servant” This becomes an honorific title (some examples).

Moses ‒ Num. 12:7; Jos. 1:2
Joshua ‒ Jdgs. 2:8
David ‒ 1 Kgs. 8:24,25,26; Ps. 89:20
Solomon ‒ 1 Kgs. 8:28
Messiah ‒ Isa. 42:1; 52:13-53:12
Israel ‒ Isa. 41:8; 42:19; 43:10; 44:1,21

89:4 This is an allusion to 2 Samuel 7. This Psalm has several allusions to YHWH’s
promise to David and his descendants.

Ps. 89:4 ‒ 2 Sam. 7:13,16
Ps. 89:22 ‒ 2 Sam. 7:10
Ps. 89:23 ‒ 2 Sam. 7:9
Ps. 89:29 ‒ 2 Sam. 7:13,16
Ps. 89:33 ‒ 2 Sam. 7:15
Ps. 89:35 ‒ 2 Sam. 7:8-17

▣ “your throne to all generations” This same promise is made in Isa. 9:7; Dan. 2:44;
7:14,18,27; Luke 1:33. YHWH has an eternal redemptive plan for all humans. See
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH’S ETERNAL
REDEMPTIVE PLAN.

The term “generations” is used of

promise to Noah ‒ Gen. 9:12
promise to Abram ‒ Gen. 17:7,9
promise to Israel ‒ Deut. 7:9
promise to David ‒ Ps. 89:4 (reflecting 2 Sam. 7:13,16)

▣ “Selah” This occurs at the end of Ps. 89:4, 37, 45, 48. It often serves to close
a strophe. On the meaning of the word (BDB 699) see note online at Ps. 3:2.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 89:5-10
⁵The heavens will
praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the
assembly of the holy ones.
⁶For who in the
skies is comparable to the Lord?
Who among the sons of the
mighty is like the Lord,
⁷A God greatly
feared in the council of the holy ones,
And awesome above all those
who are around Him?
⁸O Lord
God
of hosts, who is like You, O mighty Lord?
Your faithfulness also
surrounds You.
⁹You rule the
swelling of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still
them.
¹⁰You Yourself
crushed Rahab like one who is slain;
You scattered Your enemies
with Your mighty arm.

89:5-10 This strophe has two themes.

YHWH is the leader of the angelic council (Ps. 89:5-8)
1. the heavens ‒ personified angelic council, Ps. 89:5a
2. the assembly of the holy ones, Ps. 89:5b ‒ BDB 874 CONSTRUCT BDB 872
3. the sons of gods, Ps. 89:6 ‒ BDB 119 CONSTRUCT BDB 42, see notes
  at Ps. 29:1 and 82:1
4. the council of the holy ones, Ps. 89:7a ‒ BDB 691 CONSTRUCT BDB 872
5. all those who are around Him, Ps. 89:7b
6. for a good discussion of the Hebrew terminology see Millard Erickson, Christian
  Theology, 2^nd ed., p. 412
YHWH as creator (i.e., over watery chaos) and holy warrior for Israel (i.e., over Egypt and
Canaan, Ps. 89:9-10)

There are two Special Topics that help clarify the use of “son”

Also note the excellent article in NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 671-677, esp. 676.

89:5 “the heavens” This is either

a personification of
1. earth
2. God’s abode (parallel to “who in the skies”)
another way to refer to the angelic council (see note above)

▣ “O Lord“ Notice the number of names/titles for Deity
in this strophe.

Lord, Ps. 89:2, 5, 6 (twice), 8 ‒ YHWH
God, Ps. 89:7 ‒ El
God of hosts, Ps. 89:8 ‒ Eloah Sabaoth
O mighty Lord, Ps. 89:8 ‒ Yah (cf. Ps. 68:4);
the ADJECTIVE “mighty” (BDB 340) is found only here in the OT

89:6-8 These questions are often used in two senses.

an affirmation of monotheism, see
SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM
a way of depreciating the pagan idols (possibly Ps. 82:1)

89:8 “Your faithfulness also surrounds You” This phrase is difficult to understand. Some
possibilities:

faithfulness is like a robe wrapped about YHWH
He is faithful in all things (TEV)
He is constant (NJB, i.e., to His word)

89:10 “Rahab” This (BDB 923) can refer to

watery chaos monster (cf. Ps. 74:12-17, i.e. Babylonian creation accounts, see my notes
online on Intro. to Genesis 1-11)
Egypt (i.e., it’s defeat by YHWH and the exodus, cf. Isa. 51:9-11)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 89:11-18
¹¹The heavens are
Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all it contains,
You have founded them.
¹²The north and the
south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon shout for joy
at Your name.
¹³You have a strong
arm;
Your hand is mighty, Your
right hand is exalted.
¹⁴Righteousness and
justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Lovingkindness and truth go
before You.
¹⁵How blessed are
the people who know the joyful sound!
O
Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance.
¹⁶In Your name they
rejoice all the day,
And by Your righteousness they
are exalted.
¹⁷For You are the
glory of their strength,
And by Your favor our horn is
exalted.
¹⁸For our shield
belongs to the Lord,
And our king to the Holy One
of Israel.

89:11-18 This strophe praises YHWH and expresses how blessed His people are.

YHWH
1. the heavens are His
2. the earth is His because He founded them (i.e., YHWH as creator, cf. Ps. 24:1-2;
  78:69b; 102:25; Isa. 51:13,16)
3. the north and south were created by Him (imagery similar to Job 26:7)
4. the mountains of Tabor and Hermon are personified and shout at His name
  (cf. Ps. 65:12; 98:8)
5. His power (i.e., hand or arm, cf. Ps. 89:10, see
  SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND)
  to act is praised
  (1) He has a strong arm
  (2) His hand is mighty
  (3) His right hand is exalted
6. four of His characteristics are personified as characterizing His person and
  reign (cf. Ps. 97:2)
  (1) righteousness (see
  SPECIAL
  TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS)
  (2) justice (see
  SPECIAL
  TOPIC: JUDGE, JUSTICE, JUDGMENT)
  (3) lovingkindness (see
  SPECIAL
  TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS [hesed])
  (4) truth/faithfulness (see
  SPECIAL
  TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT)
7. He is “the Holy One of Israel” (cf. Ps. 71:22; 78:41: Isa. 1:4; see
  SPECIAL TOPIC: THE
  HOLY ONE)
His people
1. blessed are those who hear the trumpet (i.e., temple worship)
2. walk in the light of His countenance (lit. “face,” which denotes YHWH’s personal
  presence, cf. Ps. 90:8)
3. rejoice all day in His name (i.e., worship setting or military victory)
4. exalted by YHWH’s righteousness (i.e., holy character and revelation)
5. YHWH is their glory and strength (cf. Ps. 28:8)
6. horn (i.e., power, prestige)
7. protection (lit. “shield”) is YHWH (cf. Ps. 47:9)
8. the king is also of YHWH

The PRONOUN “our” in Ps. 89:17-18 shows that YHWH uses the king of Israel
as His “protecting/victorious horn and shield” (i.e., f-h).

89:12 “the north and the south” It is possible these two terms are the names of two more
mountains (i.e., Zaphon, i.e., the name of the Mt. of Ba’al, north of Ugarit; and Yamin or the
emendation linking Amana, a mountain in southern Turkey, cf. Sol. 4:8). This would form a parallel with
Tabor and Hermon.

Most translators take them as opposite points of the compass showing YHWH’s universal
reign as creator.

89:16 “Your name. . .Your righteousness” These are parallel and both refer to YHWH Himself.

89:17 “horn” This is an idiom of power (cf. Ps. 75:10; 89:24; 92:10; 148:14), taken from the
animal realm.

89:18 “shield. . .king” These could both refer to YHWH or they could refer to the Davidic king
(cf. Ps. 89:19-29; Ps. 84:10), God’s anointed one to accomplish His purposes.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 89:19-29
¹⁹Once You spoke in
vision to Your godly ones,
And said, “I have given help
to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from
the people.
²⁰I have found David
My servant;
With My holy oil I have
anointed him,
²¹With whom My hand
will be established;
My arm also will strengthen
him.
²²The enemy will not
deceive him,
Nor the son of wickedness
afflict him.
²³But I shall crush
his adversaries before him,
And strike those who hate him.
²⁴My faithfulness
and My lovingkindness will be with him,
And in My name his horn will
be exalted.
²⁵I shall also set
his hand on the sea
And his right hand on the
rivers.
²⁶He will cry to Me,
‘You are my Father,
My God, and the rock of my
salvation.’
²⁷I also shall make
him My firstborn,
The highest of the kings of
the earth.
²⁸My lovingkindness
I will keep for him forever,
And My covenant shall be
confirmed to him.
²⁹So I will
establish his descendants forever
And his throne as the days of
heaven.”

89:19-29 This strophe is specifically about King David and his royal Judean descendants
(cf. 2 Samuel 7). He becomes a type/symbol of the Messiah (see
SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH).

YHWH has spoken to His people (lit. Your godly/faithful [BDB 339] ones) about His
special choice for the King of Israel (Ps. 89:19).

he was exalted, Ps. 89:19
he was chosen from among the people, Ps. 89:19
he was found, Ps. 89:20
he was anointed, Ps. 89:20 (cf. 1 Sam. 16:1-13; this is the Hebrew VERB from
which the title “Messiah” comes, see
SPECIAL
TOPIC: OT TITLES OF THE SPECIAL COMING ONE)
he was established, Ps. 89:21
he was strengthened, Ps. 89:21
he will not be deceived (BDB 674 II) or afflicted, Ps. 89:22
his adversaries will be crushed, Ps. 89:23
YHWH’s personified characteristics (i.e., faithfulness and lovingkindness) will accompany
him, Ps. 89:24
YHWH’s name will exalt his horn, Ps. 89:24
he will control his territory, Ps. 89:25 (i.e., from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates
River, cf. Exod. 23:31; Deut. 1:7-8)
he will call God in intimate ways, Ps. 89:26
1. my Father (see
  SPECIAL
  TOPIC: FATHERHOOD OF GOD and
  SPECIAL
  TOPIC: FATHER)
2. my God (El)
3. the rock of my salvation (cf. Ps. 95:1)
He will be appointed (no sexual generation) the honorific title “My firstborn” (cf. 2 Sam. 7:14;
1 Chr. 17:13; 22:10; 28:6; Ps. 2:7), Ps. 89:27
he will be made the highest of the kings of the earth (cf. Ps. 72:11, obviously a Messianic
title, cf. 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 1:5; 17:14; 19:16, a title for YHWH from Dan. 2:47; the kingdom
will be universal, cf. Micah 5:4), Ps. 89:27
like #9, another personified characteristic of YHWH, will keep him forever, Ps. 89:28
YHWH’s covenant will confirm him, Ps. 89:28 (cf. Ps. 89:3,34)
his descendants will be established and reign forever, Ps. 89:29 (cf. Ps. 89:4; 2 Samuel 7)

89:19 “Once You spoke in visions” This refers to Nathan speaking to David in 2 Sam. 7:14-17.

▣ “I have given help” The VERB (BDB 1001, KB 1438, Piel
PERFECT) means to set or to place.

The word “help” (עזר, BDB 740 I) is understood by some translators as

“diadem” ‒ Godspeed
“crown” ‒ NRSV, NAB

The term “crown” would involve an emendation to the MT, by changing the first
letter, i.e., נזר, BDB 634, cf. Exod. 29:6; 39:30; Lev. 8:9; 21:12; 2 Sam. 1:10;
2 Kgs. 11:12; Ps. 89:39; 132:18; Pro. 27:24; Zech. 9:16. The UBS Text Project gives “help” an A
rating (very high probability, p. 354).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 89:30-37
³⁰“If his sons
forsake My law
And do not walk in My
judgments,
³¹If they violate My
statutes
And do not keep My
commandments,
³²Then I will punish
their transgression with the rod
And their iniquity with
stripes.
³³But I will not
break off My lovingkindness from him,
Nor deal falsely in My
faithfulness.
³⁴My covenant I will
not violate,
Nor will I alter the utterance
of My lips.
³⁵Once I have sworn
by My holiness;
I will not lie to David.
³⁶His descendants
shall endure forever
And his throne as the sun
before Me.
³⁷It shall be
established forever like the moon,
And the witness in the sky is
faithful.”
Selah.

89:30-37 This strophe is the shocking contrast to the wonderful plans and purposes of YHWH
for His people (note “if” at Ps. 89:30 and 31).

they left His law, Ps. 89:30
they did not walk in His judgments, Ps. 89:30
they profaned His statutes, Ps. 89:31
they did not keep His commandments, Ps. 89:31

Yet YHWH makes a series of statements about what He will and will not do, even
in light of Israel’s failure to be faithful. He is faithful!

I will punish them for their sin, Ps. 89:32
but I will not break off My lovingkindness, Ps. 89:33
but I will not deal falsely because of My faithfulness, Ps. 89:33
I will not violate My own covenant, Ps. 89:34
I will not alter My words, Ps. 89:34
once I have sworn, I will not lie to David, Ps. 89:35
1. his descendants (lit. “seed”) will endure forever, Ps. 89:36
2. his throne is as secure as the sun, moon, sky, Ps. 89:36b-37 (for the secure
  order of creation see Jer. 31:35-37)

This illustrates the tension between conditional and unconditional promises. I have
discussed this issue in two places.

see SPECIAL
TOPIC: COVENANT
Crucial Intro. to Revelation, see
SPECIAL
TOPIC: OT Predictions of the Future vs. NT Predictions, especially the
“third tension”

This same tension between a conditional and unconditional promise is illustrated by the
contrast between Isaiah’s emphatic statements that Jerusalem would never fall (Isaiah 37) and
Jeremiah’s insistence that it will fall because of Judah’s idolatry and covenant disobedience.

The best guess at the historical crisis that elicited this Psalm is the exile of the
Davidic King, either by Pharoah Necho II or Nebuchadnezzar II. This is only a guess; the Psalm itself
does not clearly indicate the historical setting. Some kind of divine judgment has affected the
Davidic king.

89:30-31 “law. . .judgments. . .statutes. . .commandments” These are all parallel terms for
YHWH’s revelation in Scripture.

SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS
FOR GOD’S REVELATION

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 89:38-45
³⁸But You have cast
off and rejected,
You have been full of wrath
against Your anointed.
³⁹You have spurned
the covenant of Your servant;
You have profaned his crown in
the dust.
⁴⁰You have broken
down all his walls;
You have brought his
strongholds to ruin.
⁴¹All who pass along
the way plunder him;
He has become a reproach to
his neighbors.
⁴²You have exalted
the right hand of his adversaries;
You have made all his enemies
rejoice.
⁴³You also turn back
the edge of his sword
And have not made him stand in
battle.
⁴⁴You have made his
splendor to cease
And cast his throne to the
ground.
⁴⁵You have shortened
the days of his youth;
You have covered him with
shame. Selah.

89:38-45 In light of YHWH’s statements about His faithfulness to the covenants (esp. Abraham
and David) He has judged His people for their sin (cf. Ps. 89:32). This judgment was severe and
seemingly unexplainable to Israel (series of PERFECTS).

He cast off His anointed
He rejected (rare word, BDB 611, KB 658, cf. Lam. 2:7) His anointed
He is full of wrath for His anointed
He spurned the covenant of His servant
He profaned his crown
He broke down the walls (of Jerusalem)
He brought his stronghold to ruin
He allowed foreigners to plunder him
He allowed him to become a reproach to his neighbors
He exalted the power of his enemies
He made his enemies rejoice
He allowed him to be defeated
He allowed his splendor to cease (see note below)
He cast his throne to the ground
He shortened his life (cf. Ps. 102:23)
He covered him in shame

Wow! What a judgment! Thank God for Ps. 89:33-37. Thank God for the NT, the gospel,
the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus!

89:44
NASB, JPSOA, REB	”splendor”
NKJV, Peshitta	”glory”
NRSV, TEV, NJB	”sceptor from his hand”
LXX	”purification”

The term (מטהרו, BDB 372, UBS “A” rating) appears
only here in the OT. The MASCULINE NOUN’S basic meaning is “clearness” or “luster,”
which comes from the VERB. The UBS Text Project (p. 356) suggests that NASB or LXX
be followed. The emendation (מטה) of NRSV fits the parallelism of Ps. 89:44b better.

89:46-48 This strophe asks the questions that have been repeated often in Psalms: “How long?”
(cf. Ps. 6:3; 13:1; 74:10; 79:5; 80:4; 90:13; 94:3).

The unique aspect of this strophe is not the questions but the reasons given for
YHWH to act (Ps. 89:47-51).

remember (Qal IMPERATIVE) the frailty of human existence, Ps. 89:47-48
remember (Qal IMPERATIVE) Your lovingkindness and faithful oaths to David
remember the reproach of Your people among the nations
remember that Your anointed has been reproached

There is a larger redemptive plan involving Israel and her Messiah.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH’S ETERNAL
REDEMPTIVE PLAN

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 89:46-48
⁴⁶How long, O Lord?
Will You hide Yourself
forever?
Will Your wrath burn like
fire?
⁴⁷Remember what my
span of life is;
For what vanity You have
created all the sons of men!
⁴⁸What man can live
and not see death?
Can he deliver his soul from
the power of Sheol?
Selah.

89:46 “fire” See
SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 89:49-51
⁴⁹Where are Your
former lovingkindnesses, O Lord,
Which You swore to David in
Your faithfulness?
⁵⁰Remember, O Lord,
the reproach of Your servants;
How I bear in my bosom the
reproach of all the many peoples,
⁵¹With which Your
enemies have reproached, O Lord,
With which they have
reproached the footsteps of Your anointed.

89:49 “O Lord” This is the term Adon (i.e., Lord, owner, master). Notice it reappears
in Ps. 89:50, but is YHWH in Ps. 89:51. The covenant name for God dominates this Psalm (5 times).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 89:52
⁵²Blessed be the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.

89:52 God will work it out! He will be both just and merciful. He will be true to His word!

This phrase is not part of Psalm 89 but the closing doxology of Book III of the Psalter
(i.e., the other books also close with doxologies, Ps. 41:14; 72:18-19; 106:48).

▣ “Amen” See
SPECIAL TOPIC: AMEN.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are
responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You,
the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this
section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

Read this Psalm as a whole; what is the subject of the Psalm?
Explain the difference between an unconditional covenant and a conditional covenant.
Define “lovingkindness” and “faithfulness.”
How is this Psalm related to 2 Samuel 7?
Does the OT use Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Canaanite mythology? If so, why?
How is the Israeli king a son of God?
Does this Psalm have a Messianic aspect? If so, how?

Old Testament Studies

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