I have made a covenant with my chosen. There is an ellipse of "for thou hast said," which Professor Cheyne supplies. God's promise to David is the entire foundation of the psalmist's hope and confidence. He therefore places it briefly in the very forefront—afterwards expanding it into the beautiful passage, which forms more than one-third of the entire composition ( Psalms 89:19-37 ). I have sworn unto David my servant . read more
Thy seed will I establish forever (see 2 Samuel 7:12 , 2 Samuel 7:13 ; Psalms 130:1-8 :12). And build up thy throne to all generations. The promises to David were not fulfilled in the letter. After Zerubbabel, no prince of the Davidic house sat on the throne of David, or had temporal sway over Israel. The descendants of David sank into obscurity, and so remained for five centuries. Still, however, God's faithfulness was sure. In Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, the true King of... read more
I have made a covenant with my chosen - With my chosen one; that is, with David. The original is in the singular number, though by the Septuagint, and the Vulgate, and by Luther, it is rendered in the plural - chosen ones - elect. This is undoubtedly the language of God himself, though it is not expressly ascribed to him. The design is to describe the solemn promise which God had made to David and to his posterity. Compare Psalms 78:70-71. See also, on the use of the phrase “made a covenant,”... read more
Thy seed will I establish for ever - Thy children; thy posterity. The reference is to his successors on the throne. The promise was that there should not fail to be one on his throne; that is, that his dynasty should never become extinct. See 2 Samuel 7:16 : “And thy house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.” Compare also 1 Kings 2:4. The word rendered “establish” means properly to fit; then, to make firm; to put on a solid... read more
Psalms 89:3-5. I have made a covenant with my chosen With David, whom I have chosen to the kingdom. Thy seed will I establish for ever, &c. I will perpetuate the kingdom to thy posterity; which was promised upon condition, and was literally accomplished in Christ, who was of the seed of David. And the heavens shall praise thy wonders That is, the inhabitants of heaven, the holy angels, who clearly discern and constantly adore thy mercy and faithfulness; when men upon earth are... read more
Psalms 89:0 Remember the covenant with DavidApparently Israel had suffered some military setback that threatened its existence. This caused some people to think that God had forsaken his anointed king. The psalmist therefore recalls the covenant promise God made to David to preserve his dynasty for ever, and on the basis of this he claims God’s help (1-4; see 2 Samuel 7:8-16).Before speaking further of the covenant, the psalmist praises God for his majesty and greatness. None among the... read more
made = solemnized. covenant. See 2 Samuel 7:0 , where Jehovah, being the only party, the covenant is unconditional, and = a "promise" among "the sure mercies of David", &c. But it looks beyond David. sworn. See 2 Samuel 7:11 , &c.; the word is not used there, but the terms of the oath are given. Selah. Connecting the recital of Jehovah's covenant with the praise offered for it. See App-66 . read more
Psalms 89:3. I have made a covenant with my chosen— Mudge reads this and the following verse in a parenthesis, and supposes the sense of the 2nd to be continued to the 5th. Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the heavens, is explained by the 36th and 37th verses. Houbigant prefixes to the 3rd verse, For thou hast said. It is very evident, that these words can be understood of David but in a limited sense: they refer principally to the Messiah. read more
3, 4. The object of this faith expressed in God's words ( :-). with—or literally, "to" my chosen—as the covenant is in the form of a promise. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 89:2-4
The security of God's pledged word. "Thy seed will I establish forever." The keynote of the psalm is the "faithfulness" of God to his word. "God had entered into 'an everlasting covenant' with David, and had confirmed that covenant with an oath. In the most absolute and unconditional form, God had pledged himself to establish the kingdom of David and his seed forever, to beat down all their adversaries under their feet, and to maintain their throne as long as the sun and moon should... read more