Psalms 89:35 - Exposition

Ones have I sworn by my holiness; rather, one thing have I sworn. (On God's oath to David, see Psalms 89:3 , Psalms 89:49 , and Psalms 132:11 .) The present passage shows that it was sworn "by his holiness"— i.e. by his absolute moral perfection. That I will not lie unto David ; i.e. that I will keep all my promises to him. God, no doubt, always and in every case "keepeth his promise forever" ( Psalms 146:6 ); but in his mercy and loving kindness he condescended to give David a special guarantee of his faithfulness in respect of the promises made to him.