THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

LXXXIX: God's Instruction On Applying The Davidic Covenant

A. Appreciating God's Character In Promising The Davidic Covenant

(Psalm 89:1-18)

I. Introduction

A. As we before learned in in Revelation, God promises His messengers who obey His Word today at Revelation 3:21 to give them great influence akin to Christ's Messianic reign on David's throne (2 Samuel 7:14-16.

B. For our benefit, wise man Ethan the Ezrahite (Psalm 89 intro. notes with 1 Kings 4:31), wrote this maskil, an instruction on applying the Davidic Covenant, so it has true application in principle to our era of the Church.

C. We view the first section of this psalm in Psalm 89:1-18 for our instruction and edification (as follows):

II. Appreciating God's Character In Promising The Davidic Covenant, Psalm 89:1-18.

A. The introductory remarks of this psalm comprise the first verse of the Hebrew text (Kittel, Biblia Hebraica, p. 1053), so we stay with the numbering system of the psalm in the English Bible for clarity with this lesson.

B. We thus translate Psalm 89:1-18 as follows:

1. "I will sing of Jahweh's endless ('olam, Ibid.; Robert B. Girdlestone, Syns. of the O. T., 1973, p. 316-317) loyal love; with my mouth will I make Your faithfulness known through all generations," Psalm 89:1.

2. "For I will declare that endless ('olam, cf. v. 1) is (Your) loyal love; You established Your faithfulness in heaven itself," Psalm 89:2.

3. "(You said), 'I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant," Psa. 89:3.

4. "'I will establish your line unto endlessness [eternally] ('al-'olam, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., Girdlestone) and make your throne firm through all generations.' Selah," Psalm 89:4.

5. "The heavens praise your wonders, Jahweh, yea, Your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones," v. 5.

6. "For who in the skies above can compare to Jahweh? Who is like Jahweh among the heavenly ones?" v. 6.

7. "In the council of the saints Elohim is greatly revered; He is more awesome than all who encircle Him," 7.

8. "O Jahweh Elohim Almighty, who is like You? You are mighty, O Jahweh, and Your faithfulness surrounds You," Psalm 89:8.

9. "You (em. pr.) rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, You (em. pron.) still them," v. 9.

10. "You crushed Rahab (the mythical sea monster in pagan creation accounts who opposed creation) like one of the slain; with Your strong arm You scattered Your enemies," Psalm 89:10.

11. "To You are the heavens, yea, to You belongs the earth; You (em. pr.) founded the world and all in it," 11.

12. "You (em. pr.) created the north and south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at Your Name," Psa. 89:12.

13. "Your arm is endued with power; Your hand is strong, Your right hand exalted," Psalm 89:13.

14. "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loyal love and faithfulness proceed before Your face (in procession)," Psalm 89:14.

15. "Blessed are they who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, Jahweh," 15.

16. "They rejoice in Your Name all day long; they exult in Your righteousness," Psalm 89:16.

17. "Because You (em. pr.) are their glory and strength, and by Your favor You exalt our horn," Psalm 89:17.

18. "Because to Jahweh belongs our personal hand-held shield, and our king to the Holy One of Israel," v. 18.

C. We note significant observations and applications regarding this psalm (as follows):

1. This first section of Psalm 89 teaches God's people to appreciate the permanent stability of God's promise to bless His human leader (v. 1-4), the omnipotence of God backing up that promise (v. 5-13) coupled with God's righteousness (v. 14) that richly bless the people and leader who exalt and heed the Lord, v. 15-16.

2. Applied to us through Revelation 3:21 (see I,A above), God wants us at our Church today to appreciate the permanent stability in our body that He promises to His human church leaders who heed Him based on God's omnipotence and righteousness, and realize that He will richly bless us all if we exalt and obey Him!

Lesson: Against all odds to the contrary, may all we believers realize that our local church's stability is based on God's Bible promise to bless us IF we heed Him (Rev. 3:21 with Ps. 89:1-18), for God is all-powerful and righteous richly to bless both the church leadership and the congregation IF they together exalt and heed the Lord!

Application: May both we church leaders and the congregation exalt and obey the Lord to enjoy blessed stability in our church and see God apply His omnipotence and righteousness richly to bless us in our era of Church History!