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

C. Applying God's Corrective In The Davidic Covenant

(Psalm 89:38-52)

I. Introduction

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

B. For our benefit, the 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 Church era.

C. We view the third section of this psalm in Psalm 89:38-52 for our instruction and edification (as follows):

II. Applying God's Corrective In The Davidic Covenant, Psalm 89:38-52.

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 89:38-52 as follows: (38) "But You (em. pron.) have rejected and spurned and have been very angry with Your anointed one [Israel's king]." (39) "You have spurned the covenant with Your servant and have defiled his crown in the dust." (40) "You have broken through all his walls and reduced his strongholds to ruins." (41) "All who pass by have plundered him; he has become the scorn of his neighbors." (42) "You have exalted the right hand of his foes; You have made all of his enemies rejoice." (43) "Yea, You have turned back the edge of his sword and have not supported him in battle." (44) "You have put an end to his splendor and cast his throne to the ground." (45) "You have cut short the days of his youth; You have covered him with a mantle of shame. Selah." (46) "How long, O Jahweh? Will You constantly (netsach, Robert B. Girdlestone, Syns. of the O. T., 1973, p. 313) hide Yourself?" (47) "Remember me! Of what duration (am I), unto what futility have you created all the sons of Adam?" (48) "What mighty male warrior at the height of his powers (geber, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1055; B. D. B., A Heb. and Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 149-150) can (continue to) exist and not see death, or save himself from the grave? Selah." (49) "Where is Your former loyal love, O Adonai, which in Your faithfulness You swore to David?" (50) "Remember, O Adonai, how your servants have been mocked, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations," (51) "the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O Jahweh, with which they have mocked every step of Your anointed one." (52) "Praise be Jahweh endlessly! (le'olam, Ibid., Kittel) Amen and Amen!"

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

1. This third section of Psalm 89 presents a lament designed to teach (as a maskil by the wise man, Ethan the Ezrahite, cf. intro. notes with 1 Kings 4:31) future kings in the Davidic line who disobey God and suffer His punishment at the hands of other people (2 Samuel 7:14-15) their need as kings to repent for God to restore them to His blessing in their reigns, J. A. Alexander, The Psalms, 1975, p. 369.

2. Of note, all the troubles mentioned in this part of Psalm 89 are troubles a Davidic king would face from human foes God allows to afflict the king to punish him for disobeying God, what result in the king's loss of influence, honor and even longevity as the king languishes under fierce, relentless human opposition.

3. This is explained in the Davidic Covenant warning to the kings of David's line in 2 Samuel 7:14-15: if they failed to obey the Lord, God would punish them with "the rod of men," namely, by God's permissive use of human enemies of the king who would oppose him and make life difficult for him! These hardships would wear on the king's person to where, if not checked, would result in the king's early death! (v. 48)

4. Applied to us through Revelation 3:21 (see I, A above), when a pastor or a church leader appointed by God to lead in a Church role faces relentless trouble from other people, he must examine himself to see if he is disobeying Scripture and is thus being disciplined by God's use of other people to chasten him in accord with 2 Samuel 7:14-15! If so, he needs to confess his sin(s) and adjust in his ministry for blessing!

Lesson Application: (1) May we church leaders respond to excessive, unusual trials produced by foes around us by examining our lives to see if we are disobeying God in ministry so that He is using the rod of other difficult people to chasten us. (2) If we find we are in sin, may we confess it to God and adjust for blessing. (3) If we are clear of sin, may we view the trouble we face as "normal" persecution for righteousness (2 Timothy 3:12) and stay faithful to our callings. (4) If we in the congregation see one of our church leaders face excessive opposition from others, may we pray for the leader that he be sensitive to God's leading in case he needs to correct of some sin in his life.