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Psalms 89:38-45

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

38. But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. 39. Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown [by casting it] to the ground. 40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin. 41. All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours. 42. Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. 43. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle. 44. Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground. 45. The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

Psalms 89:38-45 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 89:38

Theological / Devotional

But. At this point in the psalm there is an abrupt change from praise and rejoicing to complaint and mourning. Despite the surety of God’s promises and the pledge of His faithfulness, it seems that the covenant has been broken and that not good, but only evil, has come upon Israel and the Lord’s anointed. How is this? the psalmist inquiries. What will be the outcome? Is God’s faithfulness failing? Verses 38–45 are a series of expostulations (see on Ps. 44:9–22). The psalmist sets forth the apparent facts, but through faith triumphs over appearances.

Thou. The pronoun in the Hebrew is emphatic, as if the psalmist were saying, Thou, the God who hast pledged faithfulness in the covenant relationship, art the same God who has falsified His promise and rejected His anointed.

By SdaBc