Wisdom Books Psalms

God's Promises

Discover Jesus as: King of Glory Psalms 89 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 435 of 730
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Teaching Notes

INTRO

MacArthur explains Psalm 89 is “the author’s attempt to reconcile the seeming contradictions between his theology and the reality of his nation’s conditions. Through the initial 37 verses, he rehearses what he knows to be theologically accurate: God has sovereignly chosen Israel to be His nation, and David’s descendants to rule. The last third of the psalm reflects the psalmist’s chagrin that the nation had been ravaged and the Davidic monarchy had apparently come to a disgraceful end”1 (Genesis 12:1–3). The psalmist Ethan knew the Lord had a promise for the Jewish people, but at the same time the nation of Israel had been destroyed.

I believe there are many who are struggling with hearing God’s promise in their lives but not seeing the fruition of that promise. If that is you I encourage you to hold fast. Keep your hand to the plow, and don’t give up. That will help you get through tough times.

TEACHING

Psalm 89:1-2: The first part of this psalm praises God for His love and faithfulness. MacArthur wrote, “The psalmist exults that the Lord Himself will guarantee the eternality of the Davidic dynasty.”2 In other words, God is not done. God is faithful.

Psalm 89:3: We ultimately know God will keep His promises. The King of Glory is still going to come back (2 Samuel 7:10–13). When we go through tough times, we can hold onto His promise. I can’t say this enough! What I see today in the American church is that people are quitting before they should. When thing get difficult or results aren’t what was expected, people walk away.

Psalm 89:4: Without verses 1–4, the rest of the chapter gets really difficult to read. Later the psalmist lamented the hardship the Israelites were experiencing. Psalm 89:29–36 has the same language. Wiersbe states, “God is faithful in His character— praise Him.”3

Psalm 89:5–18: The heavens, the earth, and the people of Israel praised God (Numbers 10:35; Psalm 87:4). The Israelites praised God because they knew His promises.

Psalm 89:19: The psalmist described God’s covenant with David. Then he recounted the times God spoke to His “loyal ones” or prophets (1 Samuel 13:13–15; 2 Samuel 7:4).

Psalm 89:20–23: These verses are similar to Psalm 91.

Psalm 89:24–25: The psalmist described the land the Lord promised to the Israelites.

Psalm 89:26–27: The Lord promised to make David his firstborn and greatest of the kings on earth. I want to discuss the idea of the firstborn and how it relates to Christ. David was the greatest of the kings of earth then, he was the “king of kings.” MacArthur wrote, “The first-born child was given a place of special honor and a double portion of inheritance (Genesis 27; 2 Kings 2:9). However, in a royal grant covenant, a chosen person could be elevated to the level of firstborn sonship and, thus, have title to a perpetual gift involving dynastic succession (Psalm 2:7). Though not actually the first, Israel was considered the firstborn among nations (Exodus 4:22); Ephraim, the younger, was treated as firstborn (Genesis 48:13–20); and David was the firstborn among kings. Christ can be called the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15), in that He is given the preeminence over all created beings”4 (Romans 8:29; Revelation 1:5).

Psalm 89:28–37: God will discipline disobedience, but God will not withdraw his love. MacArthur wrote, “God’s covenant with David regarding his descendants was as certain as establishment of the sun and the moon in the heavens.”5

John MacArthur, John MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 655.

Psalm 89:38-52: The psalmist seems to have asked, “How long will You hold Your anger against us? Have You created everyone for nothing? Where is the former act of Your daily love?” Just because you can’t see God doesn’t mean God has forgotten His promises. This had not been a fun time for the Israelites. After the psalmist finished venting, he went back to praising the Lord.

CLOSING

Isn’t this us? Isn’t this our lives? We can praise, lament, and vent, but we choose to praise Him because we know He keeps His promises. My hope and prayers are that despite your hard times in life, you can hold onto the promises of God. I encourage us to continue to praise him especially when you feel as though you can’t see or hear Him.

  1. MacArthur, p. 656.

  2. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2004), p. 251.

  3. MacArthur, p. 656.

  4. MacArthur, p. 657.

Questions

  1. How could the psalmist make God’s faithfulness known to all generations (Psalm 89:1)? How can you communicate God’s faithfulness to those around you?
  2. Psalm 89:11 declares, “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all it contains, You have founded them.” To whom did God give dominion to (Genesis 1:29)? Who is ruling over the works of His hands now (1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22)? How would you explain that everything is in subjection to Him at the present? (Colossians 1:15–20)
  3. How would you explain Psalm 89:14 to someone who doesn’t understand the kingdom or character of God?
  4. There is a shift in Psalm 89:38. Do you see any contradictions with the first 37 verses? If so, how would you explain this?
  5. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Psalm 89 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Psalm 89:38–39

“But You have spurned and rejected him; You have become enraged with Your anointed. You have repudiated the covenant with Your servant; You have completely dishonored his crown.”

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Psalm 37:3–4 — “Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.”
  • Psalm 89:20–21 — “I have found David My servant; I have anointed him with My sacred oil. My hand will always be with him, and My arm will strengthen him.”
  • Proverbs 4:25 — “Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.”