The faithful covenant with Messiah and His Seed

The doxology at the end of the psalm concludes the third book in the Psalter. This is a psalm that makes much of the Covenant of Grace. A covenant that was not just the possession of David, but made with the mystical David, the Messiah, who was to come. In (v. 19), there is emphasis upon the kingly role of Christ, the Servant whom God had chosen. The latter part of the psalm shows the decline of David’s house in power, yet the covenant with Christ would stand firm and sure. It is the “Firstborn” who would be higher than the kings of the earth, for He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
 
God’s covenant will never be broken, for it is established in Christ, and He is its surety, and His precious blood has sealed it. We can reiterate the psalmist’s words, “Blessed be the Lord for evermore, Amen, Amen.”
 

Psalm 89

   1  God's mercies I will ever sing;
         and with my mouth I shall
      Thy faithfulness make to be known
         to generations all.

   2  For mercy shall be built, said I,
         for ever to endure;
      Thy faithfulness, ev'n in the heav'ns,
         thou wilt establish sure.

   3  I with my chosen One have made
         a cov'nant graciously;
      And to my servant, whom I loved,
         to David sworn have I;

   4  That I thy seed establish shall
         for ever to remain,
      And will to generations all
         thy throne build and maintain.

   5  The praises of thy wonders, Lord,
         the heavens shall express;
      And in the congregation
         of saints thy faithfulness.

   6  For who in heaven with the Lord
         may once himself compare?
      Who is like God among the sons
         of those that mighty are?

   7  Great fear in meeting of the saints
         is due unto the Lord;
      And he of all about him should
         with rev'rence be adored.

   8  O thou that art the Lord of hosts,
         what Lord in mightiness
      Is like to thee? who compassed round
         art with thy faithfulness.

   9  Ev'n in the raging of the sea
         thou over it dost reign;
      And when the waves thereof do swell,
         thou stillest them again.

  10  Rahab in pieces thou didst break,
         like one that slaughtered is;
      And with thy mighty arm thou hast
         dispersed thine enemies.

  11  The heav'ns are thine, thou for thine own
         the earth dost also take;
      The world, and fulness of the same,
         thy pow'r did found and make.

  12  The north and south from thee alone
         their first beginning had;
      Both Tabor mount and Hermon hill
         shall in thy name be glad.

  13  Thou hast an arm that's full of pow'r,
         thy hand is great in might;
      And thy right hand exceedingly
         exalted is in height.

  14  Justice and judgment of thy throne
         are made the dwelling-place;
      Mercy, accompanied with truth,
         shall go before thy face.

  15  O greatly blessed the people are
         the joyful sound that know;
      In brightness of thy face, O Lord,
         they ever on shall go.

  16  They in thy name shall all the day
         rejoice exceedingly;
      And in thy righteousness shall they
         exalted be on high.

  17  Because the glory of their strength
         doth only stand in thee;
      And in thy favor shall our horn
         and pow'r exalted be.

  18  For God is our defense; and he
         to us doth safety bring:
      The Holy One of Israel
         is our almighty King.

  19  In vision to thy Holy One
         thou saidst, I help upon
      A strong one laid; out of the folk
         I raised a chosen one;

  20  Ev'n David, I have found him out
         a servant unto me;
      And with my holy oil my King
         anointed him to be.

  21  With whom my hand shall stablished be;
         mine arm shall make him strong.
  22  On him the foe shall not exact,
         nor son of mischief wrong.

  23  I will beat down before his face
         all his malicious foes;
      I will them greatly plague who do
         with hatred him oppose.

  24  My mercy and my faithfulness
         with him yet still shall be;
      And in my name his horn and pow'r
         men shall exalted see.

  25  His hand and pow'r shall reach afar;
         I'll set it in the sea;
      And his right hand established
         shall in the rivers be.

  26  Thou art my Father, he shall cry,
         thou art my God alone;
      And he shall say, Thou art the Rock
         of my salvation.

  27  I'll make him my first-born, more high
         than kings of any land.
  28  My love I'll ever keep for him,
         my cov'nant fast shall stand.

  29  His seed I by my pow'r will make
         for ever to endure;
      And, as the days of heav'n, his throne
         shall stable be, and sure.

  30  But if his children shall forsake
         my laws, and go astray,
      And in my judgments shall not walk,
         but wander from my way:

  31  If they my laws break, and do not
         keep my commandements;
  32  I'll visit then their faults with rods,
         their sins with chastisements.

  33  Yet I'll not take my love from him,
         nor false my promise make.
  34  My cov'nant I'll not break, nor change
         what with my mouth I spake.

  35  Once by my holiness I sware,
         to David I'll not lie;
  36  His seed and throne shall, as the sun,
         before me last for aye.

  37  It, like the moon, shall ever be
         established stedfastly;
      And like to that which in the heav'n
         doth witness faithfully.

  38  But thou, displeased, hast cast off,
         thou didst abhor and loathe;
      With him that thine anointed is
         thou hast been very wroth.

  39  Thou hast thy servant's covenant
         made void, and quite cast by;
      Thou hast profaned his crown, while it
         cast on the ground doth lie.

  40  Thou all his hedges hast broke down,
         his strong holds down hast torn.
  41  He to all passers-by a spoil,
         to neighbors is a scorn.

  42  Thou hast set up his foes' right hand;
         mad'st all his en'mies glad:
  43  Turned his sword's edge, and him to stand
         in battle hast not made.

  44  His glory thou hast made to cease,
         his throne to ground down cast;
  45  Shortened his days of youth, and him
         with shame thou covered hast.

  46  How long, Lord, wilt thou hide thyself?
         for ever, in thine ire?
      And shall thine indignation
         burn like unto a fire?

  47  Remember, Lord, how short a time
         I shall on earth remain:
      O wherefore is it so that thou
         has made all men in vain?

  48  What man is he that liveth here,
         and death shall never see?
      Or from the power of the grave
         what man his soul shall free?

  49  Thy former loving-kindnesses,
         O Lord, where be they now?
      Those which in truth and faithfulness
         to David sworn hast thou?

  50  Mind, Lord, thy servant's sad reproach;
         how I in bosom bear
      The scornings of the people all,
         who strong and mighty are.

  51  Wherewith thy raging enemies
         reproached, O Lord, think on;
    Wherewith they have reproached the steps
       of thine anointed one.

  52  All blessing to the Lord our God
         let be ascribed then:
      For evermore so let it be.
         Amen, yea, and amen.


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