Psalms 89:5

5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.

Psalms 89:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 89:5

And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord
Which, by a prosopopceia, may be understood of the heavens literally, in the same sense as other inanimate creatures praise the Lord, ( Psalms 148:3 Psalms 148:4 ) , or mystically of the church, consisting of heaven born souls, and whose doctrines and ordinances are from heaven; or of the apostles, as Jerom, who had their ministry, mission, commission, and gifts, from thence; or rather of the angels, the inhabitants of heaven, who praise the Lord for his wonderful works of nature, providence, and grace, ( Psalms 148:2 ) , particularly they admire and praise the wonderful work of redemption "that wonderful thing of thine" F13, as the word may be rendered, being in the singular number: the person of the Redeemer is wonderful, and that is his name; his incarnation is a most amazing thing, it is the great mystery of godliness; and the redemption wrought out by him is the wonder of men and angels: when he appeared in the world, the angels of God worshipped him; at his birth, they sung glory to God in the highest; and the mysteries of his grace are what they look into with wonder and praise, ( Hebrews 1:6 ) ( Luke 2:13 Luke 2:14 ) ( 1 Peter 1:12 ) ,

thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints;
i.e. is praised there; which Aben Ezra and Kimchi interpret of the angels also, who are called saints, ( Deuteronomy 33:2 ) , of which there is a congregation, even an innumerable company, ( Revelation 19:6 ) , these not only admire and praise the wonderful works of the Lord, but his perfections also; and particularly his faithfulness in the execution of promises and threatenings, ( Revelation 7:11 Revelation 7:12 ) ( 16:5 ) , but rather holy men are meant, such as are called to be saints, and are gathered together in a Gospel church state, designed by a congregation of them, among and by whom the truth and faithfulness of God, as well as his lovingkindness and mercy, are spoken of with the highest commendation, ( Psalms 40:9 Psalms 40:10 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F13 (Kalp) "mirabile tuum", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Gerjus; "mirabile apus tuum", Junius & Tremellius; "illud miraculum tuum", Michaelis.

Psalms 89:5 In-Context

3 You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
4 "I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.' " (Selah)
5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord,
7 a God feared in the council of the holy ones, great and awesome above all that are around him?
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.