Salmos 89

Masquil de Etán el ezraíta.

1 Oh SEÑOR, por siempre cantaréla grandeza de tu amor;por todas las generacionesproclamará mi boca tu fidelidad.

2 Declararé que tu amor permanece firme para siempre,que has afirmado en el cielo tu fidelidad.

3 Dijiste: «He hecho un pacto con mi escogido;le he jurado a David mi siervo:

4 “Estableceré tu dinastía para siempre,y afirmaré tu trono por todas las generaciones”». Selah

5 Los cielos, SEÑOR, celebran tus maravillas,y tu fidelidad la asamblea de los santos.

6 ¿Quién en los cielos es comparable al SEÑOR?¿Quién como él entre los seres celestiales?

7 Dios es muy temido en la asamblea de los santos;grande y portentoso sobre cuantos lo rodean.

8 ¿Quién como tú, SEÑOR, Dios Todopoderoso,rodeado de poder y de fidelidad?

9 Tú gobiernas sobre el mar embravecido;tú apaciguas sus encrespadas olas.

10 Aplastaste a Rahab como a un cadáver;con tu brazo poderoso dispersaste a tus enemigos.

11 Tuyo es el cielo, y tuya la tierra;tú fundaste el mundo y todo lo que contiene.

12 Por ti fueron creados el norte y el sur;el Tabor y el Hermón cantan alegres a tu nombre.

13 Tu brazo es capaz de grandes proezas;fuerte es tu mano, exaltada tu diestra.

14 La justicia y el derecho son el fundamento de tu trono,y tus heraldos, el amor y la verdad.

15 Dichosos los que saben aclamarte, SEÑOR,y caminan a la luz de tu presencia;

16 los que todo el día se alegran en tu nombrey se regocijan en tu justicia.

17 Porque tú eres su gloria y su poder;por tu buena voluntad aumentas nuestra fuerza.^[a]

18 Tú, SEÑOR, eres nuestro escudo;tú, Santo de Israel, eres nuestro rey.

19 Una vez hablaste en una visión,y le dijiste a tu pueblo fiel:«Le he brindado mi ayuda a un valiente;al mejor hombre del pueblo lo he exaltado.

20 He encontrado a David, mi siervo,y lo he ungido con mi aceite santo.

21 Mi mano siempre lo sostendrá;mi brazo lo fortalecerá.

22 Ningún enemigo lo someterá a tributo;ningún inicuo lo oprimirá.

23 Aplastaré a quienes se le enfrenteny derribaré a quienes lo aborrezcan.

24 La fidelidad de mi amor lo acompañará,y por mi nombre será exaltada su fuerza.^[b]

25 Le daré poder sobre el mar^[c]y dominio sobre los ríos.^[d]

26 Él me dirá: “Tú eres mi Padre,mi Dios, la roca de mi salvación”.

27 Yo le daré los derechos de primogenitura,la primacía sobre los reyes de la tierra.

28 Mi amor por él será siempre constante,y mi pacto con él se mantendrá fiel.

29 Afirmaré su dinastía y su tronopara siempre, mientras el cielo exista.

30 »Pero si sus hijos se apartan de mi leyy no viven según mis decretos,

31 si violan mis estatutosy no observan mis mandamientos,

32 con vara castigaré sus transgresionesy con azotes su iniquidad.

33 Con todo, jamás le negaré mi amor,ni mi fidelidad le faltará.

34 No violaré mi pactoni me retractaré de mis palabras.

35 Una sola vez he jurado por mi santidad,y no voy a mentirle a David:

36 Su descendencia vivirá por siempre;su trono durará como el sol en mi presencia.

37 Como la luna, fiel testigo en el cielo,será establecido para siempre». Selah

38 Pero tú has desechado, has rechazado a tu ungido;te has enfurecido contra él en gran manera.

39 Has revocado el pacto con tu siervo;has arrastrado por los suelos su corona.

40 Has derribado todas sus murallasy dejado en ruinas sus fortalezas.

41 Todos los que pasan lo saquean;¡es motivo de burla para sus vecinos!

42 Has exaltado el poder de sus adversariosy llenado de gozo a sus enemigos.

43 Le has quitado el filo a su espada,y no lo has apoyado en la batalla.

44 Has puesto fin a su esplendoral derribar por tierra su trono.

45 Has acortado los días de su juventud;lo has cubierto con un manto de vergüenza. Selah

46 ¿Hasta cuándo, SEÑOR, te seguirás escondiendo?¿Va a arder tu ira para siempre, como el fuego?

47 ¡Recuerda cuán efímera es mi vida!^[e]Al fin y al cabo, ¿para qué creaste a los mortales?

48 ¿Quién hay que viva y no muera jamás,o que pueda escapar del poder del sepulcro? Selah

49 ¿Dónde está, Señor, tu amor de antaño,que en tu fidelidad juraste a David?

50 Recuerda, Señor, que se burlan de tus siervos;que llevo en mi pecho los insultos de muchos pueblos.

51 Tus enemigos, SEÑOR, nos ultrajan;a cada paso ofenden a tu ungido.

52 ¡Bendito sea el SEÑOR por siempre!Amén y amén.

Salmos 89 Commentary

Chapter 89

God's mercy and truth, and his covenant. (1-4) The glory and perfection of God. (5-14) The happiness of those in communion with him. (15-18) God's covenant with David, as a type of Christ. (19-37) A calamitous state lamented, Prayer for redress. (38-52)

Verses 1-4 Though our expectations may be disappointed, yet God's promises are established in the heavens, in his eternal counsels; they are out of the reach of opposers in hell and earth. And faith in the boundless mercy and everlasting truth of God, may bring comfort even in the deepest trials.

Verses 5-14 The more God's works are known, the more they are admired. And to praise the Lord, is to acknowledge him to be such a one that there is none like him. Surely then we should feel and express reverence when we worship God. But how little of this appears in our congregations, and how much cause have we to humble ourselves on this account! That almighty power which smote Egypt, will scatter the enemies of the church, while all who trust in God's mercy will rejoice in his name; for mercy and truth direct all he does. His counsels from eternity, and their consequences to eternity, are all justice and judgment.

Verses 15-18 Happy are those who so know the joyful sound of the gospel as to obey it; who experience its power upon their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives. Though believers are nothing in themselves, yet having all in Christ Jesus, they may rejoice in his name. May the Lord enable us to do so. The joy of the Lord is the strength of his people; whereas unbelief dispirits ourselves and discourages others. Though it steals upon us under a semblance of humility, yet it is the very essence of pride. Christ is the Holy One of Israel; and in him was that peculiar people more blessed than in any other blessing.

Verses 19-37 The Lord anointed David with the holy oil, not only as an emblem of the graces and gifts he received, but as a type of Christ, the King Priest, and Prophet, anointed with the Holy Ghost without measure. David after his anointing, was persecuted, but none could gain advantage against him. Yet all this was a faint shadow of the Redeemer's sufferings, deliverance, glory, and authority, in whom alone these predictions and promises are fully brought to pass. He is the mighty God. This is the Redeemer appointed for us, who alone is able to complete the work of our salvation. Let us seek an interest in these blessings, by the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. As the Lord corrected the posterity of David for their transgressions, so his people shall be corrected for their sins. Yet it is but a rod, not a sword; it is to correct, not to destroy. It is a rod in the hand of God, who is wise, and knows what he does; gracious, and will do what is best. It is a rod which they shall never feel, but when there is need. As the sun and moon remain in heaven, whatever changes there seem to be in them, and again appear in due season; so the covenant of grace made in Christ, whatever alteration seems to come to it, should not be questioned.

Verses 38-52 Sometimes it is not easy to reconcile God's providences with his promises, yet we are sure that God's works fulfil his word. When the great Anointed One, Christ himself, was upon the cross, God seemed to have cast him off, yet did not make void his covenant, for that was established for ever. The honour of the house of David was lost. Thrones and crowns are often laid in the dust; but there is a crown of glory reserved for Christ's spiritual seed, which fadeth not away. From all this complaint learn what work sin makes with families, noble families, with families in which religion has appeared. They plead with God for mercy. God's unchangeableness and faithfulness assure us that He will not cast off those whom he has chosen and covenanted with. They were reproached for serving him. The scoffers of the latter days, in like manner, reproach the footsteps of the Messiah when ( 2 Peter. 3:3 2 Peter. 3:4 ) records of the Lord's dealings with the family of David, show us his dealings with his church, and with believers. Their afflictions and distresses may be grievous, but he will not finally cast them off. Self-deceivers abuse this doctrine, and others by a careless walk bring themselves into darkness and distress; yet let the true believer rely on it for encouragement in the path of duty, and in bearing the cross. The psalm ends with praise, even after this sad complaint. Those who give God thanks for what he has done, may give him thanks for what he will do. God will follow those with his mercies, who follow him with praises.

Footnotes

• [a]. "aumentas nuestra fuerza" . Lit. "levantas nuestro cuerno" .
• [b]. "su fuerza" . Lit. "su cuerno" .
• [c]. "el mar" . Probable referencia al mar Mediterráneo.
• [d]. "los ríos" . Probable referencia a Mesopotamia.
• [e]. Véase 39:4.

Chapter Summary

Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. Who this Ethan was is not certain. Kimchi takes him to be the same with Ethan the wise man, a grandson of Judah, 1 Kings 4:31. But seeing he lived some hundreds of years before the times of David, it is not likely that he should be the writer of this psalm; for David is made mention of in it, which could not be, unless it can be thought to be by a spirit of prophecy; which indeed is the opinion of Doctor Lightfoot {k}, who takes this Ethan to be the penman of this psalm; and who "from the promise, Genesis 15:1 sings joyfully the deliverance (of Israel); that the raging of the Red sea should be ruled, Psalm 89:9, and Rahab, or Egypt, should be broken in pieces, Psalm 89:10, and that the people should hear the joyful sound of the law, Psalm 89:15, and as for the name of David in it, this, he says, might be done prophetically; as Samuel is thought to be named by Moses, Psalm 99:6, which psalm is held to be made by him; or else might be put into it, in later times, by some divine penman, endued with the same gift of prophecy, who might improve the ground work of this psalm laid by Ethan, and set it to an higher key; namely, that whereas he treated only of bodily deliverance from Egypt, it is wound up so high as to reach the spiritual delivery by Christ; and therefore David is often named, from whence he should come."

There was another Ethan, a singer, in David's time; and it is more probable that he is the person, who might live to the times of Rehoboam, and see the decline of David's family, and the revolt of the ten tribes from it; or perhaps it was one of this name who lived in the times of the Babylonish captivity, and saw the low estate that David's family were come into; to which agrees the latter part of this psalm; and, in order to comfort the people of God, he wrote this psalm, showing that the covenant and promises of God, made with David, nevertheless stood firm, and would be accomplished: the title of the Septuagint version calls him Etham the Israelite; and the Arabic version Nathan the Israelite: the Targum makes him to be Abraham, paraphrasing it "a good understanding, which was said by the hand of Abraham, that came from the east."

But whoever was the penman of this psalm, it is "maschil," an instructive psalm, a psalm causing to understand; it treats concerning the covenant of grace, and the promises of it; and concerning the mercy and faithfulness of God, in making and keeping the same; and concerning the Messiah and his seed, his church and people; and the stability and duration of all these: many passages in it are applied to the Messiah by Jewish writers, ancient and modern; and Psalm 89:20 is manifestly referred to in Acts 13:22.