Psalms 89:42

42 Thou hast exalted the right hand of his foes; thou hast made all his enemies rejoice.

Psalms 89:42 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 89:42

Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries
Suffered them to become powerful, and to prevail against him; as the wicked Jews, and Satan, and his principalities and powers, at the time of Christ's apprehension, crucifixion, and death; for then were their hour, and the power of darkness, ( Luke 22:53 ) , death also had dominion over him, and held him under the power of it for awhile: the enemies of his interest, Rome Pagan, and Rome Papal, have, in their turns, had their right hands set up, and have had power, and prevailed over it; and the latter will again, at the slaying of the witnesses: all which, though it seems contrary to ( Psalms 89:21-25 Psalms 89:27 ) , yet is not; for Satan, though he bruised Christ's heel, yet Christ bruised his head, destroyed his works, and him himself, and that by dying; and spoiled his principalities and powers; and death could not hold him long, nor has it now any dominion over him, and is abolished by him; and antichrist, and all the antichristian powers, will be destroyed by him ere long:

thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice;
as they did when they had got him on the cross; and especially when he was laid in the grave, ( Psalms 22:7 Psalms 22:8 ) ( 41:8 ) , and as the antichristian party will when his witnesses are slain, ( Revelation 11:10 ) , but as the joy of the former was short lived, and was soon turned into sorrow, so will be that of the latter.

Psalms 89:42 In-Context

40 Thou hast breached all his walls; thou hast laid his strongholds in ruins.
41 All that pass by despoil him; he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42 Thou hast exalted the right hand of his foes; thou hast made all his enemies rejoice.
43 Yea, thou hast turned back the edge of his sword, and thou hast not made him stand in battle.
44 Thou hast removed the scepter from his hand, and cast his throne to the ground.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.