Psalms 89:40

40 Thou hast breached all his walls; thou hast laid his strongholds in ruins.

Psalms 89:40 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 89:40

Thou hast broken down all his hedges
Round about his vine, the church; see ( Psalms 80:12 ) . A famous church was raised at Jerusalem, quickly after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, which seemed to be well filled, fenced, and protected; but on a sudden a violent persecution arose, and the members of it were made havoc of, and the ministers of the word were scattered abroad, and which was the breaking down of the hedges; and what was done to the church was taken by Christ as done to himself, as it is here spoken of him; see ( Acts 8:1-4 ) ( 9:5 ) , and this might seem contrary to the word and oath of God, that his seed should endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven, ( Psalms 89:29 Psalms 89:36 ) , when the first Christian church was used in this manner; but that providence was overruled, for the spread of the Gospel, and the interest of Christ, in other parts; see ( Acts 8:4 ) ( 11:19-21 ) , and so no objection to what is before said:

thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin;
the same as before, the church of Christ, which seemed to be so well built and fortified; see ( Isaiah 26:1 ) .

Psalms 89:40 In-Context

38 But now thou hast cast off and rejected, thou art full of wrath against thy anointed.
39 Thou hast renounced the covenant with thy servant; thou hast defiled his crown in the dust.
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.
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.