Psalms 89:20

20 I found David, my servant; I anointed him with mine holy oil. (I found my servant David; and I anointed him with my holy oil.)

Psalms 89:20 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 89:20

I have found David my servant
Not David literally; but his Son and antitype, the Messiah, who is sometimes called by his name; (See Gill on Psalms 89:3), and his "finding" him does not suppose any ignorance of him, nor anxious solicitude in seeking him, nor any

fortuitous event; but is attributed to God by an anthropopathy, or speaking after the manner of men; for it is an act of the highest wisdom, and richest grace, to find out, that is, to pick and appoint, in council and covenant, his own Son to be his servant, to be the Redeemer and Saviour of sinners, and to be a ransom for them, ( Job 33:24 ) . The Apostle Paul seems to refer to this passage in ( Acts 13:22 )

with my holy oil have I anointed him:
not with material oil, as David, his type, ( 1 Samuel 16:13 ) ( 2 Samuel 2:4 ) ( 5:3 ) but with the Holy Ghost, which may well be called holy oil, in allusion to the holy anointing oil under the law; the oil of gladness with which Christ was anointed above his fellows, and without measure, at the time of his conception and birth, at his baptism and ascension to heaven, and even, in some sense, from all eternity; for so early is he said to be anointed, and to be possessed with all fulness of grace, being invested with and installed into his office as Mediator; and from this anointing he has the name of Messiah and Christ, both which signify anointed, ( Acts 10:38 ) ( Psalms 45:7 ) ( Proverbs 8:22 Proverbs 8:23 ) .

Psalms 89:20 In-Context

18 For our taking up is of the Lord; and of the holy of Israel our king. (For the Lord is our defender; yea, the Holy One of Israel is our King.)
19 Then thou spakest in revelation to thy saints, and saidest, I have set help in the mighty (man); and I have enhanced the chosen man of my people. (Then thou spokest in revelation to thy saints, and saidest, I have given help to the mighty man; yea, I have exalted, or lifted up, the chosen man of my people.)
20 I found David, my servant; I anointed him with mine holy oil. (I found my servant David; and I anointed him with my holy oil.)
21 For mine hand shall help him; and mine arm shall confirm him. (For my hand shall help him; and my arm, or my power, shall strengthen him.)
22 The enemy shall nothing profit in him (The enemy shall not gain any advantage over him); and the son of wickedness shall not lay to/shall not put to, for to harm him.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.