Psalms 89:42

42 Thou hast enhanced the right hand of men oppressing him; thou hast gladdened all his enemies.

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 destroyedest all the hedges thereof; thou hast set the steadfastness thereof (into) dread (thou hast brought his strongholds, or his fortresses, into ruin).
41 All men passing by the way ravished him; he is made (a) shame to his neighbours. (All who pass by him, on the way, rob him; he is shamed by his neighbours.)
42 Thou hast enhanced the right hand of men oppressing him; thou hast gladdened all his enemies.
43 Thou hast turned away the help of his sword; and thou helpedest not him in battle. (Thou hast turned away the help from his sword; and thou hast not helped him in the battle.)
44 Thou destroyedest him from cleansing; and thou hast hurled down his seat in earth. (Thou hast destroyed his purity; and thou hast thrown down his throne to the ground.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.