Psalms 89:8

8 Lord God of virtues, who is like thee? Lord, thou art mighty, and thy truth is in thy compass. (Lord God of hosts, who is like thee? Lord, thou art mighty, and thy faithfulness surroundeth thee.)

Psalms 89:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 89:8

O Lord God of hosts
Of all the hosts of heaven, the sun, moon, and stars, and of all the heavenly hosts of angels, of all the armies in heaven, and the inhabitants of the earth:

who is a strong Lord like unto thee?
he is Jah, or Jehovah, and he alone is so, and is the most High in all the earth, ( Psalms 83:18 ) and there is none like him for his great power and strength, by which he has made the heavens and the earth, and upholds them in their being; and by which he has redeemed his people, plucked them out of the hands of sin and Satan, and preserves them safe to his kingdom and glory: see ( Job 40:9 ) ( Isaiah 40:15 Isaiah 40:17 Isaiah 40:18 ) ,

or to thy faithfulness round about thee;
none so faithful as the Lord, none to be trusted as he, either angels or men; some understand it of the faithful ones that are about him, his trusty servants the angels, who stand round about him ready to do his will; or the glorified saints that are with him, the called, chosen, and faithful; see ( Psalms 103:19 Psalms 103:20 ) ( Revelation 17:14 ) or rather the words are to be read, "and thy faithfulness is round about thee"; and so the Targum,

``and thy truth (or faithfulness) surroundeth thee:''

look all around him, and his faithfulness is everywhere to be seen; to himself, and the perfections of his nature; to his Son, and agreements with him; and to his counsels of old, his purposes and decrees, and to his covenant and promises: he is as it were clothed with faithfulness, and it appears in all the dispensations of his providence and grace.

Psalms 89:8 In-Context

6 For who in the clouds shall be made even to the Lord; shall be like God among the sons of God? (For who in heaven shall be made equal to the Lord? who shall be like God among the heavenly beings?/who shall be like God in the council of heaven?)
7 God, that is glorified in the council of saints; is great, and dreadful over all that be in his compass. (God, thou art feared/thou art revered, in the council of the saints; thou art great, and glorified above all who surround thee.)
8 Lord God of virtues, who is like thee? Lord, thou art mighty, and thy truth is in thy compass. (Lord God of hosts, who is like thee? Lord, thou art mighty, and thy faithfulness surroundeth thee.)
9 Thou art Lord of the power of the sea; forsooth thou assuagest the stirring of the waves thereof.
10 Thou madest low the proud, as (those who be) wounded (and slain); in the arm of thy strength thou hast scattered thine enemies. (Thou hast crushed Rahab to death; thou hast scattered thy enemies with thy strong arm, or with thy power.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.