Jesus Christ, the Son of David, and Faithful Covenant Keeper
Yahweh, the God of Israel, made a covenant with David, the son of Jesse of Bethlehem, of the tribe of Judah. David was chosen by Yahweh to be King of Israel. He reigned forty years (1011–971 B.C.). In promising certain things to David, Yahweh made a covenant, which included the promise that David’s seed would sit on the throne, forever (2 Sam 7:13, 16; Ps 89:3–4).
The psalmist, Ethan, the Ezrahite (1 Kgs 4:31; Ps 89:1), presented an argument directly to Yahweh after 931 B.C. There was great trouble in Israel following the death of Solomon, David’s son from Bathsheba, who reigned as Israel’s king from 971 to 931 B.C. Solomon built the temple that stood from 966 B.C. to 586 B.C. This first temple in Israel was symbolic of the prosperity and security Israel enjoyed during his reign.
Following Solomon, the divided kingdom had 10 tribes in the north who took the name “Israel”. The two tribes in the south were Judah and Benjamin. The divided kingdom extended from 931 B.C. to 722 B.C. in the north and until 586 B.C. in the south. The Assyrians defeated Israel in 722 B.C. Babylon defeated Judah (Babylonian exile) in 586 B.C.
Psalm 89 is rich with theology. It is also royal and messianic because the one who fulfills the terms of the covenant is king from the family line of David. When trouble ensues, Israel’s only hope is the faithfulness of Yahweh to keep the covenant that Israel has broken.
Yahweh had warned Israel that their unfaithfulness, as covenant partners, would have negative consequences (Ps 89:30–37). Ethan wrote the words previously spoken by Yahweh, thus demonstrating that Yahweh keeps His Word, even as He does all His holy will. The point is that Israel has no excuse for the trouble that surrounded them. God was faithful to do what He said He would do. Israel was unfaithful to do what they said they would do.
Yahweh is praised by Ethan and is portrayed as perfectly right and just (89:14). The sense of abandonment Israel was experiencing was temporary, however. No matter how bad it got for Judah and Israel, Yahweh would surely do exactly what He had promised to do in His unconditional covenant with David, to install one of the Bethlehemite’s sons on the “forever” throne.
In the valley of the shadow of death for God’s chosen people, it was the covenant promises, the Word of God that could be and should be trusted. God’s ways are higher than man’s ways; hence, His Word never fails to accomplish what God has eternally decreed…like the eternal covenant within the Trinity.
God the Father and the Son, in their eternal counsel with the Spirit, established a definite plan for everything in creation. The covenant is the framework constructed to protect the words of promise. The eternal Word established that God’s good pleasure was to choose a people for eternal communion with Him. This group eventually received the name “Israel” — a people derived from every nation, tribe, and tongue (people group).
Yahweh, in His gracious choice of these people, wrote their names in the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8; 17:8; 21:27). The Father gave these people from every generation and every place to God the Son before creation (Jn 17:2, 6, 24; 2 Tim 1:9). It was the mission of the eternal Son to come into the world (Jn 3:16), being enfleshed (Jn 1:14), having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Is 7:14; Mt 1:23), to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). Both Mary and Joseph’s family lines ran back to King David (Mt 1; Lk 3). Therefore, our focus turns to Jesus of Nazareth: for He is the eternal covenant partner with God the Father, who is anointed both King and Priest according to Psalm 110.
In Psalm 89, creation bows to Yahweh. Humanity submits to the anointed King, who conquers everyone and everything (89:19–29). In this, Yahweh has given Israel the King of glory (Ps 24), who is the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim 6:15).
The King of heaven came the first time to bring peace to His people on earth, to reconcile them to Yahweh (Col 1:20). As the Word of God enfleshed, Jesus Christ clarified that the Scriptures (Old Testament) were about Him, His Person and work (Jn 5:39, 46). Jesus came to secure the covenant of grace on behalf of God’s chosen ones, who He would redeem by the shedding of His blood on the cross (Eph 1:7), as the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29), who received the imputed sins of His people from all of the world and from every point in time (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24).
All the promises of God are “yes” and “amen” in Christ (2 Cor 1:20), the Word of God, the faithful covenant keeper, who suffered immensely as the true Israel of God (Ps 89:38–45; Is 49:1–6). Following His work as Yahweh’s suffering Servant (Is 53), Jesus was raised from the dead in fulfillment of the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:4). He became a reproach for us (Ps 89:50–51) and we rejoice in His victory over all His and our enemies (2 Cor 2:14; 1 Jn 5:4).
Just as the psalmist, Ethan, lamented having to wait for God to fulfill His covenant Word of promise. We, too, wait for the promise of His return to judge the world in righteousness (Ps 89:9; Acts 17:31). We pray in the Spirit for the warrior King and Judge to end the reproach of the body of Christ. Our divided churches long for the day of unity (Jn 17). The world mocks, scorns, plunders, and persecutes the bride of Christ, His beloved. Like Ethan, we stay focused on Jesus (Heb 12:2).
At His second coming, our Lord will save His people, called by His name. He will deliver us from the wrath of God to come upon the world and the enemies of God (2 Pet 3:10–13), who will discover Him as a consuming fire, executing vengeance with perfect justice (Dt 32:25; Rom 12:19; 1 Thess 1:10; Heb 10:30; 12:29).
Christian, rejoice as you read, study, and meditate on Psalm 89; for it is a psalm of Christ, the Son of David, who has faithfully kept the covenant and sent His Spirit (Jn 14:26; 15:26), to apply the benefits to us who wait and pray, “Come, Lord Jesus…come!”
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
September 26, 2024
Psalm 89
