Psa 89:25 | KingComments | STEP | So far we have seen two things: firstly, that God, the Holy One of Israel, is King ( ), and secondly, that God made a covenant with David, His chosen one ( ). These two things are now further clarified. Ethan reminds God of what He said about the covenant with David. The first announcement of this He made “in vision” ( ). Nothing else is known about this vision. It may have to do with what Samuel says to Saul, that he will no longer be king and God has chosen David as a man after His heart ( ). Samuel may be saying this to Saul because God somehow made this clear to him, perhaps in a vision. Or that when David had to be anointed, God made it clear to Samuel in a vision that David was the one to anoint ( ). The psalmist speaks to God of David as “Your holy one” [Darby Translation], who is the “exalted one chosen from the people”. First the LORD called Himself “the Holy One of Israel” ( ), He Who sanctified Himself for the sake of Israel (cf. ). And now the LORD speaks through the psalmist of David as “Your holy one”, that is, He has set apart David, He has anointed him ( ), to be king (cf. ). God calls David “one who is mighty”. He is not mighty by himself, but because God “strengthened him” (cf. ). God has given him help to be mighty. David’s strength is his care for the sheep, which he protected from the lion and the bear. He himself says of this: “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear” ( ). This shepherd boy, who by God’s strength is mighty, is by God “one chosen from the people”. The election of David is entirely God’s business. David’s humble origins and simple profession make it all the more clear that God has exalted him and given him that high position ( ; ). God has chosen David. At the same time, God has searched for someone to serve Him as a servant ( ; ). He found that man in David, whom He calls “My servant”. David is not only a servant when he becomes king, but he is already a servant when he is feeding and tending sheep. In that work he has shown qualities that are of special value to God in ruling as His representative over His people. We hear the joy in the voice of God when He says: “With My holy oil I have anointed him.” Ethan called David “Your holy one” ( ) and God anointed David with “My holy oil”. He did so by the hand of Samuel ( ). Everything at the calling of David bears the mark of holiness. God finds great joy in David. David is called the anointed one and “My servant”. In both he is a type of Christ, the Anointed Who is pre-eminently called the Servant of the LORD. The Servant of the LORD ( ) is the Anointed of the LORD ( ). Of the Lord Jesus it is written that God anointed Him – He is the Christ, meaning the Anointed – with the oil of joy above His fellows ( ). Anointing is done in view of a service to be performed. Anointing is the initiation of someone into that ministry. The anointing speaks for us of the Holy Spirit, with Whom every believer is anointed ( ). By the Spirit we can be a joy to God’s heart. This is so, if we let ourselves be led by the Spirit. With the Lord Jesus this was always and perfectly the case on earth. That is why He has always been a joy to God’s heart. God promises that during his service to Him, He will establish David by His hand ( ). He guarantees the success of his service because He will protect and defend him. With His hand He is always with him. David will be able to perform his service because God’s arm “will strengthen him”. Here again God’s “hand” and God’s “arm” are mentioned (cf. ). God, Who is the Almighty God, empowers David. Thus all the attributes of God mentioned earlier in this psalm are now used in the service of David. God’s hand and arm are as firmly attached to him as his own hand and arm are to his body. Everything happens through Him. He works out His covenant and fulfills it. Consequently, failure is out of the question. David is the forerunner of Him Who is both the Son and Lord of David, the Christ of God, the Chosen One, the Servant of the LORD, Who had to go through suffering in order to be glorified afterwards ( ). Because the LORD is his shield, there is no hostile power that will be able to pressure David or overpower him ( ). In fact, going up against David is going up against the Almighty. And who will be able go up against the Almighty with any chance of success? The very assumption shows great folly. Also, there is no “son of wickedness” who will “afflict him”. God will see to it that David does not fall into his hands. The God Who crushed Rahab in the past ( ) will show His great power before the eyes of His chosen king by “crushing his adversaries before him” ( ). He need not fear any opponent, for God will take care of him. Even “those who hate him” God will “strike” with deadly plagues. No one will have a chance to do God’s anointed king any harm because God protects him with His power. The protection of God consists of His “faithfulness” and His “lovingkindness” ( ). These attributes of God, which we have considered at length at , are, so to speak, the protectors of His covenant. They will be with him, his chosen king. In His faithfulness He will keep David from harm and in His lovingkindness He will guide him. The horn, which symbolizes the power of the king, will be lifted up by David “in My name” (cf. ). His power lies in the Name of God, which is all that God is and has said. Everything in and about the king refers to God, the God Who rules over the swelling of the sea ( ). Therefore, a vast territory is subject to his rule. Because God rules his hand, he will “set his hand on the sea” and “his right hand on the rivers” ( ). This indicates his general rule, which will have its full fulfillment in the unlimited rule of the Messiah – that is, the Christ, Who is both Lord and Son of David. God proves His preference for David not only by giving him a large territory to rule over it. Above all, He brought David into a personal relationship with Himself ( ). The relationship between David and God is that of a son to his father (cf. ). This is true in a perfect sense of the Lord Jesus ( ). That David will cry out to God “You are my Father” means that he acknowledges God as the origin of his kingship. In this sense God is also the Father of His people, He is their origin ( ). David could not say “Abba, Father”, which the New Testament believer can say through the Holy Spirit dwelling in him ( ; ). The Holy Spirit works in David, but does not dwell in him. The Holy Spirit did work on the earth in the Old Testament, but did not yet dwell on it. He came to dwell on earth only after the Lord Jesus returned to God after His work on the cross ( ). David also calls God “my God, and the rock of my salvation”. In his personal relationship with God, “my God”, he knows Him as “the rock of my salvation”. David is secure in the cleft of the rock, the rock that is struck; the rock is Christ ( ). By this he expresses that his God is his only confidence and hope in all times. God is the unshakable rock that will bring him to the full salvation. God’s grace goes even further. David is made by God His “firstborn” ( ) and thus heir. David is not the firstborn son of Jesse. He is the youngest son. ‘Firstborn’ therefore does not indicate the order of birth, but a place of honor above others. God makes him “the highest of the kings of the earth”. Both names again apply especially to the Lord Jesus, the King of kings (cf. ; ; ). Nothing can put an end to God’s lovingkindness as a result of His faithfulness to His covenant for David ( ). He will “keep” His lovingkindness for him “forever”. God made His covenant with David not on the basis of the law, but on the basis of the blood of the new covenant shed by the Mediator. That new covenant “shall be confirmed to him”. Nothing can make Him unfaithful to that covenant. He will, without fail, fulfill everything He has committed Himself to in that covenant. God “will establish his descendants forever” ( ). Here we may think especially of the Lord Jesus, the Son of David. It is Him Whom God has in mind. The Messiah will sit on “his throne” in the realm of peace. His government will be “as the days of heaven”. In His government He will bring heaven to earth, making the days on earth like the days of heaven (cf. ; ).

‏ Psalms 89:25

The Covenant With David

So far we have seen two things: firstly, that God, the Holy One of Israel, is King (Psa 89:18), and secondly, that God made a covenant with David, His chosen one (Psa 89:3-4). These two things are now further clarified.

Ethan reminds God of what He said about the covenant with David. The first announcement of this He made “in vision” (Psa 89:19). Nothing else is known about this vision. It may have to do with what Samuel says to Saul, that he will no longer be king and God has chosen David as a man after His heart (1Sam 13:14). Samuel may be saying this to Saul because God somehow made this clear to him, perhaps in a vision. Or that when David had to be anointed, God made it clear to Samuel in a vision that David was the one to anoint (1Sam 16:6-13).

The psalmist speaks to God of David as “Your holy one” [Darby Translation], who is the “exalted one chosen from the people”. First the LORD called Himself “the Holy One of Israel” (Psa 89:18), He Who sanctified Himself for the sake of Israel (cf. Jn 17:19). And now the LORD speaks through the psalmist of David as “Your holy one”, that is, He has set apart David, He has anointed him (Psa 89:20), to be king (cf. Jn 17:17).

God calls David “one who is mighty”. He is not mighty by himself, but because God “strengthened him” (cf. Gen 49:24). God has given him help to be mighty. David’s strength is his care for the sheep, which he protected from the lion and the bear. He himself says of this: “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear” (1Sam 17:34-37).

This shepherd boy, who by God’s strength is mighty, is by God “one chosen from the people”. The election of David is entirely God’s business. David’s humble origins and simple profession make it all the more clear that God has exalted him and given him that high position (2Sam 7:8; Psa 78:70-72).

God has chosen David. At the same time, God has searched for someone to serve Him as a servant (Psa 89:20; Acts 13:22). He found that man in David, whom He calls “My servant”. David is not only a servant when he becomes king, but he is already a servant when he is feeding and tending sheep. In that work he has shown qualities that are of special value to God in ruling as His representative over His people.

We hear the joy in the voice of God when He says: “With My holy oil I have anointed him.” Ethan called David “Your holy one” (Psa 89:18) and God anointed David with “My holy oil”. He did so by the hand of Samuel (1Sam 16:13). Everything at the calling of David bears the mark of holiness.

God finds great joy in David. David is called the anointed one and “My servant”. In both he is a type of Christ, the Anointed Who is pre-eminently called the Servant of the LORD. The Servant of the LORD (Isa 52:13) is the Anointed of the LORD (Isa 61:1). Of the Lord Jesus it is written that God anointed Him – He is the Christ, meaning the Anointed – with the oil of joy above His fellows (Psa 45:6-7).

Anointing is done in view of a service to be performed. Anointing is the initiation of someone into that ministry. The anointing speaks for us of the Holy Spirit, with Whom every believer is anointed (1Jn 2:20). By the Spirit we can be a joy to God’s heart. This is so, if we let ourselves be led by the Spirit. With the Lord Jesus this was always and perfectly the case on earth. That is why He has always been a joy to God’s heart.

God promises that during his service to Him, He will establish David by His hand (Psa 89:21). He guarantees the success of his service because He will protect and defend him. With His hand He is always with him. David will be able to perform his service because God’s arm “will strengthen him”. Here again God’s “hand” and God’s “arm” are mentioned (cf. Psa 89:13).

God, Who is the Almighty God, empowers David. Thus all the attributes of God mentioned earlier in this psalm are now used in the service of David. God’s hand and arm are as firmly attached to him as his own hand and arm are to his body. Everything happens through Him. He works out His covenant and fulfills it. Consequently, failure is out of the question.

David is the forerunner of Him Who is both the Son and Lord of David, the Christ of God, the Chosen One, the Servant of the LORD, Who had to go through suffering in order to be glorified afterwards (Phil 2:5-11).

Because the LORD is his shield, there is no hostile power that will be able to pressure David or overpower him (Psa 89:22). In fact, going up against David is going up against the Almighty. And who will be able go up against the Almighty with any chance of success? The very assumption shows great folly. Also, there is no “son of wickedness” who will “afflict him”. God will see to it that David does not fall into his hands.

The God Who crushed Rahab in the past (Psa 89:10) will show His great power before the eyes of His chosen king by “crushing his adversaries before him” (Psa 89:23). He need not fear any opponent, for God will take care of him. Even “those who hate him” God will “strike” with deadly plagues. No one will have a chance to do God’s anointed king any harm because God protects him with His power.

The protection of God consists of His “faithfulness” and His “lovingkindness” (Psa 89:24). These attributes of God, which we have considered at length at Psa 89:14b, are, so to speak, the protectors of His covenant. They will be with him, his chosen king. In His faithfulness He will keep David from harm and in His lovingkindness He will guide him. The horn, which symbolizes the power of the king, will be lifted up by David “in My name” (cf. Psa 89:17). His power lies in the Name of God, which is all that God is and has said.

Everything in and about the king refers to God, the God Who rules over the swelling of the sea (Psa 89:9). Therefore, a vast territory is subject to his rule. Because God rules his hand, he will “set his hand on the sea” and “his right hand on the rivers” (Psa 89:25). This indicates his general rule, which will have its full fulfillment in the unlimited rule of the Messiah – that is, the Christ, Who is both Lord and Son of David.

God proves His preference for David not only by giving him a large territory to rule over it. Above all, He brought David into a personal relationship with Himself (Psa 89:26). The relationship between David and God is that of a son to his father (cf. 2Sam 7:14). This is true in a perfect sense of the Lord Jesus (Heb 1:5).

That David will cry out to God “You are my Father” means that he acknowledges God as the origin of his kingship. In this sense God is also the Father of His people, He is their origin (Deu 32:6b). David could not say “Abba, Father”, which the New Testament believer can say through the Holy Spirit dwelling in him (Rom 8:15-16; Gal 4:5-6). The Holy Spirit works in David, but does not dwell in him. The Holy Spirit did work on the earth in the Old Testament, but did not yet dwell on it. He came to dwell on earth only after the Lord Jesus returned to God after His work on the cross (Jn 7:37-39 ; Jn 14:16-17 ; Jn 15:26 ; Jn 16:13-14).

David also calls God “my God, and the rock of my salvation”. In his personal relationship with God, “my God”, he knows Him as “the rock of my salvation”. David is secure in the cleft of the rock, the rock that is struck; the rock is Christ (1Cor 10:4). By this he expresses that his God is his only confidence and hope in all times. God is the unshakable rock that will bring him to the full salvation.

God’s grace goes even further. David is made by God His “firstborn” (Psa 89:27) and thus heir. David is not the firstborn son of Jesse. He is the youngest son. ‘Firstborn’ therefore does not indicate the order of birth, but a place of honor above others. God makes him “the highest of the kings of the earth”. Both names again apply especially to the Lord Jesus, the King of kings (cf. Col 1:15 ; 18; Rom 8:29; Rev 1:5).

Nothing can put an end to God’s lovingkindness as a result of His faithfulness to His covenant for David (Psa 89:28). He will “keep” His lovingkindness for him “forever”. God made His covenant with David not on the basis of the law, but on the basis of the blood of the new covenant shed by the Mediator. That new covenant “shall be confirmed to him”. Nothing can make Him unfaithful to that covenant. He will, without fail, fulfill everything He has committed Himself to in that covenant.

God “will establish his descendants forever” (Psa 89:29). Here we may think especially of the Lord Jesus, the Son of David. It is Him Whom God has in mind. The Messiah will sit on “his throne” in the realm of peace. His government will be “as the days of heaven”. In His government He will bring heaven to earth, making the days on earth like the days of heaven (cf. Deu 11:21; Isa 66:22).