Psa 89:49 | KingComments | STEP | The remnant again asks “how long” that situation is to last ( ; ). Now it is a question of desperation regarding the circumstances. They experience God hiding Himself from them. Will He do so “forever” (cf. )? At the same time, the question “how long” is also a question in which the hope that the suffering will come to an end is resounding. But for how long will God’s “wrath burn like fire?” The question is how long God’s faithfulness to His covenant, how long His lovingkindness, remains invisible. The psalmist puts his trust in the LORD, but the need is great. If the time is not shortened, none of the remnant will remain alive (cf. ). What then about the LORD’s lovingkindness and faithfulness? The first reason for the questions is the high need ( ). The second reason is that lovingkindness and faithfulness of the LORD are at stake ( ), the covenant that He has spoken on oath. Finally, the third reason is the reproach that will come upon the remnant and with it upon the honor of the Name of God and of His Christ, His Anointed ( ). This is why the Lord Jesus teaches the remnant to pray: “Hallowed be Your name” ( ). They ask God to remember what their “span of life is” ( ). If He still wants to fulfill something of His covenant, let Him do so quickly, or their lives will be over. “For what vanity You have created all the sons of men”, if He is going to let them live for such a short time and then also make it so difficult for them? Eventually, every human being dies ( ). Nobody escapes because nobody can “deliver his soul from the power of Sheol”. Then comes the question to the “Lord”, Adonai, where His “former lovingkindnesses” are ( ). Where have they gone? Yet He “swore to David” in His “faithfulness”. But there is nothing of it now. Has God forgotten that He swore by His faithfulness? Another aspect that brings the remnant before God is the reproach that His servants suffer ( ). Is the Lord thinking about that? “All the many peoples” reproach them. They do not shake off the reproach, but carry it around in their bosom, in their heart. All the reproach touches them deeply and remains as long as there is no outcome, no answer, no fulfillment of the covenant. Finally, they point out to the LORD that the enemies are not their enemies, but His , “Your enemies” ( ). His enemies also do not primarily reproach their doings, but “the footsteps of Your anointed”. God’s anointed is David and above him the Messiah. The enemies of Christ have reproach and mocked Him as ‘the King of the Jews’. They have reproached the way of God that He has gone with the Messiah. That God’s King was born as a Baby into a carpenter’s family and lived His life in humiliation is cause for unbelief to reproach Him. All mockers will see Him again to their dismay, then as Judge.

‏ Psalms 89:49

How long?

The remnant again asks “how long” that situation is to last (Psa 89:46; Psa 13:1b-2). Now it is a question of desperation regarding the circumstances. They experience God hiding Himself from them. Will He do so “forever” (cf. Psa 77:7-9)? At the same time, the question “how long” is also a question in which the hope that the suffering will come to an end is resounding. But for how long will God’s “wrath burn like fire?”

The question is how long God’s faithfulness to His covenant, how long His lovingkindness, remains invisible. The psalmist puts his trust in the LORD, but the need is great. If the time is not shortened, none of the remnant will remain alive (cf. Mt 24:22). What then about the LORD’s lovingkindness and faithfulness?

The first reason for the questions is the high need (Psa 89:46-48). The second reason is that lovingkindness and faithfulness of the LORD are at stake (Psa 89:49), the covenant that He has spoken on oath. Finally, the third reason is the reproach that will come upon the remnant and with it upon the honor of the Name of God and of His Christ, His Anointed (Psa 89:50-51). This is why the Lord Jesus teaches the remnant to pray: “Hallowed be Your name” (Mt 6:9b).

They ask God to remember what their “span of life is” (Psa 89:47). If He still wants to fulfill something of His covenant, let Him do so quickly, or their lives will be over. “For what vanity You have created all the sons of men”, if He is going to let them live for such a short time and then also make it so difficult for them? Eventually, every human being dies (Psa 89:48). Nobody escapes because nobody can “deliver his soul from the power of Sheol”.

Then comes the question to the “Lord”, Adonai, where His “former lovingkindnesses” are (Psa 89:49). Where have they gone? Yet He “swore to David” in His “faithfulness”. But there is nothing of it now. Has God forgotten that He swore by His faithfulness?

Another aspect that brings the remnant before God is the reproach that His servants suffer (Psa 89:50). Is the Lord thinking about that? “All the many peoples” reproach them. They do not shake off the reproach, but carry it around in their bosom, in their heart. All the reproach touches them deeply and remains as long as there is no outcome, no answer, no fulfillment of the covenant.

Finally, they point out to the LORD that the enemies are not their enemies, but His, “Your enemies” (Psa 89:51). His enemies also do not primarily reproach their doings, but “the footsteps of Your anointed”. God’s anointed is David and above him the Messiah.

The enemies of Christ have reproach and mocked Him as ‘the King of the Jews’. They have reproached the way of God that He has gone with the Messiah. That God’s King was born as a Baby into a carpenter’s family and lived His life in humiliation is cause for unbelief to reproach Him. All mockers will see Him again to their dismay, then as Judge.