PSALM Eighty Nine

A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

1 

I will sing of the Lord’s great love for ever;

    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known

    through all generations.

2 

I will declare that your love stands firm for ever,

    that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

3 

You said, ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one,

    I have sworn to David my servant,

4 

“I will establish your line for ever

    and make your throne firm through all generations.”’

5 

The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,

    your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.

6 

For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?

    Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?

7 

In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;

    he is more awesome than all who surround him.

8 

Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?

    You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

9 

You rule over the surging sea;

    when its waves mount up, you still them.

10 

You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;

    with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.

11 

The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;

    you founded the world and all that is in it.

12 

You created the north and the south;

    Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.

13 

Your arm is endowed with power;

    your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.

14 

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;

    love and faithfulness go before you.

15 

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,

    who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

16 

They rejoice in your name all day long;

    they celebrate your righteousness.

17 

For you are their glory and strength,

    and by your favour you exalt our horn.

18 

Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,

    our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19 

Once you spoke in a vision,

    to your faithful people you said:

‘I have bestowed strength on a warrior;

    I have raised up a young man from among the people.

20 

I have found David my servant;

    with my sacred oil I have anointed him.

21 

My hand will sustain him;

    surely my arm will strengthen him.

22 

The enemy will not get the better of him;

    the wicked will not oppress him.

23 

I will crush his foes before him

    and strike down his adversaries.

24 

My faithful love will be with him,

    and through my name his horn will be exalted.

25 

I will set his hand over the sea,

    his right hand over the rivers.

26 

He will call out to me, “You are my Father,

    my God, the Rock my Saviour.”

27 

And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,

    the most exalted of the kings of the earth.

28 

I will maintain my love to him for ever,

    and my covenant with him will never fail.

29 

I will establish his line for ever,

    his throne as long as the heavens endure.

30 

‘If his sons forsake my law

    and do not follow my statutes,

31 

if they violate my decrees

    and fail to keep my commands,

32 

I will punish their sin with the rod,

    their iniquity with flogging;

33 

but I will not take my love from him,

    nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.

34 

I will not violate my covenant

    or alter what my lips have uttered.

35 

Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness –

    and I will not lie to David –

36 

that his line will continue for ever

    and his throne endure before me like the sun;

37 

it will be established for ever like the moon,

    the faithful witness in the sky.’

38 

But you have rejected, you have spurned,

    you have been very angry with your anointed one.

39 

You have renounced the covenant with your servant

    and have defiled his crown in the dust.

40 

You have broken through all his walls

    and reduced his strongholds to ruins.

41 

All who pass by have plundered him;

    he has become the scorn of his neighbours.

42 

You have exalted the right hand of his foes;

    you have made all his enemies rejoice.

43 

Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword

    and have not supported him in battle.

44 

You have put an end to his splendour

    and cast his throne to the ground.

45 

You have cut short the days of his youth;

    you have covered him with a mantle of shame.

46 

How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself for ever?

    How long will your wrath burn like fire?

47 

Remember how fleeting is my life.

    For what futility you have created all humanity!

48 

Who can live and not see death,

    or who can escape the power of the grave?

49 

Lord, where is your former great love,

    which in your faithfulness you swore to David?

50 

Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,

    how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,

51 

the taunts with which your enemies, Lord, have mocked,

    with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.

52 

Praise be to the Lord for ever!

Amen and Amen.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 89: “faithfulness” 

(vv.1-2, 5, 8, 14, 33 & 49)

This may be a long Psalm (52 verses), but when you spot a particular word being used over and over again, sit up and take it in. Especially as in this case the word “faithfulness” is used exactly 7 times, which is the number symbolising God’s perfection. 

The writer (Ethan) extols the LORD’s nature and character every time, no exceptions. What stands out is that he switches from praising to prophecy (see vv.19b-37), speaking to and then from the LORD. Believers find this happens as we ‘tune in’ to God. 

Our own ‘faithfulness’ is fragile, his “faithfulness” is “great” (Lamentations 3 v.23).  Amen!

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READINGS

PSALM 89

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

Psalms 

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

Psalms

David Pawson

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SONGS

Great is thy Faithfulness

Shane and Shane 

Maranatha Singers 

You are faithful 

By Hillsong

I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord Forever

I Will Sing To The Lord Forever

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PSALM Eighty Eight

A song. 

A psalm of the Sons of Korah. 

For the director of music. 

According to mahalath leannoth. 

A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

1 

Lord, you are the God who saves me;

    day and night I cry out to you.

2 

May my prayer come before you;

    turn your ear to my cry.

3 

I am overwhelmed with troubles

    and my life draws near to death.

4 

I am counted among those who go down to the pit;

    I am like one without strength.

5 

I am set apart with the dead,

    like the slain who lie in the grave,

whom you remember no more,

    who are cut off from your care.

6 

You have put me in the lowest pit,

    in the darkest depths.

7 

Your wrath lies heavily on me;

    you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.

8 

You have taken from me my closest friends

    and have made me repulsive to them.

I am confined and cannot escape;

9 

    my eyes are dim with grief.

I call to you, Lord, every day;

    I spread out my hands to you.

10 

Do you show your wonders to the dead?

    Do their spirits rise up and praise you?

11 

Is your love declared in the grave,

    your faithfulness in Destruction?

12 

Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,

    or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

13 

But I cry to you for help, Lord;

    in the morning my prayer comes before you.

14 

Why, Lord, do you reject me

    and hide your face from me?

15 

From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;

    I have borne your terrors and am in despair.

16 

Your wrath has swept over me;

    your terrors have destroyed me.

17 

All day long they surround me like a flood;

    they have completely engulfed me.

18 

You have taken from me friend and neighbour –

    darkness is my closest friend.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 88: “confined” (v.17)

The worst pandemic for a century (Covid) swept the world early in 2019. Did you know the Spanish word for ‘lockdown’ is ‘confinamento’? Due to the enormous disruption in daily living, along with the physical health issue, there is psychological and emotional damage. 

Though the Psalms were written centuries ago, similar feelings affected the writer, who felt trapped by circumstances: “I am confined and cannot escape” (v.8).  His prayer was “you have put me … in the darkest depths … over-whelmed me with all your waves” (vv.6-7).  

Feeling isolated?  You’re not alone in that!  Plus – Jesus is near! 

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READINGS

PSALM 88

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

Psalms 

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

Psalms

David Pawson

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SONGS

Psalm 88:1-7 (Lyric Video)

Psalm 88 

"O Lord God of My Salvation, 

I Have Cried Day and Night Before Thee"

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PSALM Eighty Seven

Of the Sons of Korah. 

A psalm. 

A song. 

1 

He has founded his city on the holy mountain.

2 

The Lord loves the gates of Zion

    more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

3 

Glorious things are said of you,

    city of God:

4 

‘I will record Rahab and Babylon

    among those who acknowledge me –

Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush –

    and will say, “This one was born in Zion.”’

5 

Indeed, of Zion it will be said,

    ‘This one and that one were born in her,

    and the Most High himself will establish her.’

6 

The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:

    ‘This one was born in Zion.’

7 

As they make music they will sing,

    ‘All my fountains are in you.’

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 87: “born” (vv.4, 5 & 6) 

This short Psalm speaks three times about being “born” (vv.4-6) in Zion. Places are sometimes made famous by outstanding individuals whose origin can be traced to them, or whose lifetime retains a firm connection with them, like William Shakespeare and Stratford-on-Avon. 

This is the sentiment expressed, “of Zion it will be said, ‘this one and that one were born in her’” (v.5). 

We learn of Zion’s symbolical meaning in Hebrews 12 v.22: “you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.”  Born again, we’re citizens of heaven, and have life with a capital L!

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READINGS

PSALM 87

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

Psalms 

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

Psalms

David Pawson

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SONGS

Psalm 87 - Ian White

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PSALM Eighty Six

A prayer of David. 

1 

Hear me, Lord, and answer me,

    for I am poor and needy.

2 

Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;

    save your servant who trusts in you.

You are my God; 

3 

have mercy on me, Lord,

    for I call to you all day long.

4 

Bring joy to your servant, Lord,

    for I put my trust in you.

5 

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,

    abounding in love to all who call to you.

6 

Hear my prayer, Lord;

    listen to my cry for mercy.

7 

When I am in distress, I call to you,

    because you answer me.

8 

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;

    no deeds can compare with yours.

9 

All the nations you have made

    will come and worship before you, Lord;

    they will bring glory to your name.

10 

For you are great and do marvellous deeds;

    you alone are God.

11 

Teach me your way, Lord,

    that I may rely on your faithfulness;

give me an undivided heart,

    that I may fear your name.

12 

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;

    I will glorify your name for ever.

13 

For great is your love towards me;

    you have delivered me from the depths,

    from the realm of the dead.

14 

Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;

    ruthless people are trying to kill me –

    they have no regard for you.

15 

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

16 

Turn to me and have mercy on me;

    show your strength on behalf of your servant;

save me, because I serve you

    just as my mother did.

17 

Give me a sign of your goodness,

    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,

    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 86: “undivided” (v.11)

Lots of people have a ‘heart’ problem, and don’t even realise it. The psalmist was all too conscious of his own frailty, and expressed the prayer, “give me an undivided heart” (v.11). 

It is a common failing. Our commitment to the Lord is partial, not total. There is an obvious snag in being so honest and self-aware – in qualifying and quantifying the measure of our loving loyalty. 

When our head deduces that our heart’s devotion is defective, we will react in one of two ways: either despair or learn to depend more fully.  

Don’t let your reservations about yourself defeat you.  Pray this prayer unreservedly!

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READINGS

PSALM 86

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

Psalms 

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

Psalms

David Pawson

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SONGS

Abounding In Love - Psalm 86

Psalm 86: Hear My Prayer

 (feat. April Galtieri)

Psalm 86 

"Bow Down Thine Ear, O Lord, and Hear Me”

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