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Pentecost Season · Proper 11 · Year B

Psalm 89:20-37

I Will Sing of the Lord's Steadfast Love

July 18, 2027

Samuel Anointing David (Samuel sacrant David), Francois-Leon Benouville
Samuel Anointing David (Samuel sacrant David), Francois-Leon Benouville, 1842Wikimedia Commons
A French academic prize painting of the anointing, the boy kneeling with his sling still at his belt.I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him. I will not violate my covenant, or alter the word that went forth from my lips. His line shall continue for ever, and his throne endure before me like the sun.Wikimedia CommonsNo holding institution is recorded with the image; it is known from the public domain reproduction.Wikimedia Commons
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMk. 6:30-34, 53-56Mk 6:30-34, 53-56
EpistleEph. 2:11-22Eph 2:11-22
Old Testament2 Sam. 7:1-14a2 Sm 7:1-14aAlt. OTJer. 23:1-6Jer 23:1-6
PsalterPs. 89:20-37Ps 89:20-37Alt. PsalmPs. 23Ps 23

Overview & Insights

“I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 89:1)

Psalm 89, in its final form, is a royal prayer psalm. It has three distinct sections: a hymn celebrating Yahweh’s right to cosmic kingship (vv. 1–18); a prophetic oracle outlining the Davidic covenant (vv. 19–37); and a lament over the king’s battle defeat (vv. 38–51). The last verse is a doxology for Book III of the Psalter (note that each Book closes with a doxology) and not, therefore, a constituent part. The lament appears to have been written in light of the oracle. It shares much of its key terminology, and the actions attributed to Yahweh in the lament are the reverse of those attributed to him in the oracle. Since the lament section does not pick up terms or motifs found in the hymn, we can account for its inclusion only by assuming that it was integrally joined to the oracle.

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Take it further: Psalm 89:20-37

Commentary

Enduring Word: Psalm 89Enduring Word: Ps 89 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the psalm of the Davidic covenant.

BibleHub: Commentaries on Psalm 89:20BibleHub: Commentaries on Ps 89:20 BibleHub

Parallel classic commentaries on God's promises to his anointed.

Background & Word Study

Sefaria: Psalms 89 (Hebrew)Sefaria: Ps 89 (Hebrew) Sefaria

Hebrew text with English and Jewish commentary on the psalm.

BibleHub: Psalm 89 InterlinearBibleHub: Ps 89 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew-English interlinear for word-level study of the psalm.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Psalm 89Catena: Ps 89 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on Psalm 89.

Questions preachers ask

What does Psalm 89 remember?

It sings God's covenant with David, that his line and throne would endure like the sun and moon, the promise Advent hears fulfilled in Christ.

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