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Psalms 89:15
Verse
Context
I Will Sing of His Love Forever
14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You. 15Blessed are those who know the joyful sound, who walk, O LORD, in the light of Your presence. 16They rejoice in Your name all day long, and in Your righteousness they exult.
Sermons
Chuck Smith
David Wilkerson
Andrew MurrayAndrew Murray
T. Austin-SparksDavid WilkersonSummary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The poet has now described what kind of God He is upon whose promise the royal house in Israel depends. Blessed, then, is the people that walks in the light of His countenance. הלּך of a self-assured, stately walk. The words ידעי תּרוּעה are the statement of the ground of the blessing interwoven into the blessing itself: such a people has abundant cause and matter for exultation (cf. Psa 84:5). תּרוּעה is the festive sound of joy of the mouth (Num 23:21), and of trumpets or sackbuts (Psa 27:6). This confirmation of the blessing is expanded in Psa 89:17-19. Jahve's שׁם, i.e., revelation or manifestation, becomes to them a ground and object of unceasing joy; by His צדקה, i.e., the rigour with which He binds Himself to the relationship He has entered upon with His people and maintains it, they are exalted above abjectness and insecurity. He is תּפארת עזּמו, the ornament of their strength, i.e., their strength which really becomes an ornament to them. In Psa 89:18 the poet declares Israel to be this happy people. Pinsker's conjecture, קרנם (following the Targum), destroys the transition to Psa 89:19, which is formed by Psa 89:18. The plural reading of Kimchi and of older editions (e.g., Bomberg's), קרנינוּ, is incompatible with the figure; but it is immaterial whether we read תּרים with the Chethb (Targum, Jerome), or with the Ker (lxx, Syriac) תּרוּם. (Note: Zur Geschichte des Karaismus, pp. קפא and קפב, according to which, reversely, in Jos 5:1 עברוּ is to be read instead of עברם, and Isa 33:2 זרענוּ instead of זרעם, Psa 12:8 תשמרנּוּ instead of תשמרם, Mic 7:19 חטאתנוּ instead of חטאתם, Job 32:8 תביננּוּ instead of תבינם, Pro 25:27 כבודנוּ instead of כבודם (the limiting of our honour brings honour, - an unlikely interpretation of the חקר).) מגנּנוּ and מלכּנוּ in Psa 89:19 are parallel designations of the human king of Israel; מגן as in Ps 47:10, but not in Psa 84:10. For we are not compelled, with a total disregard of the limits to the possibilities of style (Ew. 310, a), to render Psa 89:19: and the Holy One of Israel, (as to Him, He) is our King (Hitzig), since we do not bring down the Psalm beyond the time of the kings. Israel's shield, Israel's king, the poet says in the holy defiant confidence of faith, is Jahve's, belongs to the Holy One of Israel, i.e., he stands as His own possession under the protection of Jahve, the Holy One, who has taken Israel to Himself for a possession; it is therefore impossible that the Davidic throne should become a prey to any worldly power.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
His government of righteousness is served by "mercy" and "truth" as ministers (Psa 85:10-13). know the joyful sound--understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings symbolized by the feasts to which the people were called by the trumpet (Lev 25:9, &c.). walk . . . countenance--live in His favor (Psa 4:6; Psa 44:3).
John Gill Bible Commentary
In thy name shall they rejoice all the day,.... That know the joyful sound, and walk in the light of God's countenance, as they have reason to do; these will "rejoice" in the Lord himself, for his "name" is himself; in the perfections of his nature, as displayed in redemption and salvation by Christ; in him as the God of all grace, as their covenant God and Father in Christ, and the God of their salvation; and they will rejoice in Christ, in his name, in which is salvation, and therefore precious; in his person, blood, righteousness, sacrifice, and fitness; and that "all the day" long, continually; there is always reason, ground, and matter for rejoicing in Christ, though it is sometimes interrupted by sin, temptation, and desertion; see Phi 4:4. and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted; from a low estate of sin and misery to an high estate of grace and glory; from a state of condemnation and death to a state of justification of life; from being beggars on the dunghill, to sit among princes, and to inherit the throne of glory; such as are clothed with the righteousness of the Son of God are exalted to great honour, as to be admitted into the presence of the King of kings in raiment of needlework, to stand at his right hand in gold of Ophir, and to live and reign with him for evermore in his kingdom and glory.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
The psalmist, having largely shown the blessedness of the God of Israel, here shows the blessedness of the Israel of God. As there is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, so, happy art thou, O Israel! there is none like unto thee, O people! especially as a type of the gospel-Israel, consisting of all true believers, whose happiness is here described. I. Glorious discoveries are made to them, and glad tidings of good brought to them; they hear, they know, the joyful sound, Psa 89:15. This may allude, 1. To the shout of a victorious army, the shout of a king, Num 23:21. Israel have the tokens of God's presence with them in their wars; the sound of the going in the top of the mulberry-trees was indeed a joyful sound (Sa2 5:24); and they often returned making the earth ring with their songs of triumph; these were joyful sounds. Or, 2. To the sound that was made over the sacrifices and on the solemn feast-day, Psa 81:1-3. This was the happiness of Israel, that they had among them the free and open profession of God's holy religion, and abundance of joy in their sacrifices. Or, 3. To the sound of the jubilee-trumpet; a joyful sound it was to servants and debtors, to whom it proclaimed release. The gospel is indeed a joyful sound, a sound of victory, of liberty, of communion with God, and the sound of abundance of rain; blessed are the people that hear it, and know it, and bid it welcome. II. Special tokens of God's favour are granted them: "They shall walk, O Lord! in the light of thy countenance; they shall govern themselves by thy directions, shall be guided by the eye; and they shall delight themselves in thy consolations. They shall have the favour of God; they shall know that they have it, and it shall be continual matter of joy and rejoicing to them. They shall go through all the exercises of a holy life under the powerful influences of God's lovingkindness, which shall make their duty pleasant to them and make them sincere in it, aiming at this, as their end, to be accepted of the Lord." We then walk in the light of the Lord when we fetch all our comforts from God's favour and are very careful to keep ourselves in his love. III. They never want matter for joy: Blessed are God's people, for in his name, in all that whereby he has made himself known, if it be not their own fault, they shall rejoice all the day. Those that rejoice in Christ Jesus, and make God their exceeding joy, have enough to counterbalance their grievances and silence their griefs; and therefore their joy is full (Jo1 1:4) and constant; it is their duty to rejoice evermore. IV. Their relation to God is their honour and dignity. They are happy, for they are high. Surely in the Lord, in the Lord Christ, they have righteousness and strength, and so are recommended by him to the divine acceptance; and therefore in him shall all the seed of Israel glory, Isa 45:24, Isa 45:25. So it is here, Psa 89:16, Psa 89:17. 1. "In thy righteousness shall they be exalted, and not in any righteousness of their own." We are exalted out of danger, and into honour, purely by the righteousness of Christ, which is a clothing both for dignity and for defence. 2. "Thou art the glory of their strength," that is, "thou art their strength, and it is their glory that thou art so, and what they glory in." Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph. 3. "In thy favour, which through Christ we hope for, our horn shall be exalted." The horn denotes beauty, plenty, and power; these those have who are made accepted in the beloved. What greater preferment are men capable of in this world than to be God's favourites? V. Their relation to God is their protection and safety (Psa 89:18): "For our shield is of the Lord" (so the margin) "and our king is from the Holy One of Israel. If God be our ruler, he will be our defender; and who is he than that can harm us?" It was the happiness of Israel that God himself had the erecting of their bulwarks and the nominating of their king (so some take it); or, rather, that he was himself a wall of fire round about them, and, as a Holy One, the author and centre of their holy religion; he was their King, and so their glory in the midst of them. Christ is the Holy One of Israel, that holy thing; and in nothing was that peculiar people more blessed than in this, that he was born King of the Jews. Now this account of the blessedness of God's Israel comes in here as that to which it was hard to reconcile their present calamitous state.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
89:15-16 Those who are wise worship God, walk in his light, rejoice in their relationship with him, and exult in his character.
Psalms 89:15
I Will Sing of His Love Forever
14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You. 15Blessed are those who know the joyful sound, who walk, O LORD, in the light of Your presence. 16They rejoice in Your name all day long, and in Your righteousness they exult.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(The Word for Today) Isaiah 20:1 - Part 3
By Chuck Smith4.3K25:59Expositional1KI 8:572CH 15:2PSA 89:15ISA 20:1MAT 6:33ROM 8:1REV 18:2In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of standing up for righteousness in a fallen world. He introduces his new book, "Standing Up in a Fallen World," which is a Bible study based on the book of Daniel. Pastor Chuck emphasizes the need for young adults to abstain from the immorality of the culture and to boldly proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ. He encourages them to be committed to following Jesus and to be prepared for His second coming. Additionally, Pastor Chuck mentions that The Word for Today is offering clothing items to equip young adults in witnessing and reviving their generation.
We Know Joy Because of Jesus
By David Wilkerson0Freedom in ChristJoyPSA 89:15ISA 61:1David Wilkerson emphasizes that true joy comes from understanding the 'joyful sound' described in Psalms 89:15, which signifies a revelation that leads to a fulfilled and victorious life. This joyful sound, rooted in the concept of Jubilee, represents liberation and God's promises, allowing believers to walk in peace and strength. Wilkerson explains that those who grasp this sound become fearless and self-assured, empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome life's challenges. He connects this joyful sound to Jesus Christ, who embodies the essence of Jubilee, offering freedom and restoration to all. Ultimately, the message is one of hope and the invitation to live joyfully in the light of God's presence.
The Light of His Countenance
By Andrew Murray0God's LightSpiritual GuidancePSA 27:1PSA 89:15JHN 1:5Andrew Murray emphasizes the significance of God's light in our lives, comparing it to the daily rising of the sun that illuminates our path. He encourages believers to turn to God and trust in His light, which is essential for spiritual nourishment and guidance. Just as we rely on the sun for physical light, we must seek the heavenly light of God's countenance each morning to experience His presence throughout the day. Murray reminds us that it is God's desire for us to dwell in His light and rejoice in His blessings. By communing with God, we can ensure that His light shines upon us, leading to a joyful and fulfilling life.
Light and Joyfulness
By Andrew Murray0Walking in the LightJoy in GodPSA 89:15Andrew Murray emphasizes the connection between light and joy in the life of a believer, illustrating that true joy comes from walking in the light of God's presence. He explains that God desires His children to be joyful, as joy reflects satisfaction in Him and serves as a testimony to others. Murray points out that sin and unbelief can lead to darkness, but through confession and faith in Jesus, believers can experience the light and joy that He offers. He encourages Christians to rejoice in the Lord always, as true joy is found in following Jesus and living by faith. Ultimately, joy in God is a mark of obedience and a reflection of His love and glory in our lives.
In Relation to the Race as It Is
By T. Austin-Sparks0The Cross of ChristThe Face of GodGEN 3:22PSA 4:6PSA 31:16PSA 89:15ISA 35:1ISA 40:1MAT 27:46LUK 23:46HEB 13:5REV 22:3T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the significance of the face of God throughout human history, illustrating how the expulsion from Eden marked a separation from God's presence. He connects this theme to the Cross of Christ, where Jesus experienced ultimate desolation, crying out in forsakenness, yet through His sacrifice, believers are granted access to God's face once more. The sermon highlights the wilderness as a symbol of spiritual desolation, contrasting it with the joy of being in the light of God's countenance, which is restored through faith in Christ. Ultimately, Sparks reassures that through Jesus, believers can experience an open heaven and never face total forsakenness again.
Proclaiming the Victory
By David Wilkerson0Faith and AssuranceVictory in ChristPSA 32:11PSA 89:15ISA 61:10JHN 3:16ROM 5:11EPH 1:7COL 1:14HEB 10:221PE 1:18REV 12:11David Wilkerson emphasizes the obligations that come with being sprinkled by the blood of Jesus, urging believers to live in peace without doubt and to offer heartfelt praise to God. He draws a parallel between the Israelites' confidence in their pardon through Moses' sprinkling of blood and the modern-day believer's struggle with doubt despite the greater sacrifice of Christ. Wilkerson warns against the sacrilege of holding onto guilt and fear, encouraging a life of gratitude and joy in the assurance of salvation. He calls for a proclamation of victory through Jesus' blood, reminding believers to rejoice in their redemption and the righteousness bestowed upon them.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The poet has now described what kind of God He is upon whose promise the royal house in Israel depends. Blessed, then, is the people that walks in the light of His countenance. הלּך of a self-assured, stately walk. The words ידעי תּרוּעה are the statement of the ground of the blessing interwoven into the blessing itself: such a people has abundant cause and matter for exultation (cf. Psa 84:5). תּרוּעה is the festive sound of joy of the mouth (Num 23:21), and of trumpets or sackbuts (Psa 27:6). This confirmation of the blessing is expanded in Psa 89:17-19. Jahve's שׁם, i.e., revelation or manifestation, becomes to them a ground and object of unceasing joy; by His צדקה, i.e., the rigour with which He binds Himself to the relationship He has entered upon with His people and maintains it, they are exalted above abjectness and insecurity. He is תּפארת עזּמו, the ornament of their strength, i.e., their strength which really becomes an ornament to them. In Psa 89:18 the poet declares Israel to be this happy people. Pinsker's conjecture, קרנם (following the Targum), destroys the transition to Psa 89:19, which is formed by Psa 89:18. The plural reading of Kimchi and of older editions (e.g., Bomberg's), קרנינוּ, is incompatible with the figure; but it is immaterial whether we read תּרים with the Chethb (Targum, Jerome), or with the Ker (lxx, Syriac) תּרוּם. (Note: Zur Geschichte des Karaismus, pp. קפא and קפב, according to which, reversely, in Jos 5:1 עברוּ is to be read instead of עברם, and Isa 33:2 זרענוּ instead of זרעם, Psa 12:8 תשמרנּוּ instead of תשמרם, Mic 7:19 חטאתנוּ instead of חטאתם, Job 32:8 תביננּוּ instead of תבינם, Pro 25:27 כבודנוּ instead of כבודם (the limiting of our honour brings honour, - an unlikely interpretation of the חקר).) מגנּנוּ and מלכּנוּ in Psa 89:19 are parallel designations of the human king of Israel; מגן as in Ps 47:10, but not in Psa 84:10. For we are not compelled, with a total disregard of the limits to the possibilities of style (Ew. 310, a), to render Psa 89:19: and the Holy One of Israel, (as to Him, He) is our King (Hitzig), since we do not bring down the Psalm beyond the time of the kings. Israel's shield, Israel's king, the poet says in the holy defiant confidence of faith, is Jahve's, belongs to the Holy One of Israel, i.e., he stands as His own possession under the protection of Jahve, the Holy One, who has taken Israel to Himself for a possession; it is therefore impossible that the Davidic throne should become a prey to any worldly power.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
His government of righteousness is served by "mercy" and "truth" as ministers (Psa 85:10-13). know the joyful sound--understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings symbolized by the feasts to which the people were called by the trumpet (Lev 25:9, &c.). walk . . . countenance--live in His favor (Psa 4:6; Psa 44:3).
John Gill Bible Commentary
In thy name shall they rejoice all the day,.... That know the joyful sound, and walk in the light of God's countenance, as they have reason to do; these will "rejoice" in the Lord himself, for his "name" is himself; in the perfections of his nature, as displayed in redemption and salvation by Christ; in him as the God of all grace, as their covenant God and Father in Christ, and the God of their salvation; and they will rejoice in Christ, in his name, in which is salvation, and therefore precious; in his person, blood, righteousness, sacrifice, and fitness; and that "all the day" long, continually; there is always reason, ground, and matter for rejoicing in Christ, though it is sometimes interrupted by sin, temptation, and desertion; see Phi 4:4. and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted; from a low estate of sin and misery to an high estate of grace and glory; from a state of condemnation and death to a state of justification of life; from being beggars on the dunghill, to sit among princes, and to inherit the throne of glory; such as are clothed with the righteousness of the Son of God are exalted to great honour, as to be admitted into the presence of the King of kings in raiment of needlework, to stand at his right hand in gold of Ophir, and to live and reign with him for evermore in his kingdom and glory.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
The psalmist, having largely shown the blessedness of the God of Israel, here shows the blessedness of the Israel of God. As there is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, so, happy art thou, O Israel! there is none like unto thee, O people! especially as a type of the gospel-Israel, consisting of all true believers, whose happiness is here described. I. Glorious discoveries are made to them, and glad tidings of good brought to them; they hear, they know, the joyful sound, Psa 89:15. This may allude, 1. To the shout of a victorious army, the shout of a king, Num 23:21. Israel have the tokens of God's presence with them in their wars; the sound of the going in the top of the mulberry-trees was indeed a joyful sound (Sa2 5:24); and they often returned making the earth ring with their songs of triumph; these were joyful sounds. Or, 2. To the sound that was made over the sacrifices and on the solemn feast-day, Psa 81:1-3. This was the happiness of Israel, that they had among them the free and open profession of God's holy religion, and abundance of joy in their sacrifices. Or, 3. To the sound of the jubilee-trumpet; a joyful sound it was to servants and debtors, to whom it proclaimed release. The gospel is indeed a joyful sound, a sound of victory, of liberty, of communion with God, and the sound of abundance of rain; blessed are the people that hear it, and know it, and bid it welcome. II. Special tokens of God's favour are granted them: "They shall walk, O Lord! in the light of thy countenance; they shall govern themselves by thy directions, shall be guided by the eye; and they shall delight themselves in thy consolations. They shall have the favour of God; they shall know that they have it, and it shall be continual matter of joy and rejoicing to them. They shall go through all the exercises of a holy life under the powerful influences of God's lovingkindness, which shall make their duty pleasant to them and make them sincere in it, aiming at this, as their end, to be accepted of the Lord." We then walk in the light of the Lord when we fetch all our comforts from God's favour and are very careful to keep ourselves in his love. III. They never want matter for joy: Blessed are God's people, for in his name, in all that whereby he has made himself known, if it be not their own fault, they shall rejoice all the day. Those that rejoice in Christ Jesus, and make God their exceeding joy, have enough to counterbalance their grievances and silence their griefs; and therefore their joy is full (Jo1 1:4) and constant; it is their duty to rejoice evermore. IV. Their relation to God is their honour and dignity. They are happy, for they are high. Surely in the Lord, in the Lord Christ, they have righteousness and strength, and so are recommended by him to the divine acceptance; and therefore in him shall all the seed of Israel glory, Isa 45:24, Isa 45:25. So it is here, Psa 89:16, Psa 89:17. 1. "In thy righteousness shall they be exalted, and not in any righteousness of their own." We are exalted out of danger, and into honour, purely by the righteousness of Christ, which is a clothing both for dignity and for defence. 2. "Thou art the glory of their strength," that is, "thou art their strength, and it is their glory that thou art so, and what they glory in." Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph. 3. "In thy favour, which through Christ we hope for, our horn shall be exalted." The horn denotes beauty, plenty, and power; these those have who are made accepted in the beloved. What greater preferment are men capable of in this world than to be God's favourites? V. Their relation to God is their protection and safety (Psa 89:18): "For our shield is of the Lord" (so the margin) "and our king is from the Holy One of Israel. If God be our ruler, he will be our defender; and who is he than that can harm us?" It was the happiness of Israel that God himself had the erecting of their bulwarks and the nominating of their king (so some take it); or, rather, that he was himself a wall of fire round about them, and, as a Holy One, the author and centre of their holy religion; he was their King, and so their glory in the midst of them. Christ is the Holy One of Israel, that holy thing; and in nothing was that peculiar people more blessed than in this, that he was born King of the Jews. Now this account of the blessedness of God's Israel comes in here as that to which it was hard to reconcile their present calamitous state.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
89:15-16 Those who are wise worship God, walk in his light, rejoice in their relationship with him, and exult in his character.