
Text -- Psalms 89:37 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Psa 89:37
Wesley: Psa 89:37 - -- The rainbow, which is God's faithful witness, a token of God's everlasting covenant between God and every living creature for perpetual generations, G...
JFB: Psa 89:37 - -- Literally, "As the moon, and the witness in the sky is sure, that is, the moon."||
15365||1||15||0||present a striking contrast to these glowing promi...
Literally, "As the moon, and the witness in the sky is sure, that is, the moon."|| 15365||1||15||0||present a striking contrast to these glowing promises, in mournful evidences of a loss of God's favor.
Clarke: Psa 89:37 - -- As the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven - That is, as long as the sun and moon shall endure, as long as time shall last, his kingdom shall ...
As the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven - That is, as long as the sun and moon shall endure, as long as time shall last, his kingdom shall last among men. The moon appears to be termed a faithful witness here, because by her particularly time is measured. Her decrease and increase are especially observed by every nation, and by these time is generally estimated, especially among the eastern nations. So many moons is a man old; so many moons since such an event happened; and even their years are reckoned by lunations. This is the case with the Mohammedans to the present day. Or the rainbow may be intended; that sign which God has established in the cloud; that faithful witness of his that the earth shall no more be destroyed by water. As long therefore as the sun, the moon, and the rainbow appear in the heavens, so long shall the spiritual David reign, and his seed prosper and increase

Selah - It is confirmed; it shall not fail.
Defender -> Psa 89:37
The moon will exist forever as will the throne of Christ."
TSK -> Psa 89:37
TSK: Psa 89:37 - -- It shall : That is, as long as the sun and moon shall endure, as long as time shall last, his kingdom shall continue among men. The moon is probably ...
It shall : That is, as long as the sun and moon shall endure, as long as time shall last, his kingdom shall continue among men. The moon is probably termed a faithful witness, because by her, particularly, time is measured. Her decrease and increase are especially observed by every nation; and by these time is generally estimated, especially among eastern nations. - So many moons is a man old - so many moons since such an event happened; and even their years are reckoned by lunations. Or, the rainbow may be intended; that faithful sign which God has established in the clouds, that the earth shall no more be destroyed by water.
ever : Psa 72:7, Psa 104:19; Gen 1:14-18; Jer 31:35, Jer 31:36
and as : Gen 9:13-16; Isa 54:9, Isa 54:10

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Psa 89:37
Barnes: Psa 89:37 - -- It shall be established forever as the moon - As long as the moon shall endure. The heavenly bodies are the most permanent objects that we know...
It shall be established forever as the moon - As long as the moon shall endure. The heavenly bodies are the most permanent objects that we know of; and they, therefore, became the emblems of stability and perpetuity. Compare the notes at Psa 72:7.
And as a faithful witness in heaven - As the witness in heaven, or in the sky, is sure. The reference is to the moon, regarded as a witness for God. What is said here of the moon as an index of his faithfulness, might be said also of the sun and the stars; but the beauty of the image is increased by the attention being fixed to a single object. As the moon is fixed, regular, enduring - so are the promises and purposes of God. Such were the promises made to David; such was the oath which had been taken by God; such the covenant which he had made. The psalmist now proceeds Psa 89:38-45 to show that this oath and these promises seemed to be disregarded; that there were things occurring which appeared as if God had forgotten them; that there was not that manifest prosperity and favor which was implied in the promise; but that a series of calamities had occurred which it was difficult to reconcile with these solemn pledges. On the ground of this he prays Psa 89:46-52 that God would return, and would remember his covenant, and would bless David and his people.
Poole -> Psa 89:37
Poole: Psa 89:37 - -- Whereby he understands, either, first, The moon, last mentioned, to which this clause may be added rather than to the sun, to imply that as the moon...
Whereby he understands, either, first, The moon, last mentioned, to which this clause may be added rather than to the sun, to imply that as the moon, though subject to eclipses and frequent and manifold changes, yet doth constantly and perpetually remain in heaven, as a witness of my covenant of the night , as it is called, Jer 33:20 ; so shall the house and kingdom of David continue for ever, not withstanding all the changes and calamities which it may undergo. Or, secondly, The rainbow, which though in itself it be unstable and transient, and doth but seldom appear, which learned men object against this opinion, yet in Scripture is mentioned as God’ s faithful and perpetual witness, being called a token of God’ s everlasting covenant between God and every living creature for perpetual generations , Gen 9:12,16 . And although it do not always appear to us, neither do the sun or moon do so, yet its appearances are doubtless very frequent in one or other part of the world, and will be repeated from time to time to the end of the world. Add to this, that the word here rendered heaven , may as well be rendered the cloud or clouds , as it is used Deu 33:26 Job 35:5 36:28 Psa 18:12 77:17 78:23 Pro 3:20 Isa 45:8 . And so the place being thus translated, and as the faithful witness in the cloud or clouds , doth plainly point us to the rainbow.
Gill -> Psa 89:37
Gill: Psa 89:37 - -- It shall be established for ever as the moon,.... Either Christ's seed, or throne, which comes to much the same sense; for by both are meant his churc...
It shall be established for ever as the moon,.... Either Christ's seed, or throne, which comes to much the same sense; for by both are meant his church and people, his kingdom and interest in the world; the moon is as perpetual as the sun, and is used as elsewhere to signify the continuance of the people, church, and interest of Christ, Psa 72:5, for though the moon has its spots, and is changeable, sometimes in the full, and sometimes in the decline, yet always is, and always continues, and ever will; and so though the people of God have their spots and imperfections, and are sometimes on the decline in the frames and dispositions of their minds, in the exercise of grace, in their spirituality, liveliness, and zeal, and in their walk and conversation in the church and world; yet they shall abide and persevere to the end; and though the church may be like the moon in the wane, be declining as to numbers, gifts, and graces, yet it shall continue and be established; it is sometimes indeed in a fluctuating state, and is not always in the same place, but is removed from one country to another; yet it always is somewhere, even though in the wilderness, and ere long will be established on the top of the mountains, and be no more a tabernacle that shall be taken down; see Psa 48:8.
and as a faithful witness in heaven: or "in the sky or cloud" b; some understand this of the moon, others of both sun and moon; but it seems best to interpret it of something distinct from either, even of the rainbow, which though it does not always appear in the clouds, yet it has appeared at times, and does and will unto the end of the world; and be a faithful and an everlasting token and witness of the covenant of God made with all creatures, that he will no more destroy the world by a flood, Gen 9:12, and is an emblem of the covenant of grace, and of the continuance, perpetuity, and immutability of it; see Isa 54:9.
Selah. See Gill on Psa 3:2.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Psa 89:37 Heb “and a witness in the sky, secure.” Scholars have offered a variety of opinions as to the identity of the “witness” referr...
Geneva Bible -> Psa 89:37
Geneva Bible: Psa 89:37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and [as] a faithful ( c ) witness in heaven. Selah.
( c ) As long as the Sun and Moon endure, they will...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Psa 89:1-52
TSK Synopsis: Psa 89:1-52 - --1 The psalmist praises God for his covenant;5 for his wonderful power;15 for the care of his church;19 for his favour to the kingdom of David.38 Then ...
MHCC -> Psa 89:19-37
MHCC: Psa 89:19-37 - --The Lord anointed David with the holy oil, not only as an emblem of the graces and gifts he received, but as a type of Christ, the King Priest, and Pr...
Matthew Henry -> Psa 89:19-37
Matthew Henry: Psa 89:19-37 - -- The covenant God made with David and his seed was mentioned before (Psa 89:3, Psa 89:4); but in these verses it is enlarged upon, and pleaded with G...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Psa 89:30-37
Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 89:30-37 - --
Now follows the paraphrase of 2Sa 7:14, that the faithlessness of David's line in relation to the covenant shall not interfere with (annul) the fait...
Constable: Psa 73:1--89:52 - --I. Book 3: chs 73--89
A man or men named Asaph wrote 17 of the psalms in this book (Pss. 73-83). Other writers w...

Constable: Psa 89:1-52 - --Psalm 89
The writer of this royal psalm was Ethan, another wise Levitical musician in David's service (1...
