What does Psalm 89:8 mean?
ESV: O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?
NIV: Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
NASB: Lord God of armies, who is like You, mighty Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
CSB: Lord God of Armies, who is strong like you, Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds you.
NLT: O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord? You are entirely faithful.
KJV: O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
NKJV: O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
Verse Commentary:
Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 89, verse-level content coming soon!
Verse Context:
Psalm 89:1–18 praises the Lord for unfailing love and faithfulness. He is also praised for making a covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:11–16). This is a sign of God's power and graciousness. Also impressive are the Lord's acts of sovereign power. Those who side with the Lord God are blessed for siding with Him.
Chapter Summary:
This psalm is not directly connected to other events in Scripture; it might be associated with the Babylonian captivity (2 Kings 24:10–16) or the Egyptian raid against Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:25–28). The psalmist begins by praising God for His loyal love. It applauds His covenant with David. However, this turns to grief over apparent defeats and humiliations. The psalm ends with a plea for the Lord to remember His promises and reverse Israel's fortunes.
Chapter Context:
This psalm is attributed to Ethan, a Levite (1 Chronicles 15:17–18). The content suggests Israel had suffered one or more crushing defeats (1 Kings 14:25–28; 2 Kings 24:10–16). So, after celebrating God's love in establishing David's throne, the tone quickly turns to bitter mourning. This combination—faith paralleled with honest angst—is a common theme in the psalms (Psalm 22; 73; 74).
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
Accessed 11/22/2024 4:40:00 PM
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