Psalm 89 is labelled a lament over God's promises to David. The label is justified by verses 39-52 which is rendered more dramatic by two preceding mythic recitals of God's victory over his enemies (vv. 6-19) and that of the election of David (vv. 20-38). All these is prepared for by a prelude that puts these two recitals within a praise for God's grace (hesed) and faithfulness (aemunah).
The fact that the psalm opens and closes with praise to Yahweh whose fidelity and love is celebrated in a psalm that specifically mentions God's absence in the present may sound strange. And yet it is in keeping with the usage of antiquity that divine powers are invoked for a particular situation with a recital of myth corresponding to that situation. The devastated condition of Judah, the absence of kingdom and king which the returning exiles found upon coming home may have been the occassion for this lament. The psalmist in particular asks that the Lord act swiftly so that he may still see the divine promises fulfilled before his eyes:
How long O Lord?
Will you stay hidden forever
Must your wrath smolder like fire?
Remember how brief is my life
how frail the race you created
What mortal can live and not see death?
Who can escape the power of Sheol?
Where are your promises of old, Lord
the loyalty sworn to David?
There was no king, no kingdom and no sign of a Davidic dynasty during the period of the post-exile. It is to this situation that the psalmist invokes the power of God:
The Prelude (vv.1-5). The psalmist introduces the theme of the psalm by remembering the hesed and aemunah of Yahweh. In the Gospel of John these two qualities will be rendered as grace and truth. In the translations of this psalm, one finds "mercy/love" and "fidelity." In this section, the phrases "forever" and "from generation to generation" are repeated. Verses 3-5 is the recitation of the oath made by Yahweh to David as one finds it in the traditions of Davidic kingship (2 Sam 7:8-16; cf also Ps. 61:7-8 and Ps. 132:11).
The Recital of Yahweh's Victory (6-19) Yahweh's victories are then recalled in mythological proportions. The recital begins with that of Creation and Exodus which are mythologically represented by the crushing of the Sea (Rahab is a synonym). With the victory, Yahweh -- as in divine victory myths -- proceeds to build His palace with Tabor and Hermon the two main towers. The recital ends with the proclamation of Yahweh as King (v. 19).
The Recital of David's Election (20-38) Within the context of Yahweh's enthronement, the recital of David's election follows. Near Eastern emperors are enthroned this way; a reign is "mythologically" enshrined. But in the case of this psalm 89, the psalmist by this recital reminds Yahweh that his victory and kingship must have a counterpart. That counterpart, He himself has sworn, would be David.
The Lamentation Proper (39-52) With the recitals of Yahweh's kingship and his oath to David completed, the psalmist turns to the present situation and asks Yahweh indirectly and through allussions to make good his oath. The concluding praise is an expression of continuing hope in the God who is faithful.
This psalm is used for the Fourth Sunday of Advent year B as the responsorial psalm to the story of the Lord's oath to David. Parts from the Prelude and the Recitation of of the Oath to David (vv. 22.27) are used. Highlighted in the selection of passages is the special relationship between Yahweh and David to whom He is a father and who becomes his firstborn.
He shall cry out to me
"You are my father, my God,
the Rock that gives me victory."
I myself make him firstborn,
most High over the kings of the earth.
Within the context of Advent, this psalm becomes an invocation for the return of the King of Kings and the establishment of his Kingdom.
