Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Open Your Bibles to the 89th Psalm this evening, and we will look at verses 1-11 this evening, Psalm 89:1-11

Last time we talked about a very dangerous trend today that seeks to interpret the the Bible with emphases on external sources.

The Divine Counsel from Psalm 82.

We need to interpret the Bible with the Bible, meaning if Jesus interpreted something for us, we don’t get to come up with something else.

Lets be clear, the persons that wrote Psalm 82 and Psalm 89 did not know what we know.

How they interpreted the text is a secondary issue.

Their understanding of the text helps us, and it does inform us, but it never replaces the primary codex by which we understand the text.

The importance of all of this will be come evident as we dig into Psalm 89 this evening.

How very important it is to keep our eyes on Christ in the text.

Lets Read Psalm 89:1-11

May God Bless the Reading of His Holy and Infallible Word

Lets Pray

Transition

In these first four verses, set the eternal tone of this Psalm, praising the faithfulness of God to his covenant, made between the Father and the Son.

Lets read verse 1-4.

Body

Chosen By Covenant

The Psalmist starts out with I will sing of the steadfast Faithfulness of God.

He is giving a reason for his sign

Verse 2 he says that this is not a new topic, he has spoken if it before, saying, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”

In verse 3 - 4 the Psalmist addresses on what this faithfulness is based.

“You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’

” Selah” (Psa 89:3-4, ESV)

What can steadfastness, unchangeableness, be based on?

Nothing created, for all created things are changeable, the only bases for God’s unchanging love for his people is the “I have made a covenant with my chosen one.”

There eternal covenant between Father and Son to Save God’s people, thought the mediatorial work of Jesus, Christ.

The promise declared in God’s word to David, fulfilled in Christ.

Transition

Now keep this in mind, as we get into verse 5-8, the hermetic is Christ and the covenant between Him and the Father, if we get away from that we lose the plot quickly.

Lets read verse 5 - 8.

In Order That the Saints Would Stand In Awe

The heavens declare the glory of God,

All of creation praises God

We learn this in Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

(Ps 19:1, ESV)

But the ultimate revelation of his steadfast love is in the power He uses to save his people.

We will see more of that when we get to verses 9-11

Calvin’s Comment here is useful, “There is no doubt, that the same subject is here prosecuted, and that by the word truth, it is intended to signalize the remarkable deliverances by which God had manifested his faithfulness to the promises made to his servants.”

[1]

The assembly of the Holy Ones

Lets consider who the Holy Ones are.

When we look at the Old Testament there are references to the Holy OneS, Plural, in the Job, Psalms, and Daniel and the Prophets.

There are many references to the Holy One (singular) and those are almost 100% clearly attribute to Christ and God.

For example, in this Psalm in verse 18 it says,

“For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.”

(Ps 89:18, ESV)

Or a famous verse quoted in the New Testament “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” (Ps 16:10, ESV)

Clearly referring to Christ.

It is true that Job, Psalmist, and Daniel all possibly believed that the Holy Ones here refereed, to some for of created divine beings, but they didn’t have the New Testament.

The completed revelation in Christ.

The New Testament refers to believers as Holy Ones more then hundred times.

When you read the New Testament and you see the word Saint or Saints, that is the Word ἅγιος (Hagios) it means Holy Ones.

Remember What the Author of Hebrews says, ‘in the Old Times, God spoke in many ways but now he has spoken through his Son.’ (Hebrews 1:1-2, ESV)

The clear revelation through Christ is now.

Calvin’s Comment is again very useful here, “Some interpreters judiciously explain the word heavens, of the angels, among whom there is a common joy and congratulation in the salvation of the Church.

This interpretation is confirmed from the last clause of the verse, in which it is asserted, that God’s truth will be celebrated in the congregation of the saints.”

[2]

The assembly of the Holy Ones is the church, the assembled saints, both the visible and invisible assemblies.

How about verse 6-7 then,

“6 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?

Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, 7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?” (Ps 89:6–7, ESV)

Repeated “who in the skies can be compared to the LORD”

You see I have something Job, Psalmist, and Daniel didn’t, I read the Book of Revelation, I know who is around God’s Throne, first, the Cherubim, then the 24 Elders, and then the whole gathering of the Holy Ones from every tribe and tongue.

At the center of all of it is Christ, he is the one that John’s see sitting on the thrown with the heavens and all in them adoring him.

Transition

Lets move to verses 9-11 for times sake.

The Earth Is The Lords’ In Righteousness

9 I know who stills the waves.

Job, Psalmist, and Daniel could only dream of these things that have been revealed to us.

We know he stood in the Boat on Galilee and said peace be still.

10 Here in verse ten we see how to properly use the context of the writer.

Rahab, here is and interesting study because the Septuagint doesn’t the have word Rahab here.

However, we know that Rahab has a context to the reader.

To cut chase, the reader of psalm they would understand the author was talking about Egypt.[3]

The poetic picture of God’s victor of Egypt in the red see is used an overarching example of God’s crusting his enemies.

I think Rahab (also a way of saying, the old sea dragon) is used intentionally so that the readers mind would not stay at the red see buy the see the full panoramic picture of God crushing all the enemies of he people.

It says, “scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.”

(Ps 89:10, ESV)

Our greatest enemy death and Sin, he send The Holy One, we conqueror.

This is all in keeping his Covenant made between the Father and the Son, like is says in Psalm 2.

“8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.”

(Ps 2:8–9, ESV)

The Covenant between the Father and Son is that all nations would be his rightful King and they his people would be saved through his rule.

That is exactly the proclamation we see in verse 11,

“The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.”

(Ps 89:11, ESV)

Those all the world is God’s all the time, the picture here again is of Christ’s rule, and the covenant between the Father and Son.

This is the picture from Revelation

Conclusion

We keep our eyes on Christ and let the clear parts of scripture interpret the unclear parts.

He is the whole reason

He is the whole story

He is the only thing worth talking about.

This text is a great example of how the scripture harmonize around Christ.

When he is at the center of everything, all things pointing to him, we have the truth of it.

We conclude with 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Benediction

References

[1] John Calvin and James Anderson, Commentary on the Book of Psalms, vol. 3 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 423.

[2] Ibid.

[3] “[Heb.