Psalm 89: For Civic Strength

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In this Psalm King David sets as a goal to write a poem that will provide a rationale, a thinking exercise, that would provide strength to his people, much like a speech we would expect of a leader to give in times of war and struggle. However, King David is not writing a speech, he is writing his own intimate prayer with G-d to be sung “from generation to generation.” Once more, this future outlook David has makes us wonder if he might have written this Psalm to support the civil strength not of his own people, but of the people of generations that will come much later on in time. Perhaps this is a prayer for civil strength in our times, when once more Israel is established after thousands of years and like in David’s times, our first few decades had many wars and much unrest in the land.  

King David turns to us, in the future messianic times, and tells us what we need to know in order to strengthen our faith in G-d. David writes “establish Your faith in them:” and goes one to speak as G-d’s voice: “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my David, my servant:” What was the covenant G-d made with David? “until eternity I will establish your seed, and I will build from generation to generation your wholesome throne.” David tells us that he had made a covenant with G-d; he had witnessed what would come to pass in future times and had formed a ‘deal’ with G-d that his seed will be allowed to help correct the wrongs at the messianic times. This explanation strengthens the hypothesis that David is referring to the needed civil strength in future times, rather than his own times; out times.

David then shares with us what it is that he is seeing as the future outcome of this covenant: “The skies will show gratitude to Your wonders, G-d, the faith in You will even be amongst holy gathering of crowds.” The skies, in the messianic time context, refers to the idea of the wind as the force of G-d; a new approach to the perception of G-d and Divine forces, which is believed will be taught in the messianic times.

King David does not know who it is that could be so powerful in his strength and faith that could come under the necessary covenant in these future events. He asks G-d who it is that could be godlike in the needed way. Going on to describe the eternal magnanimousness of G-d, solidifying the idea that no human could possibly attain powers that are G-d-like. 

When we keep reading David’s description of what G-d can do in our lives, we can start seeing G-d not as the miracle worker of the ten plagues and the splitting of the seas, but as a G-d that can uplift with faith even the most depressed people. When faced with a civilization that is plagued with depression, this is the type of G-d we need to strengthen our faith in -- and it appears King David knew it. 

As we read on, King David once more returns to quoting G-d’s voice. This is potentially David’s ‘journal entry’ of what G-d had conveyed to him as part of the covenant he made with G-d. After this, David reflects on his understanding of the process of awakening the Messiah will go through; his lacking, his purification process and his return to overturn the political reality in the land. King David reflects on his visions asking G-d: did “You returned him from his purification process?” and “have You shortened the days of his youth? Have You covered him with wholesome shame?” It appears as though David himself does not understand how someone could possibly go through so many challenges from youth could possibly rise to a kingship states -- he asks G-d: did You do this to him? What was the point in this? Why would You do this to him?

David’s disbelief of what he sees will happen in the war of the end of days and the coming of the Messiah leaves him dumbstruck. He ends the Psalm with a question and request to G-d, to remember what he promised him, that his seed will achieve prosperity and a throne with no wars. David says to G-d: “You have sworn to David in Your faith” and asks what is the point of all of this: “Have You created all men in vain?”

מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל לְאֵיתָ֥ן הָֽאֶזְרָחִֽי׃

A rational for civil strength;

חַֽסְדֵ֣י ה’ עוֹלָ֣ם אָשִׁ֑ירָה לְדֹ֥ר וָדֹ֓ר ׀ אוֹדִ֖יעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בְּפִֽי׃

The eternal loving-kindness of G-d I will sing from generation to generation,

I will announce Your faith through my speech [my mouth].

כִּֽי־אָמַ֗רְתִּי ע֭וֹלָם חֶ֣סֶד יִבָּנֶ֑ה שָׁמַ֓יִם ׀ תָּכִ֖ן אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בָהֶֽם׃

For I said eternity loving-kindness will be built in the sky,

Establish Your faith in them:

כָּרַ֣תִּֽי בְ֭רִית לִבְחִירִ֑י נִ֝שְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי לְדָוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃

“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,

II have sworn to my David, my servant:

עַד־ע֭וֹלָם אָכִ֣ין זַרְעֶ֑ךָ וּבָנִ֨יתִי לְדֹר־וָד֖וֹר כִּסְאֲךָ֣ סֶֽלָה׃

Until eternity I will establish your seed,

And I will build from generation to generation your wholesome throne.”

וְי֘וֹד֤וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם פִּלְאֲךָ֣ ה’ אַף־אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בִּקְהַ֥ל קְדֹשִֽׁים׃

The skies will show gratitude to Your wonders, G-d,

The faith in You will even be amongst holy gathering of crowds.

כִּ֤י מִ֣י בַ֭שַּׁחַק יַעֲרֹ֣ךְ לַה’ יִדְמֶ֥ה לַ֝ה’ בִּבְנֵ֥י אֵלִים׃

For who in the expanse of the sky will set himself before G-d,

Who will become like G-d amongst the sons of G-d’s creations,

אֵ֣ל נַ֭עֲרָץ בְּסוֹד־קְדֹשִׁ֣ים רַבָּ֑ה וְ֝נוֹרָ֗א עַל־כָּל־סְבִיבָֽיו׃

An admired G-d in the secrets of Holiness,

Myriad and awesome over all that are around him?

ה’ ׀ אֱלֹ֘קי צְבָא֗וֹת מִֽי־כָֽמ֖וֹךָ חֲסִ֥ין ׀ יָ֑הּ וֶ֝אֱמֽוּנָתְךָ֗ סְבִיבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

G-d, the Lord of armies, who is untouchable as You are,

Divine as You are, with Your faith all around You?

אַתָּ֣ה מ֭וֹשֵׁל בְּגֵא֣וּת הַיָּ֑ם בְּשׂ֥וֹא גַ֝לָּ֗יו אַתָּ֥ה תְשַׁבְּחֵֽם׃

You govern the tides of the ocean,

With the swelling of its waves You will praise them.

אַתָּ֤ה דִכִּ֣אתָ כֶחָלָ֣ל רָ֑הַב בִּזְר֥וֹעַ עֻ֝זְּךָ֗ פִּזַּ֥רְתָּ אוֹיְבֶֽיךָ׃

You depressed [crushed] as haughtiness emptiness,

In the strength of Your arms You dispersed Your enemies.

לְךָ֣ שָׁ֭מַיִם אַף־לְךָ֥ אָ֑רֶץ תֵּבֵ֥ל וּ֝מְלֹאָ֗הּ אַתָּ֥ה יְסַדְתָּֽם׃

For You is the skies, even earth is for You,

The universe and all that is in it You established.

צָפ֣וֹן וְ֭יָמִין אַתָּ֣ה בְרָאתָ֑ם תָּב֥וֹר וְ֝חֶרְמ֗וֹן בְּשִׁמְךָ֥ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃

North and right You created,

Tavor and Hermon in Your name will sing.

[Tavor and Hermon are two mountains in Israel]

לְךָ֣ זְ֭רוֹעַ עִם־גְּבוּרָ֑ה תָּעֹ֥ז יָ֝דְךָ֗ תָּר֥וּם יְמִינֶֽךָ׃

Yours is the arm with courage,

Your hand will dare, Your right will be lifted.

צֶ֣דֶק וּ֭מִשְׁפָּט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֶ֑ךָ חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת יְֽקַדְּמ֥וּ פָנֶֽיךָ׃

Righteousness and justice establish Your throne,

Loving-kindness and truth will come before You,

אַשְׁרֵ֣י הָ֭עָם יוֹדְעֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה ה’ בְּֽאוֹר־פָּנֶ֥יךָ יְהַלֵּכֽוּן׃

Happy is the people who know to call out to G-d,

In the face of Your light they will walk. 

בְּ֭שִׁמְךָ יְגִיל֣וּן כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ יָרֽוּמוּ׃

In Your name they will rejoice all day,

And in Your righteousness they will be uplifted.

כִּֽי־תִפְאֶ֣רֶת עֻזָּ֣מוֹ אָ֑תָּה וּ֝בִרְצֹנְךָ֗ תרים [תָּר֥וּם] קַרְנֵֽנוּ׃

For Your are the strength of their splendour,

And in Your will You will uplift our richness.

כִּ֣י לַֽ֭ה’ מָֽגִנֵּ֑נוּ וְלִקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מַלְכֵּֽנוּ׃

For G-d is our protector, 

And our king of the holiness of Israel,

אָ֤ז דִּבַּ֥רְתָּֽ־בְחָ֡זוֹן לַֽחֲסִידֶ֗יךָ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר שִׁוִּ֣יתִי עֵ֭זֶר עַל־גִּבּ֑וֹר הֲרִימ֖וֹתִי בָח֣וּר מֵעָֽם׃

Then to Your faithful believers You had spoken in visions,

And You will say: “I have materialized a helper over heroes,

I have arose a youth from amongst the people 

מָ֭צָאתִי דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֑י בְּשֶׁ֖מֶן קָדְשִׁ֣י מְשַׁחְתִּֽיו׃

I found David my servant,

In my holy oils I have anointed him

אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָ֭דִי תִּכּ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ אַף־זְרוֹעִ֥י תְאַמְּצֶֽנּוּ׃

Which makes my hands establish his people,

Even my arms will strengthen him.

לֹֽא־יַשִּׁ֣א אוֹיֵ֣ב בּ֑וֹ וּבֶן־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה לֹ֣א יְעַנֶּֽנּוּ׃

An enemy will not come over him,

And the sons of wickedness will not torture him.

וְכַתּוֹתִ֣י מִפָּנָ֣יו צָרָ֑יו וּמְשַׂנְאָ֥יו אֶגּֽוֹף׃

And my crushing will come in front of his enemies,

And his haters I will outmanoeuvred,

וֶֽאֶֽמוּנָתִ֣י וְחַסְדִּ֣י עִמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בִשְׁמִ֗י תָּר֥וּם קַרְנֽוֹ׃

And My faith, and My loving-kindness will be with him,

And in My name his richness will arise,

וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י בַיָּ֣ם יָד֑וֹ וּֽבַנְּהָר֥וֹת יְמִינֽוֹ׃

And I placed his hand in the ocean, 

And his right in the rivers.

ה֣וּא יִ֭קְרָאֵנִי אָ֣בִי אָ֑תָּה אֵ֝לִ֗י וְצ֣וּר יְשׁוּעָתִֽי׃

He will call Me ‘Father: You are my G-d, and my rock of salvation’

אַף־אָ֭נִי בְּכ֣וֹר אֶתְּנֵ֑הוּ עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן לְמַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

I will even make him as my first-born,

Above all of the kings of the land,

לְ֭עוֹלָ֗ם אשמור־[אֶשְׁמָר־] ל֣וֹ חַסְדִּ֑י וּ֝בְרִיתִ֗י נֶאֱמֶ֥נֶת לֽוֹ׃

For eternity I will keep him My loving-kindness,

My covenant is loyal to him.

וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י לָעַ֣ד זַרְע֑וֹ וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ כִּימֵ֥י שָׁמָֽיִם׃

And I placed forever his seed,

And his throne will last as the days of the skies. 

אִם־יַֽעַזְב֣וּ בָ֭נָיו תּוֹרָתִ֑י וּ֝בְמִשְׁפָּטַ֗י לֹ֣א יֵלֵכֽוּן׃

If his sons leave My teachings [My Torah],

In My judgement they will not perish.

אִם־חֻקֹּתַ֥י יְחַלֵּ֑לוּ וּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗י לֹ֣א יִשְׁמֹֽרוּ׃

If they disgrace my laws,

and they do not keep my commandments,

וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י בְשֵׁ֣בֶט פִּשְׁעָ֑ם וּבִנְגָעִ֥ים עֲוֺנָֽם׃

And I will show up in the sins of their tribes,

And in their tortuous wrongdoings,

וְ֭חַסְדִּי לֹֽא־אָפִ֣יר מֵֽעִמּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־אֲ֝שַׁקֵּ֗ר בֶּאֱמוּנָתִֽי׃

And My loving-kindness I will not undo from his people,

And I will not lie in My faith

לֹא־אֲחַלֵּ֥ל בְּרִיתִ֑י וּמוֹצָ֥א שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י לֹ֣א אֲשַׁנֶּֽה׃

I will not desecrate My covenant,

And the utterance of My lips I will not change.

אַ֭חַת נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתִּי בְקָדְשִׁ֑י אִֽם־לְדָוִ֥ד אֲכַזֵּֽב׃

Once I have sworn in My Holiness,

I will not let David down.

זַ֭רְעוֹ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִהְיֶ֑ה וְכִסְא֖וֹ כַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ נֶגְדִּֽי׃

His seed will forever be,

And his throne will be as the sun against me.

כְּ֭יָרֵחַ יִכּ֣וֹן עוֹלָ֑ם וְעֵ֥ד בַּ֝שַּׁ֗חַק נֶאֱמָ֥ן סֶֽלָה׃

As the moon the eternity will be established,

In the skies wholesome loyalty will be present.”

וְאַתָּ֣ה זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתִּמְאָ֑ס הִ֝תְעַבַּ֗רְתָּ עִם־מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃

And You who abandoned and became tired of life,

You have become spiritually impregnated with Your Massiah, 

נֵ֭אַרְתָּה בְּרִ֣ית עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ חִלַּ֖לְתָּ לָאָ֣רֶץ נִזְרֽוֹ׃*

you were enlightened with the covenant of your servant,

and have played your flute play to the land for his abstinence

* In the context of the previous verse, this verse is usually translated as negative: [You rejected the covenant of your servant, You decorated the abstinent to the ground]. However, this verse can also be translated in a positive light. The positive version refers to a situation in which the coming Messiah is going through an Ibur (עיבור) - a process when a soul that had already passed away joins our own soul to allow for additional strength and knowledge to be accumulated. If the Messiah indeed goes through this process, as suggested in the previous verse (“you have become spiritually impregnated”), it only makes sense that the continuation is not a depressing one, rather it is one of enlightenment, music, abstinence and deeper faith. 

פָּרַ֥צְתָּ כָל־גְּדֵרֹתָ֑יו שַׂ֖מְתָּ מִבְצָרָ֣יו מְחִתָּה׃

You have broken down all his walls,

You transformed his fortresses into wreckage

שַׁ֭סֻּהוּ כָּל־עֹ֣בְרֵי דָ֑רֶךְ הָיָ֥ה חֶ֝רְפָּ֗ה לִשְׁכֵנָֽיו׃

All passer byes will take advantage of him,

He became a disgrace to his neighbours.

הֲ֭רִימוֹתָ יְמִ֣ין צָרָ֑יו הִ֝שְׂמַ֗חְתָּ כָּל־אוֹיְבָֽיו׃

You uplifted the strong hand of his enemies,

You gladdened all his foes.

אַף־תָּ֭שִׁיב צ֣וּר חַרְבּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א הֲ֝קֵימֹת֗וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

Even if You return to him the strength of his sword,

You did not let him rise in battle,

הִשְׁבַּ֥תָּ מִטְּהָר֑וֹ וְ֝כִסְא֗וֹ לָאָ֥רֶץ מִגַּֽרְתָּה׃

You returned him from his purification process,

And his throne to the land You overturned,

הִ֭קְצַרְתָּ יְמֵ֣י עֲלוּמָ֑יו הֶֽעֱטִ֨יתָ עָלָ֖יו בּוּשָׁ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃

Have You shortened the days of his youth?

Have You covered him with wholesome shame?

עַד־מָ֣ה ה’ תִּסָּתֵ֣ר לָנֶ֑צַח תִּבְעַ֖ר כְּמוֹ־אֵ֣שׁ חֲמָתֶֽךָ׃

To what end, G-d, will You keep him in hiding?

Forever he will burn like Your fairy wrath,

זְכָר־אֲנִ֥י מֶה־חָ֑לֶד עַל־מַה־שָּׁ֝֗וְא בָּרָ֥אתָ כָל־בְּנֵי־אָדָֽם׃

I remember what it is You allowed to rust,

Have You created all men in vain?

מִ֤י גֶ֣בֶר יִֽ֭חְיֶה וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֶה־מָּ֑וֶת יְמַלֵּ֨ט נַפְשׁ֖וֹ מִיַּד־שְׁא֣וֹל סֶֽלָה׃

Which men will live and not see death and escape to save his life from the hands of such encompassing evil [hell]?

אַיֵּ֤ה ׀ חֲסָדֶ֖יךָ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֥ים ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לְ֝דָוִ֗ד בֶּאֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃

Where are Your first faithful men?

Lord, You have sworn to David in Your faith,

זְכֹ֣ר אֲ֭דֹנָי חֶרְפַּ֣ת עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ שְׂאֵתִ֥י בְ֝חֵיקִ֗י כָּל־רַבִּ֥ים עַמִּֽים׃

Remember, Lord, the disgrace Your servant,

How I carried in my lap the conflicts of all many nations,

אֲשֶׁ֤ר חֵרְפ֖וּ אוֹיְבֶ֥יךָ ׀ ה’ אֲשֶׁ֥ר חֵ֝רְפ֗וּ עִקְּב֥וֹת מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃

Who have disgraced Your enemies, G-d,

Who have decreased the wake of Your anointed one,

בָּר֖וּךְ ה’ לְ֝עוֹלָ֗ם אָ֘מֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃

Blessed is G-d for eternity,

Amen and Amen