Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Ethan the Ezrahite, who is mentioned as the author of this psalm, served under King Solomon (1 Kings 4:31). As noted in 1 Kings 3:14 and (especially) 1 Kings 9:6-9, God's dealings with Solomon were conditioned upon Solomon walking in God's ways, and keeping His statutes and His commandments, as Solomon's father David had, with God warning Solomon what the consequences would be of his failure to do so. 

However, as subsequently noted in 1 Kings 11, when Solomon was old, his many foreign wives who worshipped pagan gods turned Solomon away from the God of Israel. As a result, God told Solomon that He would give the kingdom to someone else, and raised up rivals against him. He also brought military enemies from Syria against Israel.

Therefore, I would say that the wording of the psalm cited in the question was meant to express a reaction to the difficulties that God had brought upon Israel, as a result of which it seemed to Ethan that God had forsaken Israel. However, as Solomon had been warned, God's actions in doing these things were justified by Solomon's conduct, and Solomon had been specifically told what would happen. It was not God who had broken the covenant, but Solomon who had violated the covenant's condition.

I view this as similar to the extensive warning that God gave to Israel through Moses in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 as to the adverse consequences that would result if Israel would not obey God or keep his commandments, and that were repeatedly inflicted upon Israel in the book of Judges as a result of ongoing disobedience and idolatry by the Israelites.

January 28 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

He wasn't really, I don't think:

See my outline of this psalm:

The Faithfulness of God
‘Thy Faithfulness’ occurs six times in Psalm 89. It is—
Established in the heavens—a Heavenly Place Psalm 89:2
Extended in the congregation of the saints—a Heavenly People Psalm 89:5
Encircling the Lord of hosts—a Heavenly Power Psalm 89:8
Exalting the horn of the Lord’s anointed—a Heavenly Person (Christ) Psalm 89:24
Encompassing the head of His people—a Heavenly Provision Psalm 89:33
Expounded by the godly in their hymns—Heavenly Praises Psalm 89:1

See also Wesley’s notes on this Psalm --
89:37
A witness - The rainbow, which is God's faithful witness, a token of God's everlasting covenant between God and every living creature for perpetual generations, Genesis 9: 12, 16.

89:38
But - Having hitherto declared the certainty of God's promises, he now humbly expostulates with God about it. (ex·pos·tu·late =express strong disapproval or disagreement.)

Or another outline: 


· Psalm 89
1. God Is Faithful in His Character–Praise Him (vv. 1-18).· 
2. God Is Faithful to His ovenant–Trust Him (vv. 19-29).
· 3. God Is Faithful in His Chastening (vv. 39-45).
· 4. God’s Faithfulness Will Never Cease–Wait for Him (vv. 46-52).
--WWW

Let's face it. God is faithful, no matter what!

April 19 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Alan Hitchner

The old covenant God made with the Hebrews made it clear that if the Hebrews honored Him, they would be blessed. And if they did not, that God would be punitive toward them so they might return to Him. Some were wayward, but even the innocent suffered from their waywardness of the sin of countrymen, just as today we see the sin of some effect many others.

June 27 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report