Psalms 89 · The Lantern

A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite. I will sing of the loving kindness of the Lord forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

The eighty-eighth psalm is prefaced with this title: The Understanding of Ethan the Ezrahite. Wherever "understanding" is placed first, what follows is mystical and obscure. Ethan is interpreted as "strong," or "robust"; and Ezrahite as "one helped," or "one who has obtained help." I say this because we are dealing with the literal history.

Understand, beloved, this Psalm, which I am about to explain, by the grace of God, of our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, and be of good cheer, because He who promised, will fulfil all, as He has fulfilled much: for it is not our own merit, but His mercy, that gives us confidence in Him.

Orthodoxos: Listen now how the prophet praises God at the very beginning of the psalm. He saw with his prophetic eyes the future iniquity of his people and the captivity that was in consequence foredoomed; yet he praised his own Lord for unfailing promises.

I indeed declare, "Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them."

"I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant,

'I will establish your seed forever, and build up your throne to all generations.'" Selah.

The heavens will praise your wonders, Lord; your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.

And the heavens shall confess your wonders, O Lord. This is what is said in the eighteenth psalm: "The heavens declare the glory of God." According to the mystical understanding, he calls the apostles "heavens." For if it is said to the sinner, "Earth you are, and to earth you shall go," why should it not be said to the holy or righteous man, "Heaven you are, and to heaven you…

"O Lord, the very Heavens shall praise Thy wondrous works" [Psalm 89:5]. The Heavens will not praise their own merits, but Thy wondrous works, O Lord. For in every act of mercy on the lost, of justification of the unrighteous, what do we praise but the wondrous works of God? Thou praisest Him, because the dead have risen: praise Him yet more, because the lost are redeemed.

The heavens proclaim your wonders, that is, the marvels of the soul which they feel within them. Such experiences make faith most secure. When the soul considers the Most High in a manner that is most pious, true, and good, then it is lifted up by zeal and the rapture of love to the third heaven.

For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like the Lord,

a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?

O such strictness toward the righteous! O such abundant forgiveness toward the sinner! He finds so many different means, without himself changing, to keep the righteous in check and forgive the sinner, by usefully dividing his rich goodness. And listen how. If he frightens the sinner who persists in sins, he brings him to desperation and to the exhaustion of hope.

..."God is very greatly to be feared in the counsel of the righteous, and to be had in dread of all them that are round about Him" [Psalm 89:7]. God is everywhere; who therefore are round about Him, who is everywhere? For if He has some round about Him, He is represented as finite on every side.

This counsel has been confirmed by the twelve Apostles and by the counsels of the Saints. If you want the testimony of the Saints concerning these counsels, seek Anthony, Paphnutius, and Macarius, who all resolved to observe these counsels. Seek the bishops Basil, Augustine, Martin, and Gregory; all were monks and resolved to observe the counsels and kept them.

Lord, God of Hosts, who is a mighty one, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you.

You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them.

You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours; the world and its fullness. You have founded them.

The north and the south, you have created them. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.

You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face.

Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted.

For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted.

For our shield belongs to the Lord; our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Then you spoke in vision to your holy ones, and said, "I have bestowed strength on the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people.

I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil,

with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him.

No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him.

I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him.

But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted.

I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers.

He will call to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!'

I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

I will keep my loving kindness for him forevermore. My covenant will stand firm with him.

I will also make his seed endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

If his children forsake my Law, and do not walk in my ordinances;

if they break my statutes, and do not keep my commandments;

then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail.

I will not break my covenant, nor alter what my lips have uttered.

Once have I sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.

His seed will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me.

It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky." Selah.

But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.

You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust.

You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin.

All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.

You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice.

Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven't supported him in battle.

You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne down to the ground.

You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah.

How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire?

Remember how short my time is! For what vanity have you created all the children of men!

What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.

Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness?

Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,

With which your enemies have mocked, Lord, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.

Blessed be the Lord forevermore. Amen, and Amen.

Psalms89