Psalms 89

“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” The line’s distinctive content terms include faithfulness, generations, known. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.” Naming Selah and Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD : thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD ? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD ?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, founded, fulness. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD , in the light of thy countenance.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include beat, face, foes. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.” The line’s distinctive content terms include hand, right, rivers. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.” Naming Also keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.” Naming His keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;” The line’s distinctive content terms include children, forsake, judgments. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;” The line’s distinctive content terms include break, commandments, keep. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.” The line’s distinctive content terms include iniquity, stripes, transgression. Its relationship to verses 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.” Naming Nevertheless keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.” Naming David and Once keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abhorred, anointed, wroth. Its relationship to verses 37 and 39 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.” Naming Selah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“How long, LORD ? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;” Naming Remember keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD ; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.” Naming Wherewith keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.” Naming Amen and Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.