Psalms 89:38
But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse reveals a bold, almost shocking accusation: God, the faithful covenant-maker, is now seen as "casting off" and "abhorring" His own anointed king. It's not just that things are going badly; the psalmist presents God Himself as the active agent of this rejection, turning His fierce anger upon the very one He chose and set apart.
After building up the glorious promises of God's eternal covenant with David and his descendants, the psalmist abruptly shifts to a lament, contrasting those promises with the devastating reality of present suffering. The nation's king, God's anointed, appears to be utterly rejected and abandoned, leading the psalmist to cry out in confusion and pain about why God's actions seem to contradict His word. This bold questioning of God, even in the face of apparent covenant failure, sets the stage for the psalm's deep exploration of faithfulness and despair.
Has God ever felt distant, even when His promises seem clear? This verse isn't a gentle plea; it's a bold confrontation.
The Psalmist here takes a massive leap from celebrating God's faithfulness to questioning His actions.
A Turn in the Song
For 37 verses, Psalm 89 has been a vibrant song of God's promises to David and his royal line. It paints a picture of an everlasting dynasty and a secure throne. But verse 38 marks a dramatic shift. The tone changes from celebration to lament, from praise to a desperate, even scandalous, expostulation with God.
The Core Complaint
The Psalmist isn't just confused; he's bringing God face-to-face with His own Word. He's saying, "You promised THIS, but look at THIS reality!" This isn't irreverence; it's faith wrestling with apparent contradiction. It's the cry of someone who believes God's promises so deeply that when they seem unmet, they feel compelled to cry out.
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Who is this 'anointed one' God is angry with? And why does God's wrath feel so devastatingly complete?
The term 'anointed' (messiah) here points to the Davidic king, God's chosen representative on earth. But in this moment, the king and his lineage are experiencing the devastating opposite of divine favor.
The King's Calamity
When God's wrath is poured out, it's not a mild displeasure. The commentary highlights terms like 'cast off,' 'abhorred,' 'rejected,' and 'profaned his crown.' This signifies a total abandonment and disgrace. The king, who should be God's symbol of power and security, is shown as powerless, his defenses broken down, his enemies triumphant.
The Covenant's Strain
This verse pushes against the very covenant God made with David, which promised an everlasting throne (2 Samuel 7). The Psalmist sees the current disaster as a violation of that sacred oath. It’s as if God Himself has 'made void the covenant of his servant.' This isn't just a political defeat; it's a spiritual crisis where the foundation of God's promised faithfulness seems to be crumbling.
Understand the original words
ebrah · Hebrew Noun
God's righteous and settled reaction against sin and rebellion. While it may involve judgment, it is always consistent with His holiness and justice, and in the Old Testament, it is often expressed toward His people when they break covenant.
mashiyach · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Literarily 'the anointed one' (Messiah/Christ). It refers to a person—often a king or priest—consecrated with oil for a specific divine office and empowered by the Spirit to serve God's purposes for His people.
This psalm reflects the deep despair of Judah's people during the Babylonian exile, when the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the Davidic monarchy seemed to directly contradict God's eternal covenant promises to David.
c. 1000 BC
God's Covenant with David
God establishes a covenant with King David, promising an eternal dynasty and kingdom, recorded in 2 Samuel 7. This divine assurance forms the bedrock of Israel's hope for a perpetual monarchy.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's reign, the united kingdom splits into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This division marks the beginning of a long period of instability for the Davidic line.
722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and ending the reign of its kings. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling much of the population. The Davidic monarchy in Judah is abolished, and the land is left in ruins.
This passage echoes the lament of Psalm 89, describing a similar feeling of abandonment by God despite past victories and covenants, highlighting a recurring theme of divine disfavor.
Jeremiah 23:9This verse addresses the 'anointed' (referring to the kings of Judah) and speaks of God's trembling and shattering power against them, mirroring the distress of Psalm 89 when God seems to turn His wrath upon His chosen.
Lamentations 4:1The imagery of a 'profaned crown' and a 'royal line' cast down resonates deeply with the lament in Psalm 89:38, painting a picture of severe divine judgment on the royal house.
1 Samuel 15:23This passage describes God rejecting Saul, the first anointed king, which serves as a historical precedent and a stark reminder of how God can withdraw His favor from His chosen, even after anointing.
Isaiah 54:6-8This passage contrasts God's temporary anger and abandonment with His everlasting compassion, offering a counterpoint to the deep sorrow of Psalm 89, and reminding us that even severe wrath can be followed by restoration.
bensonPsalms 89:38: "But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed."
Psalm 89:38-45 . But thou hast cast off — Having hitherto declared the certainty of God’s promises, he now proceeds to show the unsuitableness of the present dispensations of God’s providence thereunto, and humbly expostulates with God about it. Thou hast been wroth with thine anointed — That person and family that thou hast invested with the kingdom. Thou hast made void, &c. — Which seems contrary to…
clarkePsalms 89:38: "But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed."
But thou hast cast off - Hitherto the psalmist has spoken of the covenant of God with David and his family, which led them to expect all manner of prosperity, and a perpetuity of the Jewish throne; now he shews what appears to him a failure of the promise, and what he calls in the next verse the making void the covenant of his servant. God cannot lie to David; how is it then that his crown is profaned…
This verse reveals a bold, almost shocking accusation: God, the faithful covenant-maker, is now seen as "casting off" and "abhorring" His own anointed king. It's not just that things are going badly; the psalmist presents God Himself as the active agent of this rejection, turning His fierce anger upon the very one He chose and set apart.
After building up the glorious promises of God's eternal covenant with David and his descendants, the psalmist abruptly shifts to a lament, contrasting those promises with the devastating reality of present suffering. The nation's king, God's anointed, appears to be utterly rejected and abandoned, leading the psalmist to cry out in confusion and pain about why God's actions seem to contradict His word. This bold questioning of God, even in the face of apparent covenant failure, sets the stage for the psalm's deep exploration of faithfulness and despair.
After building up the glorious promises of God's eternal covenant with David and his descendants, the psalmist abruptly shifts to a lament, contrasting those promises with the devastating reality of present suffering. The nation's king, God's anointed, appears to be utterly rejected and abandoned, leading the psalmist to cry out in confusion and pain about why God's actions seem to contradict His word. This bold questioning of God, even in the face of apparent covenant failure, sets the stage for the psalm's deep exploration of faithfulness and despair.
"But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed." — This verse reveals a bold, almost shocking accusation: God, the faithful covenant-maker, is now seen as "casting off" and "abhorring" His own anointed king. It's not just that things are going badly;…
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