Psalm 89 is among the great Psalms proclaiming the everlasting throne of David. Of course, we know that mortal King David lived and died, and his throne passed to the next in line. We also know that God promised him that his throne (kingdom) would become an everlasting one through his Offspring. There was a greater David yet to come who would establish an eternal throne and kingdom and bring his reign into this very world with us. All through the New Testament, we read the fulfillment of this in Jesus.
Psalm 89 recounts this covenant promise to David. “I will establish your offspring forever and build your throne for all generations.” (Psalm 89:4). The certainty of this promise is cause for praise. The Psalmist himself begins the Psalm by saying, “I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever, with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 89:1-2).
The Praise attributed to God in Psalm 89 is because God is perfectly faithful to his promises. While the Psalmist sings his own praise to God’s faithfulness, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he also gives us a glimpse of praise that happens beyond the realm of our sight and understanding. In the heavenly realm, God is praised for his faithfulness.
Psalm 89:5-8 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! 6 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, 7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? 8 O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?
These few verses give us cause to wonder and perhaps even imagine what this might look and sound like. Notice that the Psalmist speaks not just of a few heavenly beings but the assembly of holy ones and the council of holy ones. Just as the church is called an assembly, it seems the angels and heavenly beings also assemble as a council together. We cannot imagine the splendor or power of an assembly of the angelic host. What we can know is that even in all their splendor, God is greatly feared and awesome above all who are around him (vs.7). There is none like God. In the glory of the heavenly host, nothing compares to the majesty of God.
In the wonder and even transcendence of this glorious scene, the Psalmist proclaims the attribute of God being praised. O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? This is where we can be reminded that this entire Psalm is about the establishment of the everlasting Kingdom promised to David through his Offspring. God will keep this promise and it will be to his eternal glory. The King to come and reign on David’s throne will do it in a way that will secure the reign of his kingdom in power and might forever and ever. God will keep his promise to David, and it will be as certain as God’s majesty that infinitely exceeds the glory of the heavenly host.
The host of heaven praise God because his faithfulness is all around him. We might ask, ‘Why is God’s faithfulness all around him?’ Surely it is because God’s faithfulness is intrinsic to the nature of his being and is an attribute of his surrounding glory. Not only this, but the heavenly host, even more than any mere human, understand that God has always been true to his perfect character in the history of his providential working in creation. They have witnessed God’s work in his creation from the very beginning. The host know that the future is but a formality waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled. They know that the moment God declares his will, it is a certainty.
If this is the praise given in heaven to God for his faithfulness, surely this gives us cause to put aside our doubts about our future and join in the angelic chorus. Surely if we are part of this forever kingdom loyal to our ruling and reigning King, we can be sure that God’s eternal promise is also certain for us.
Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!