Psalms 89:38 - But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.
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What does "Psalms 89:38" mean?
Psalm 89:38, "But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed," expresses a deep sense of disappointment and disillusionment directed towards God. Let's break down the verse and its possible interpretations:
"But you have rejected and spurned...": This indicates a perceived change in God's disposition. The speaker believes God has turned away from or cast off something previously valued. The terms "rejected" and "spurned" suggest a strong and deliberate action, not merely neglect. "Rejected" implies a conscious choice to refuse, while "spurned" indicates disdain or contempt.
"...You have been angry with your anointed.": The "anointed" is a key term, and its meaning is crucial to understanding the verse. In the Old Testament, anointing with oil was a ritual act that set someone apart for a special purpose, often kings, priests, or prophets. The "anointed" here most likely refers to the Davidic king, a descendant of David.
The speaker is saying that God is not merely indifferent but actively angry with the king He Himself had chosen and designated. This anger suggests a breach of the covenant, a failure on the part of the king, or a shift in God's favor.
Possible Interpretations
1. Failure of the Davidic King: The most straightforward interpretation is that the current Davidic king has acted in a way that displeases God. He may have been unrighteous, disobedient, or failed to uphold the covenant. The speaker is lamenting that God is punishing the king, and by extension, the nation.
2. National Disaster as Divine Punishment: The verse could be a lament about a national disaster, such as military defeat, famine, or plague. The speaker interprets this disaster as a sign of God's anger towards the king and the nation. In this view, the failure of the Davidic line to secure safety and prosperity for the nation shows they have fallen out of favor with God.
3. Disillusionment with God's Promises: Psalm 89, as a whole, grapples with the apparent contradiction between God's promises to David (of an everlasting dynasty) and the current reality of hardship. The speaker might be expressing frustration that God seems to have broken His covenant, even though the psalm earlier affirms the permanence of God's covenant with David.
Context within Psalm 89
It's important to read verse 38 in the context of the entire Psalm 89. The psalm begins with praise for God's faithfulness and His covenant with David. However, the tone shifts dramatically in the latter half, expressing lament and questioning God's actions. The psalm highlights the tension between faith in God's promises and the experience of suffering and apparent abandonment.
In summary, Psalm 89:38 expresses a sense of shock and grief that God has seemingly abandoned His chosen king, likely due to the king's failure or national misfortune. The speaker is questioning God's faithfulness in light of the Davidic covenant.
Psalms 89:38 - But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.
What does "Psalms 89:38" mean?
Psalm 89:38, "But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed," expresses a deep sense of disappointment and disillusionment directed towards God. Let's break down the verse and its possible interpretations:
"But you have rejected and spurned...": This indicates a perceived change in God's disposition. The speaker believes God has turned away from or cast off something previously valued. The terms "rejected" and "spurned" suggest a strong and deliberate action, not merely neglect. "Rejected" implies a conscious choice to refuse, while "spurned" indicates disdain or contempt.
"...You have been angry with your anointed.": The "anointed" is a key term, and its meaning is crucial to understanding the verse. In the Old Testament, anointing with oil was a ritual act that set someone apart for a special purpose, often kings, priests, or prophets. The "anointed" here most likely refers to the Davidic king, a descendant of David.
The speaker is saying that God is not merely indifferent but actively angry with the king He Himself had chosen and designated. This anger suggests a breach of the covenant, a failure on the part of the king, or a shift in God's favor.
Possible Interpretations
1. Failure of the Davidic King: The most straightforward interpretation is that the current Davidic king has acted in a way that displeases God. He may have been unrighteous, disobedient, or failed to uphold the covenant. The speaker is lamenting that God is punishing the king, and by extension, the nation.
2. National Disaster as Divine Punishment: The verse could be a lament about a national disaster, such as military defeat, famine, or plague. The speaker interprets this disaster as a sign of God's anger towards the king and the nation. In this view, the failure of the Davidic line to secure safety and prosperity for the nation shows they have fallen out of favor with God.
3. Disillusionment with God's Promises: Psalm 89, as a whole, grapples with the apparent contradiction between God's promises to David (of an everlasting dynasty) and the current reality of hardship. The speaker might be expressing frustration that God seems to have broken His covenant, even though the psalm earlier affirms the permanence of God's covenant with David.
Context within Psalm 89
It's important to read verse 38 in the context of the entire Psalm 89. The psalm begins with praise for God's faithfulness and His covenant with David. However, the tone shifts dramatically in the latter half, expressing lament and questioning God's actions. The psalm highlights the tension between faith in God's promises and the experience of suffering and apparent abandonment.
In summary, Psalm 89:38 expresses a sense of shock and grief that God has seemingly abandoned His chosen king, likely due to the king's failure or national misfortune. The speaker is questioning God's faithfulness in light of the Davidic covenant.