Show Don't Tell: Psalm 89

Instead of saying "The Davidic covenant seemed broken," watch the crown roll in the dust. A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite—closes Book 3. "I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself." The opening: eternal love, established faithfulness. "You said, 'I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, 'I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.''" Covenant remembered. Then cosmic praise: "The heavens praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones... You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies." Creation power, exodus power. "You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high is your right hand." More covenant promises: "I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him... I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries... I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure." But then the turn: "But you have rejected, you have spurned, you have been very angry with your anointed one. You have renounced the covenant with your servant and have defiled his crown in the dust." Crown in the dust—visible disgrace. "You have broken through all his walls and reduced his strongholds to ruins... How long, LORD? Will you hide yourself forever?" The psalm ends with the question unanswered—but doxology closes the book: "Praise be to the LORD forever! Amen and Amen."