Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 89:14
Justice and judgment [are] the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
14. Righteousness and judgement are the foundation of thy throne:
Lovingkindness and truth attend thy presence.
The first line recurs in Psa 97:2. Cp. too Psa 33:5. Righteousness, or the principle of justice, and judgement, or the application of it in act, are the basis of all true government, divine as well as human (Pro 16:12; Pro 25:5). Lovingkindness and truth are represented as angels attending in God’s Presence (Psa 95:2), ready to do His bidding (Psa 43:3), rather than as couriers preceding Him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
justice and judgment are the habitation of the throne – Margin, establishment. The Hebrew word – makon – means properly a place where one stands; then, a foundation or basis. The idea here is, that the throne of God is founded on justice and right judgment; it is this which supports it; his administration is maintained because it is right. This supposes that there is such a thing as right or justice in itself considered, or in the nature of things, and independently of the will of God; that the divine administration will be conformed to that, and will be firm because it is thus conformed to it. Even omnipotent power could not maintain permanently a throne founded on injustice and wrong. Such an administration would sooner or later make its own destruction sure.
Mercy, and truth shall go before thy face – literally, anticipate thy face; that is, thy goings. Wherever thou dost go, wherever thou dost manifest thyself, there will be mercy and faithfulness. Thy march through the world will be attended with kindness and fidelity. So certain is this, that his coming will, as it were, be anticipated by truth and goodness.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 89:14
Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne.
The throne of grace
I. A view of the throne.
1. What it is, and why so called. It is God manifesting Himself in our own nature, and dealing with sinners through Christ according to the grace of the Gospel (2Co 5:19-20). Now, Gods administration of grace toward guilty sinners through Christ may be called a throne, either–
(1) With allusion unto the mercy-seat in the typical temple of Jerusalem; or–
(2) Because of the glorious greatness and royal majesty of God flint shines in this administration of grace through Christ.
2. What comfortable views of God are to be had by a guilty trembling sinner from this throne of grace. In general, every view of God here is inviting and encouraging. More particularly–
(1) God upon a throne of grace is to be seen as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:3).
(2) From a throne of grace, God is to be seen as a God of love–yea, as love itself (1Jn 4:16).
(3) From a throne of grace, a guilty sinner may view Him as a God of peace (Heb 13:20).
II. The foundation of this throne is justice and judgment.
1. It is an ancient foundation; for Christ was set up from everlasting, or ever the earth was; He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
2. It is a foundation of Gods own laying, and He had pleasure in laying it (Isa 28:16).
3. It is a firm foundation (Mat 16:18).
4. It is a tried foundation. Justice tried it, and found it firm and stable. The powers of hell tried to overturn this foundation; but their kingdom and power was broken in pieces in the enterprise. The saints have all tried this foundation, and proclaim it sufficient to bear their weight; yea, it is sufficient to bear the weight of all mankind–yea, of millions of worlds, if they existed, and would venture upon it (Heb 7:25).
5. It is a precious foundation (1Pe 1:19).
6. It is a most beautiful foundation. What God says of His Church (Isa 54:11) is much more true of the throne of grace.
III. Notice some pillars wherewith the throne is surrounded and supported. The foundation of this throne being laid in the satisfaction of justice, all the other perfections, or attributes, of the Divine nature, fall in for the support of the reign and administration of grace.
IV. Inquire why God will have justice and judgment for the foundation of His throne of grace. The answer is, That grace might reign through righteousness; that the glory of grace might be displayed in a consistency with the honour of Divine justice. Here a question offers, How does grace reign, or how is the glory of grace displayed in and by the righteousness of a surety?
1. Grace reigns and is displayed in the contrivance of this righteousness; for it is the device of infinite wisdom, animated and inspired by free grace.
2. Grace reigns and is displayed in the acceptation of this righteousness. What but infinite love and grace could prevail with inexorable justice, so far to dispense with the rigour of the law, as to admit of a suretys righteousness in the room of the sinner!
3. Grace reigns in the impetration of this righteousness; for God (in His amazing grace) sent forth His Son made of a woman, etc.
4. Grace reigns in the revelation of this righteousness. Grace was not content to contrive and bring about this righteousness, but the news of it must be proclaimed to a lost world, as it were by sound of trumpet.
5. Grace reigns through righteousness, inasmuch as that it is by the revelation of this justice-satisfying righteousness that grace conquers and powerfully subdues sinners, brings them under its own government and dominion.
V. Application.
1. Is it so that justice satisfied, and judgment executed upon the ever-blessed Surety, is the foundation of a throne of grace, then, hence we may see what an expensive piece of work a throne of grace is. Why, the foundation of it is laid in the death and blood of the Son of God.
2. See from this doctrine the glory of a Gospel-dispensation.
3. If it be so that justice satisfied, and judgment executed upon Christ, is the foundation of throne of grace, then see hence, that the salvation of a lost sinner by grace is very consistent with the honour of Divine justice.
4. Has God erected a throne of grace at the expense of the death and satisfaction of His eternal Son? Then I would have you to try, whether you be courtiers about this throne. (E. Erskine.)
The necessity and foundations of a throne of grace for the behoof of poor sinners
I. The necessity there was of a throne of grace for the behoof of poor sinners.
1. Sin having entered, they could have no more benefit by the throne of law-goodness, which runs in that channel, Do this and live (Gen 3:22; Gen 3:24).
2. They were bound over to answer at the throne of strict justice; for so was the law-treaty related and determined (Gen 2:17).
(1) They could have no claim to law-goodness and bounty, but upon perfect obedience (Gal 3:12).
(2) They were utterly unable to stand before the tribunal of justice (Psa 130:3; Psa 143:2).
(3) The criminal once falling under the weight of the sentence a sacrifice to justice, there is no rising again (Psa 94:23).
(4) Justice had determined the execution-day to be the same with the sinning-day (Gen 2:17).
II. The necessity of these foundations and stays of justice and judgment against sin for the throne of grace to stand on.
1. The justice of God could not suffer it to be erected but on these bases (Gen 18:25; 1Th 1:6).
2. The holiness of God and His hatred of sin would not suffer it (Psa 5:5; Hab 1:13).
3. The truth of God was a bar in the way of emanations of mercy and grace without satisfaction to justice (Gen 2:17).
4. The honour of the holy law, the eternal rule of righteousness, stood in the way of erecting a throne of grace but on these foundations; it behoved to be magnified and made honourable (Isa 42:21).
5. If there had not been an absolute necessity of these foundations for a throne of grace to stand on, they had never been laid at the cost of the blood of the Son of God (Rom 3:25).
III. The laying of these foundations and the erecting of the throne of grace upon them.
1. The general ends of this new erection.
(1) The saving of sinners from the wrath of God due to them for their sins.
(2) The making of sinners positively happy in the favour of God for evermore.
2. The necessary foundations of this throne.
(1) Justice, as distinguished from judgment, whereby God gives good unto any, agreeably to the laws of righteousness, which the justice of His nature requires to be observed in His government of the world (Gen 18:25).
(2) Judgment, whereby vindictive justice is satisfied for sin, for the breaking of the holy law; vengeance is taken upon it in proportion to the offence, which in a sort is an infinite offence.
3. How these foundations were laid. There being no help among the creatures, God laid help on His own Son (Psa 89:19).
Thus He made provision–
1. For the first foundation of the throne of grace, namely, justice, by His obeying the law completely in the sinners room, observing exactly and giving obedience to its commands.
2. He made provision for the other foundation, namely, judgment, by suffering in the sinners stead (Gal 3:13). (T. Boston, D.D.)
Divine justice
Consider the justice of God–
I. As an element of His government.
II. As the rule of His conduct. (W. H. H. Murray.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 14. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne] The throne – the government, of God, is founded in righteousness and judgment. He knows what is right; he sees what is right; he does what is right; and his judgments are ever according to righteousness. His decisions are all oracles, no one of them is ever reversed.
Mercy and truth shall go before thy face.] These shall be the heralds that shall announce the coming of the Judge. His truth binds him to fulfil all his declarations; and his mercy shall be shown to all those who have fled for refuge to the hope that is set before them in the Gospel. See Clarke on Ps 85:10; “Ps 85:11“.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Justice and judgment, i.e. just judgment, or justice in judging, as Jer 9:24; 22:3. A common figure, called hendiaduo. The habitation; or, the basis or foundation, as this word is used Ezr 2:68; 3:3; Psa 97:2; 104:5; the groundwork of all his proceedings, and the stability of his throne and government. For God could not be the Judge and Ruler of the world if he did not right, Gen 18:25; compare Pro 16:12. The sense and scope of this verse may be this, Though thy present dispensations, in breaking thy covenant with David, and in suffering his posterity and thine own people to be devoured by such as are much more wicked than they, be a great deep and secret, yet I rest satisfied that they are just. In like manner the prophet fortifies himself under the like thoughts, Jer 12:1.
Shall go before thy face, as thy harbingers and companions, wheresoever thou goest. Thou art neither unmerciful nor unfaithful in any of thy dealings.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne,…. The seat and throne on which he sits; all the administrations of his kingly power in the government of the world, in the salvation of his people, and in the punishment of his enemies, being according to the strict rules of justice and judgment: or “the preparation of thy throne” d; all that the Lord does according to the counsel of his will; and these counsels were of old, and were formed in strict justice and judgment, and were a preparation for his future government in providence and grace: or “the establishment of thy throne” e; the throne of an earthly king is established by righteousness; and so the throne of God, and of Christ, is ordered and established with justice and judgment in the exercise of righteousness for evermore,
Pr 16:12
mercy and truth shall go before thy face; be and appear wherever he is; all his ways are mercy and truth, Ps 25:10, “mercy” in pardoning and saving sinners that come unto him by Christ; and “truth” in performing all his purposes and promises; and these make the joyful sound next mentioned.
d “praeparatio sedis tuae”. V. L. so the Sept. e Basis, “fulchrum et stabilimentum”, Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
14. Righteousness and judgement are the place of thy throne. These encomiums serve more effectually to confirm the hope of true believers than if the Divine power alone had been presented to our view. Whenever mention is made of God, it behoves us to apply our minds principally to those attributes of his nature which are specially fitted for establishing our faith, that we may not lose ourselves by vainly indulging in subtile speculations, by which foolish men, although they may minister to their own mental recreation, make no advances to the right understanding of what God really is. The prophet, therefore, in allusion to the insignia and pomp of kings, declares that righteousness and judgment are the pillars of the throne on which God sits conspicuous in sovereign state, and that mercy and truth are, as it were, his pursuivants; as if he had said, “The ornaments with which God is invested, instead of being a robe of purple, a diadem, or a scepter, are, that he is the righteous and impartial judge of the world, a merciful father, and a faithful protector of his people.” Earthly kings, from their having nothing in themselves to procure for them authority, and to give them dignity, (533) are under the necessity of borrowing elsewhere what will invest them therewith; but God having in himself an all-sufficiency, and standing in no need of any other helps, exhibits to us the splendor of his own image in his righteousness, mercy, and truth.
(533) Tabor is a mountain of Judea, and Hermon (Psa 133:3) of Syria, the former to the west, and the latter to the east of the Jordan; so that they may be considered as put for the East and the West. Accordingly, the Chaldee paraphrase is, “Thou hast created the desert of the north, and the inhabitants of the south; Tabor on the west, and Hermon on the east, sing praises to thy name.” “These mountains,” says Warner, “were at a considerable distance from each other. This indicates, that the most distant parts of the land shall be equally blessed; have a like cause of rejoicing.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(14) Habitation.Rather, foundation, or pillars. Righteousness and judgment support Gods throne, and mercy and truth (those genii of sacred history) precede (present tense, not future) Him as forerunners precede a king.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Justice and judgment The former the principle, the latter the administration, of righteousness.
Habitation The restingplace, the foundation of thy throne.
Mercy and truth The same as the “mercies” and “faithfulness” in Psa 89:1, which the author makes the theme of his psalm. God’s mercy must always be in harmony with his justice, judgment, and truth.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 89:14. Are the habitation of thy throne Or, the preparation. God’s throne is here elegantly represented as prepared by justice and equity, by mercy and fidelity. By these all his judicatures are managed, and these are the precones, or heralds, who, whenever he administers justice, go before, and erect his tribunal. Mudge, and several others, render it, are the basis of thy throne. See Psa 85:13.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 89:14 Justice and judgment [are] the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
Ver. 14. Justice and judgment are the habitation (or basis) of thy throne] These are the supporters and pillars.
Mercy and truth, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Justice = Righteousness.
habitation = foundation.
face. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Justice: Psa 45:6, Psa 45:7, Psa 97:2, Psa 99:4, Psa 145:17, Deu 32:4, Rev 15:3
habitation: or, establishment, Pro 16:12
mercy: Psa 89:2, Psa 85:13, Joh 1:17
Reciprocal: 2Sa 8:15 – David executed 2Sa 15:20 – mercy 1Ch 18:14 – executed Job 8:3 – God Psa 9:4 – right Psa 25:10 – mercy Psa 47:8 – throne Psa 85:10 – Mercy Psa 111:7 – works Pro 29:4 – king Isa 16:5 – in mercy Isa 41:10 – the right Rev 20:11 – I saw
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
89:14 {l} Justice and judgment [are] the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
(l) For by this he judges the world and shows himself to be a merciful father and faithful protector to his.