Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 89:27
Also I will make him [my] firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
27. I also corresponds to the emphatic He at the beginning of Psa 89:26. It is God’s answer to David’s cry of filial love. The titles son and first-born applied to Israel (Exo 4:22; Jer 31:9) are conferred upon the king who is Israel’s representative: and the promise made to Israel (Deu 26:19, cp. Psa 28:1) is here transferred to David,
I also will appoint him as firstborn,
Most high above the kings of the earth.
David’s posterity is included in his person: and the high promise, never fully realised in any of his successors, points forward to Him Whom St John styles in language borrowed from this verse and Psa 89:37, “the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Also I will make him my first-born – He shall be regarded and treated by me as the first-born son is in a family; that is, with distinguished favor and honor. Compare Gen 27:19; Gen 29:26; Exo 4:22; Exo 13:12; Jer 31:9. See also the notes at Col 1:15, notes at Col 1:18.
Higher than the kings of the earth – Than other kings; the most exalted among kings and rulers. This was entirely fulfilled in David, who occupied a pre-eminence among princes and rulers which no other king did: a prominence alike in his own personal character and his reign; in his relation to God; and in the fact that he was the ancestor of the Messiah, the King of kings, and Lord of lords Rev 19:16; the prince of the kings of the earth, Rev 1:5.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 27. I will make him my first-born] I will deal with him as a father by his first-born son, to whom a double portion of possessions and honours belong. First-born is not always to be understood literally in Scripture. It often signifies simply a well-beloved, or best-beloved son; one preferred to all the rest, and distinguished by some eminent prerogative. Thus God calls Israel his son, his first-born, Ex 4:22. See also Ecclus 36:12. And even Ephraim is called God’s first-born, Jer 31:9. In the same sense it is sometimes applied even to Jesus Christ himself, to signify his supereminent dignity; not the eternal Sonship of his Divine nature, as inveterate prejudice and superficial thinking have supposed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
As he calls me Father, Psa 89:26, so I will make him my son, yea, my first-born, who had divers privileges above other sons. This and the following passage in some sort agree to David, who may well be called Gods
first-born, as all the people of Israel are, Exo 4:22; and so is Ephraim, Jer 31:9. Nor can I see fit wholly to exclude David here, of whom all the foregoing and following verses may, and some of them must be, understood. But this is more fully and properly accomplished in Christ, and seems to be ascribed to David here as a type of Christ, and that our minds might be led through David to him whom David represented, even to the Messias, to whom alone this doth strictly and literally belong.
Higher than the kings of the earth: this also was in some sort accomplished in David, partly because he had a greater power and dominion than any of the neighbouring kings, yea, than any other kings of his age, and in those parts of the world, except the Assyrian monarch; nor is the expression here universal, but indefinite, and if it had been said higher than all the kings, yet even such universal expressions admit of some limitation or exception, as is manifest and confessed: and partly because David had many privileges, wherein he did excel all other kings of the earth of his age without exception; which probably he did in the honour and renown which he got by his military achievements, and by that wisdom and justice wherewith he managed all his dominions; but certainly he did in this, that he was a king chosen and advanced by the immediate order and appointment of God himself, that he was set over Gods own peculiar and beloved people, that he was intrusted with the care and patronage of the true religion and the worship of God in the world, and especially that he was not only an eminent type, but also the progenitor of the Messias, who is King of kings and Lord of lords, and God blessed for ever.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Also I will make him my firstborn,…. Or, “make him the firstborn”; make him great, as Jarchi interprets it; give him the blessing, the double portion of inheritance: so Christ is made most blessed for ever, and has all spiritual blessings in his hands; and is heir of all things, and his people joint-heirs with him. Christ is God’s “firstborn”, or “first begotten”, Heb 1:6, being begotten by him, and of him; and his firstbegotten, though none begotten after him; as the first that opened the womb, under the law, was called the firstborn, though none were ever born after; and in such sense his first begotten, as that he is his only begotten: and he is the firstborn, with respect to creatures; “he is the firstborn of every creature”; Col 1:15, being begotten and brought forth before any creature was in being, Pr 8:22, and, with respect to the saints, “he is the firstborn among many brethren”, Ro 8:29, they are of the same nature, and in the same family, and in which Christ is a son, and the firstborn; and in all things he has the preeminence; and he is also “the firstborn from the dead”, or “the first begotten of the dead”, Col 1:18 being raised first from thence by his own power, and to an immortal life; and is the first fruits of them that sleep, and the efficient and meritorious cause of the resurrection of life, and the pattern and exemplar of it: even him the Father promises to make “higher than the kings of the earth”; having a kingdom of a superior nature to theirs, and a more extensive and durable one; and even they themselves shall be subject to him; hence he is called “King of kings”, Re 19:16. This will be when their kingdoms become his; when they shall fall down before him, and worship him, and bring their riches and glory into his kingdom, or the New Jerusalem church state,
Ps 72:10. This passage is interpreted of the Messiah by the Jews f.
f In Shemot Rabba, s. 19. fol. 104. 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(27) Firstborn.Jesses youngest son became the firstborn, the favourite son of God. Here, of course, the epithet is extended to all the Davidic succession.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. Firstborn Here, again, Christ must be understood, of whom David only becomes the feeble type. Comp. 2Sa 7:14; Psa 2:7; Col 1:15; Col 1:18; Heb 1:5.
Higher than the kings of the earth Parallel to “firstborn” in the first hemistich.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 89:27-29. Also I will make him my first-born, &c. I will deal with him as with an eldest son, to whom a double portion of honour and possessions is due; and advance him to greater dignity than any other prince in the world. This, with what follows in the two next verses, can properly and strictly be applied only to Christ; the firstborn of every creatures the most eminent person that ever the world saw; and to whom all power was given in heaven and earth. Mat 28:18. Col 1:15.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 89:27 Also I will make him [my] firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
Ver. 27. Also I will make him my firstborn ] Christ is the firstborn of every creature, and in all things hath the pre-eminence. David also shall be the highest prince on earth, blessed aud accepted far beyond any of them: O nimimn dilecte Deo, &c. O excessively esteemed God.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Higher = MOST HIGH. Hebrew. ‘Elyon. App-4. This looks forward to Immanuel (Isa 7:13-15; Isa 9:6, Isa 9:7. Mic 5:2).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
higher than the kings of the earth
The eighty-ninth Psalm is at once the confirmation and exposition of the Davidic Covenant 2Sa 7:9-14. That the covenant itself looks far beyond David and Solomon is sure from Psa 89:27. “Higher than the kings of the earth” can only refer to Immanuel.; Isa 7:13-15; Isa 9:6; Isa 9:7; Mic 5:2.
The Psalm is in four parts:
(1) The covenant, though springing from the lovingkindness of Jehovah, yet rests upon His oath (Psa 89:1-4).
(2) Jehovah is glorified for His power and goodness in connection with the covenant (Psa 89:5-18).
(3) The response of Jehovah (Psa 89:19-37). This is in two parts:
(a), it confirms the covenant (Psa 89:19-29), but (b), warns that disobedience in the royal posterity of David will be punished with chastening (Psa 89:30-32). Historically this chastening began in the division of the Davidic kingdom; 1Ki 11:26-36; 1Ki 12:16-20 and culminated in the captivities and that subordination of Israel to the Gentiles which still continues. See “Gentiles, times of”; Luk 21:24; Rev 16:14.
(4) The plea of the Remnant Isa 1:9; Rom 11:5 who urge the severity and long continuance of the chastening (Psa 89:38-52).
See Psalms 102, next in order of the Messianic Psalms.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Also: Psa 2:7, Rom 8:29, Col 1:15, Col 1:18
higher: Psa 2:10-12, Psa 72:11, Num 24:7, 2Ch 1:12, 2Ch 9:23, 2Ch 9:24, Isa 49:7, Rev 19:16, Rev 21:24
Reciprocal: 1Ki 1:37 – and make 1Ki 10:23 – exceeded 2Ch 9:22 – passed all the kings Psa 2:6 – Yet Psa 69:29 – let thy Mat 28:18 – All Luk 20:14 – the heir Joh 1:34 – this Phi 2:9 – given Heb 1:5 – I will Heb 12:23 – the firstborn Rev 1:5 – and the prince
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 89:27. I will make him my firstborn As he calls me father, so I will make him my son, yea, my firstborn; the firstborn had divers privileges above other sons. This and the following passage, in some sort, agree to David, but are much more fully and properly accomplished in Christ, and seem to be ascribed to David here chiefly as he was a type of Christ, and that the mind of the reader might be led through him to Christ. Higher than the kings of the earth If this be, in some sense, applicable to David, because he had a greater power and dominion than any of the neighbouring kings, or because he excelled all other kings of the earth in privileges, as he also probably did in honour and renown, obtained by his military achievements, and by that wisdom and justice by which he governed his dominions; and especially because he was a king chosen and advanced by the immediate appointment of God himself; was set over Gods peculiar and beloved people, and was intrusted with the care and patronage of the true religion and the worship of God in the world; if, on these accounts, it might be said that David was higher than the kings of the earth, how much more may it be affirmed of him who is King of kings, and Lord of lords, and God blessed for ever?