37<\/strong>. Construction and meaning are doubtful. (1) The original passage in 2Sa 7:16<\/span> is in favour of making his throne<\/em> the subject to shall be established<\/em>, and against the marginal alternatives of R.V., As the moon which is established for ever, and as the faithful witness in the sky<\/em>: or, and is a faithful witness in the sky<\/em>.<\/p>\n (2) The A.V., with which substantially agrees the R.V., And (as) the faithful witness in the sky, raises the question what is meant by ‘the faithful witness in the sky.’ Is it the sun, or the moon, or the rainbow? Or is it the fixed laws of nature which are appealed to in Jer 31:35-36<\/span>; Jer 33:20<\/span> f., 25<\/span> f., as a symbol of the permanence of God’s covenant with Israel and with David? This last explanation is the best, but it seems somewhat far-fetched; and the omission of the particle of comparison as<\/em> points (3) to another rendering: And the witness in the sky is faithful. The witness is God Himself, Who thus confirms His promise with a final attestation. Cp. Jer 42:5<\/span>, “Jehovah be a true and faithful witness<\/em> against us”: Job 16:19<\/span>, “my witness is in heaven.”<\/p>\n It shall be established forever as the moon – <\/B>As long as the moon shall endure. The heavenly bodies are the most permanent objects that we know of; and they, therefore, became the emblems of stability and perpetuity. Compare the notes at Psa 72:7<\/span>.<\/P> And as a faithful witness in heaven – <\/B>As the witness in heaven, or in the sky, is sure. The reference is to the moon, regarded as a witness for God. What is said here of the moon as an index of his faithfulness, might be said also of the sun and the stars; but the beauty of the image is increased by the attention being fixed to a single object. As the moon is fixed, regular, enduring – so are the promises and purposes of God. Such were the promises made to David; such was the oath which had been taken by God; such the covenant which he had made. The psalmist now proceeds Psa 89:38-45<\/span> to show that this oath and these promises seemed to be disregarded; that there were things occurring which appeared as if God had forgotten them; that there was not that manifest prosperity and favor which was implied in the promise; but that a series of calamities had occurred which it was difficult to reconcile with these solemn pledges. On the ground of this he prays Psa 89:46-52<\/span> that God would return, and would remember his covenant, and would bless David and his people.<\/P> <\/p>\n Psa 89:37<\/span><\/p>\n It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The character of the Church of Christ upon earth as symbolized by the moon in our solar system<\/strong><\/p>\n In <\/em>the history of the creation it is written (Gen 1:14<\/span>). How the sun and the moon in our solar system come to be for seasons and for days and years, the astronomer is able to inform us; but why, and of what they were intended to be the signs, revelation alone can explain. Accordingly, if we look into the Word of God, we find that the heavenly bodies are held forth as emblems of certain things, and of certain principles bearing upon the Church and people of God. Thus Jesus Christ is represented by the sun (Mal 4:2<\/span>; Luk 1:78<\/span>), and we are permitted to trace certain points in their analogy (Joh 14:6<\/span>; Joh 11:25<\/span>; Joh 5:24<\/span>; Gal 2:20<\/span>; 1Jn 5:11<\/span>). The ministers of Christ are symbolized by the stars of heaven (Rev 1:20<\/span>). In like manner, the moon in our solar system is more than once introduced as representing the Church of God in the world. In the Book of the Revelation (Rev 12:1<\/span>), this luminary represents the Church of God under the law elected for the especial guardianship of the original revelation, which declared the one true God. In the Song of Solomon (Son 6:10<\/span>) the same symbol is applied to the Church of God under the Gospel elected for the especial guardianship of the second revelation which declares the one true Mediator. It is in this latter sense–as representing the Church of God under the Gospel–that the words of the text are to be understood.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>The moon was ordained to rule the night–to furnish us with light in the absence of the sun. Visible she may be at times after the morning dawn, but if visible she gives no light–she wanes beneath the light of the superior orb. Were the sun always to shine upon our shores, there would be no night here: the moon would have no place in our firmament; or, if she appeared at all, she would shed no light.. And so it is with the Church of Christ in this lower world: the absence of her Divine Head in the heavens, whither He has gone to perform an essential part of that work of redemption which He covenanted with God the Father to perfect for the salvation of mankind–renders necessary the existence of a Church in the world, which is ordained to exist and to be visible until His coming again. He is the Sun, she is the moon.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>The moon has no light of her own. The purpose for which the moon was at first, and still is, set in the heavens is to reflect upon us and for our benefit the light of the sun during his absence from the part of the world we inhabits–or, to speak more correctly, during our absence from him. In this peculiarity the moon is cited in Scripture to symbolize the Church of Christ upon earth. The latter was ordained to reflect upon the world the light of the Sun of righteousness during his absence in the heavens. In herself she has no light at all; without her Sun she has virtually no existence; severed from Him she is nothing worth. The Church has nothing whatever in herself whence can radiate those beams of light and life and love, without which all is darkness within–yea, a darkness that may be felt. No doctrine will fully enlighten the mind but the doctrine of Christ (Heb 6:1<\/span>; Joh 2:9<\/span>). No truth will dissipate the error of fallen natures teaching but the truth as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21<\/span>).<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>As the moon has no light, so neither has she any heat of her own. Did not the sun arise upon the land, and daily cheer us with his rays, as well as benefit us by his light, in vain should we seek a substitute in the transparent brightness of the moon. She is set in the heavens simply and solely to reflect his light. In this respect also does <\/strong>the moon symbolize the Church of God upon earth. It is not from <\/em>the Church herself, separated from her Divine Head, that we are to look for that quickening power, that holy enthusiasm, that heavenly glow of joy and peace in believing which cheers the heart of every child of God. The ordained purpose of God is that the Church upon earth should not dispense the heat of her absent Sun, but continually and extensively reflect His light. For this, and this alone, was the Church ordained to exist in the world.<\/p>\n Verse 37<\/span>. As the moon, and<\/B><\/I> as <\/B>a faithful witness in heaven.<\/B><\/I>] That is, as long as the sun and moon shall endure, as long as time<\/I> shall last, his kingdom shall last among men. The moon appears to be termed a faithful witness<\/I> here, because by her particularly time<\/I> is measured. Her decrease<\/I> and increase<\/I> are especially observed by every nation, and by these time is generally estimated, especially among the eastern nations. So many moons is<\/I> a man old; so many moons since such an event happened<\/I>; and even their years are reckoned by lunations<\/I>. This is the case with the Mohammedans to the present day. Or the rainbow<\/I> may be intended; that sign which God has established in the cloud; that faithful witness of his that the earth shall no more be destroyed by water. As long therefore as the sun<\/I>, the moon<\/I>, and the rainbow<\/I> appear in the heavens, so long shall the spiritual David reign, and his seed prosper and increase.<\/P> <\/P> Selah.<\/B><\/I>] It is confirmed; it shall not fail.<\/P> <\/p>\n Whereby he understands, either, first, The moon, last mentioned, to which this clause may be added rather than to the sun, to imply that as the moon, though subject to eclipses and frequent and manifold changes, yet doth constantly and perpetually remain in heaven, as a witness of my covenant of the night<\/I>, as it is called, Jer 33:20<\/span>; so shall the house and kingdom of David continue for ever, not withstanding all the changes and calamities which it may undergo. Or, secondly, The rainbow, which though in itself it be unstable and transient, and doth but seldom appear, which learned men object against this opinion, yet in Scripture is mentioned as Gods faithful and perpetual witness, being called a token of Gods everlasting covenant between God and every living creature for perpetual generations<\/I>, Gen 9:12<\/span>,16<\/span>. And although it do not always appear to us, neither do the sun or moon do so, yet its appearances are doubtless very frequent in one or other part of the world, and will be repeated from time to time to the end of the world. Add to this, that the word here rendered heaven<\/I>, may as well be rendered the cloud<\/I> or clouds<\/I>, as it is used Deu 33:26<\/span>; Job 35:5<\/span>; 36:28<\/span>; Psa 18:12<\/span>; 77:17<\/span>; 78:23<\/span>; Pro 3:20<\/span>; Isa 45:8<\/span>. And so the place being thus translated, and as the faithful witness in the cloud<\/I> or clouds<\/I>, doth plainly point us to the rainbow. <\/P> <\/p>\n 37. It shall . . . moon . . .heaven<\/B>literally, “As the moon,<\/I> and the witness inthe sky is sure, that is, the moon.”<\/P><\/p>\n It shall be established for ever as the moon<\/strong>,…. Either Christ’s seed, or throne, which comes to much the same sense; for by both are meant his church and people, his kingdom and interest in the world; the moon is as perpetual as the sun, and is used as elsewhere to signify the continuance of the people, church, and interest of Christ,<\/p>\n Ps 72:5<\/span>, for though the moon has its spots, and is changeable, sometimes in the full, and sometimes in the decline, yet always is, and always continues, and ever will; and so though the people of God have their spots and imperfections, and are sometimes on the decline in the frames and dispositions of their minds, in the exercise of grace, in their spirituality, liveliness, and zeal, and in their walk and conversation in the church and world; yet they shall abide and persevere to the end; and though the church may be like the moon in the wane, be declining as to numbers, gifts, and graces, yet it shall continue and be established; it is sometimes indeed in a fluctuating state, and is not always in the same place, but is removed from one country to another; yet it always is somewhere, even though in the wilderness, and ere long will be established on the top of the mountains, and be no more a tabernacle that shall be taken down; see<\/p>\n Ps 48:8<\/span><\/p>\n and as a faithful witness in heaven<\/strong>: or “in the sky or cloud” b; some understand this of the moon, others of both sun and moon; but it seems best to interpret it of something distinct from either, even of the rainbow, which though it does not always appear in the clouds, yet it has appeared at times, and does and will unto the end of the world; and be a faithful and an everlasting token and witness of the covenant of God made with all creatures, that he will no more destroy the world by a flood, Ge 9:12<\/span>, and is an emblem of the covenant of grace, and of the continuance, perpetuity, and immutability of it; see<\/p>\n Isa 54:9<\/span>.<\/p>\n Selah<\/strong>. [See comments on Ps 3:2]<\/span>.<\/p>\n b “in aethere”, Montanus, Tigurine version, Vatablus; “in superiore nube”, Junius Tremellius “in nubibus”, Gejerus.<\/p>\n (37) And as a faithful witness in heaven.<\/strong>Rather, and there is a faithful witness in heaven, <\/em>which the parallelism shows to be the moon, <\/em>just mentioned. The moon (see Psa. 81:3<\/span>) was to the Jewsas to the ancients generallythe arbiter of festivals, and the festivals were signs of the covenant, consequently that luminary might well be called a witness in heaven.<\/p>\n 37<\/strong>. <\/strong> In heaven <\/strong> In the clouds, <\/em> as the word often means. Job 36:28<\/span>; Psa 78:23<\/span>. In this sense the allusion is to Gen 9:13<\/span>: “I do set my bow in the clouds.” <\/em> But if , shahak, <\/em> be understood of the starry heavens, (comp. Job 16:19<\/span>; Jer 33:20-26<\/span>,) language and metaphor can go no further in setting forth the immutability of the covenant which, in its higher sense, is realized only and fully in Christ.<\/p>\n What blessings would have come to the Hebrew nation, and to the world through them, had they and the house of David been faithful to the covenant! The backslidings of the Church have, in all ages, been the chief obstacle to her success.<\/p>\n Psa 89:37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and [as] a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.<\/p>\n Ver. 37. It shall be established for ever as the moon<\/strong> ] If his sons be good they shall shine as the sun in his strength, saith Kimchi; as, if they be not, yet they shall be as the moon that shineth, though for a time obscured or eclipsed. A fit resemblance, saith Ainsworth, of the throne or Church of Christ, which hath not always one face or appearance in the world, though it be perpetual. The Papists would have this moon always in the full; and if she show but little light to us they will not yield she is the moon. And yet, except in the eclipse, astronomers demonstrate that the moon hath at all times as much light as she hath in the full; but oftentimes a great part of the bright side is turned to heaven, and a lesser part to the earth: and so the Church is ever conspicuous to God’s eye, though it appear not always so to us. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n And as a faithful witness in heaven<\/strong> ] As oft, then, as we see the sun and moon in heaven let us think of the constance of God’s covenant, and the perpetuity of Christ’s kingdom. By this “faithful witness” some understand the rainbow, Gen 9:13-17<\/span> .<\/p>\n a faithful witness: i.e. the sun (Compare Psa 89:36). See note on “testimony” (Psa 19:7). Rev 1:5; Rev 3:14. <\/p>\n Selah. Connecting the above solemn warning with the fulfilment in the visitation of judgment in the next member. See App-66. <\/p>\n It shall: That is, as long as the sun and moon shall endure, as long as time shall last, his kingdom shall continue among men. The moon is probably termed a faithful witness, because by her, particularly, time is measured. Her decrease and increase are especially observed by every nation; and by these time is generally estimated, especially among eastern nations. – So many moons is a man old – so many moons since such an event happened; and even their years are reckoned by lunations. Or, the rainbow may be intended; that faithful sign which God has established in the clouds, that the earth shall no more be destroyed by water. <\/p>\n ever: Psa 72:7, Psa 104:19, Gen 1:14-18, Jer 31:35, Jer 31:36 <\/p>\n and as: Gen 9:13-16, Isa 54:9, Isa 54:10 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: 2Sa 7:13 – I will stablish 2Sa 7:16 – General 1Ki 2:12 – his kingdom 1Ki 2:33 – his house 1Ch 17:12 – I will 1Ch 22:10 – I will establish Psa 2:6 – Yet Psa 21:4 – length Psa 45:6 – throne Psa 61:6 – many generations Psa 72:5 – as long Psa 89:2 – faithfulness Psa 132:11 – sworn Psa 136:9 – The moon and stars Psa 148:3 – sun Psa 148:6 – He hath also Ecc 1:5 – sun Jer 33:20 – General Joh 12:34 – Christ Rom 1:3 – which Rev 1:5 – who is<\/p>\n 89:37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and [as] a faithful {c} witness in heaven. Selah.<\/p>\n (c) As long as the Sun and Moon endure, they will be witnesses to me of this promise.<\/p>\n It shall be established forever as the moon, and [as] a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. 37. Construction and meaning are doubtful. (1) The original passage in 2Sa 7:16 is in favour of making his throne the subject to shall be established, and against the marginal alternatives of R.V., As the moon which is established … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 89:37”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15375"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15375\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
I. <\/strong>It will be my endeavour to sketch the character of the Church of God under the Gospel, by cautiously tracing certain points of analogy between her and the moon in our solar system.<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>I close with a remark of a practical character. From what has now been said, we infer the necessity of an outward witness for Christ to satisfy the candid inquirer, and to silence a gainsaying world. Let me add, there must also be an inward witness for Christ (1Jn 5:10<\/span>), for the satisfaction and the comfort and the security of the believer himself. If grafted into the body of Christs Church, by the Lords own ordinance of baptism rightly received, we are doubtless to be numbered with those symbolized by the moon. But beyond this, for the comfort of the believer, and to discriminate between a dead profession and a living faith (Rom 8:13<\/span>; 1Co 7:19<\/span>; Gal 5:6<\/span>; Gal 6:15<\/span>; Act 8:37<\/span>; Mar 16:16<\/span>; Acts if. 38; Jam 2:17-26<\/span>), there is another and an inward witness to be superadded to the visible testimony. When the soul becomes quickened (Joh 5:25<\/span>; Eph 2:1<\/span>) into spiritual action; when the mind (Eph 1:17-18<\/span>) becomes enlightened, the heart cheered, the affections warmed, the whole man, body, soul, and spirit, affected and moved by the constraining love of Christ (2Co 5:14<\/span>), the blessed experience of that peace of God which passeth all understanding (Php 4:7<\/span>); this is the inward witness, not seen by those that are without, but more convincing far to the individual soul, because he inherits thereby a well-grounded hope of an entrance into the everlasting kingdom of Christ (2Pe 1:11<\/span>)–if he do but retain and exhibit the evidences of his renewed life (Joh 15:8<\/span>). (W. J. Kidd<\/em>.)<\/p>\nFuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"