Jesus, Son of David, have Mercy on Me – Psalm 89:1-23

“A Contemplation of Ethan the Ezrahite.” Psalm 89 Intro

Ethan was one of David’s singers. In 1 Chronicles 15:16-17, we read that David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy. So the Levites appointed Heman..., Asaph..., and Ethan.” [1]

In 1 Kings 4:30-31, we read that Ethan was famous for being wise.

After Messiah was born, wisemen brought gifts and worshipped Him. Wisemen still worship Jesus.

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 89:1

When disappointed, we may be tempted to complain, but we gain a better outlook by praising God for His mercies. Thus, let us smack down doubts by lifting up songs of praise to God’s faithfulness.

Though our current circumstances may appear contrary to God’s mercy and faithfulness, we do well to continue singing words of faith in God’s faithfulness to us.

In Psalm 149:6, we read, “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.” On the one hand, we limit the kind of words our mouths will speak, namely, high praises to God. On the other hand, we use the sword of the God’s Word and Spirit to strike down the lies of the evil one. The evil one wants to plant seeds of doubt in our minds.

God is faithful to every word He has spoken.

“For I have said, ‘Mercy shall be built up forever, Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.’” Psalm 89:2

The everlasting covenant is firm and sure. Though circumstances seem to threaten the extinction of David’s royal line, he declares: “Mercy shall be built up forever.” [2]

“I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: Your seed I will establish forever and build up your throne to all generations. Selah!” Psalm 89:3

God made a covenant with King David and his descendants, known as the Davidic Covenant. Found primarily in 2 Samuel 7 and summarized in 1 Chronicles 17, God promised to establish David’s lineage, throne, and kingdom forever. Jesus Messiah is the eternal fulfillment of this covenant. As a physical descendant (or seed) of David, Jesus is the Messiah who inherited the eternal throne of David and whose kingdom will never end. [3]

In Isaiah 9:6-7, we read of Jesus, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

“And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints. For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.” Psalm 89:4-7

According to Revelation 5:9, those in heaven praise the Lamb of God who was slain and who redeemed people out of every tribe and people and nation to God by His blood. No one in heaven can compare with God who sits on the throne and His Son Jesus Christ. Neither angels nor saints vie for His glory. They revere Him and give Him all the glory.

No one should pray to the Virgin Mary, to the saints or to an angel. That is idolatry which is an abomination in the sight of God. In 1 Timothy 2:5, Scripture says, “There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”

Jesus and Satan are not brothers as the Mormons teach. Jesus is God, and Satan is one of His creations. Jesus is God incarnate—eternal, all-knowing, and all-powerful, while Satan is a fallen angel that was created by God for God’s purposes. Instead of acknowledging Jesus as the one true God, they believe He became God, just as they will one day become gods. The Scriptures are clear that Jesus is fully God, not some type of lesser god as the Mormons believe.

Like the Mormons, the Jehovah’s Witnesses also teach that Jesus and Satan are spiritual brothers. While some Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses might sometimes try to sidestep this teaching because it is so antithetical to what the Bible actually says, it is nevertheless what these organizations believe and is part of their official doctrine.

Colossians 1:16 says that in Christ all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth. Visible and invisible, whether thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers! ALL THINGS were created through Him and for Him.” All things—thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers—includes Satan and his demons.

In John 10:30 Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” Jesus was not claiming to be another, lesser god. He was declaring that He was fully God. In John 1:3, it is clear that “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asked the important question: “But who do you say that I am?” This is a question that is essential to salvation and one that the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses get wrong. The god of the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses is not the God who revealed Himself in Scripture. Unless these groups repent and come to understand and worship the one true God, they have no hope of salvation. [4]

In Colossians 2:18-19, Paul wrote, “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head [Christ], from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.”

“O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.” Psalm 89:8

God’s sovereignty, ownership, power, justice, mercy, and faithfulness exceeds that of all other contenders. Some boast of their possessions, but all possessions ultimately belong to God. Since He is the Creator and Owner of all things. [5]

“You rule the raging of the sea. When its waves rise, You still them. You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain. You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.” Psalm 89:9-10

In Mark 4:37-39, when a furious squall came up, and waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. The wind and waves bowed to Jesus.

“The heavens are Yours the earth also is Yours. You have founded the world and all its fullness. You have created the north and the south. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your Name.” Psalm 89:11-12

The vastness of God’s dominion stretches from north to south, and to little known places of the earth. No place is beyond His reach. Tabor and Hermon are two prominent mountains in Israel. They stand as witnesses to God’s creative power. Creation reflects the glory of God! [6]

“You have a mighty arm. Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.” Psalm 89:13

According to Ephesians 1:21, not only is Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father, but He is also “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. Mercy and truth go before Your face.” Psalm 89:14

Every decree God makes is wise and just. Unlike earthly rulers, who may abuse power or act unjustly, God’s rule is founded upon absolute righteousness. [7]

God’s mercy is seen in His gracious promises. His truth is seen as He fulfills His promises. He is always true to His Word and often gives His people more kindness than they deserve. [8]

“Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your Name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness, they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the Lord, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.” Psalm 89:15-17

Ethan sang of God’s mercies, and noted the joy of those who walk in the light that shines from His face. It is in the righteousness of Christ that God’s people rejoice. He was slain for our sins and He redeemed us unto God. All strength and usefulness is imparted to us by Christ. Our horn shall be exalted by His grace. In Scripture, the horn symbolizes strength and honor. [8]

“Then You spoke in a vision to Your Holy One and said: ‘I have given help to One who is mighty. I have exalted One chosen from the people. I have found My Servant David, With My holy oil I have anointed Him, with whom My hand shall be established; also, My arm shall strengthen Him.’” Psalm 89:19-21

This passage points beyond David to Messiah. David was chosen by God from among ordinary people and exalted to the throne. Yet these truths find their highest expression in Christ. Jesus is the Holy One. In Luke 4:18, He declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” He is the baptizer in the sanctifying Holy Spirit. He is the “Mighty God” foretold of in Isaiah 9:6. He is the Chosen One to redeem us from our sins.

“The enemy shall not outwit Him, nor the son of wickedness afflict Him. I will beat down His foes before His face, and plague those who hate Him.” Psalm 89:22-23

Satan opposed Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, yet could not defeat Him. In John 14:30, Jesus declared, “The prince of this world comes, and has nothing in Me.” [9]

Christ's kingdom cannot fail. Every enemy of redemption will be conquered. The “sure mercies of David” are therefore the sure mercies of Christ—unchangeable covenant blessings flowing from God’s eternal promise and fulfilled through the reign of the Son of David. [10]

Whatever circumstance we face, whatever burden we carry, whatever need remains unmet, Jesus, the Son of David, is the answer.

In Mark 10:46–52, blind Bartimaeus sat by the roadside begging. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he cried out even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped, called for him, and restored his sight. Bartimaeus immediately received his vision and followed Jesus on the way.

Today, we come with the same faith and the same plea: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.” Whatever our need may be—physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, or financial—“we know that You are able. Open our eyes to see Your power, Your grace, and Your purpose. As You gave sight to Bartimaeus, grant us the help we need today, and lead us to follow You more closely.”


[1] Jamieson-Faussett Brown Commentary
[2] Material based on and modified from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[3] Gotquestions.com
[5] Ibid
[5-10] Material based on and modified from Matthew Henry’s Commentary