Mazmur 89:19

89:19 Then you ¹  spoke through a vision to your faithful followers ²  and said:

“I have energized a warrior; ³ 

I have raised up a young man ⁴  from the people.

Mazmur 89:24

89:24 He will experience my faithfulness and loyal love, ⁵ 

and by my name he will win victories. ⁶ 

Mazmur 118:16

118:16 the Lord’s right hand gives victory, ⁷ 

the Lord’s right hand conquers.

Mazmur 118:22-23

118:22 The stone which the builders discarded ⁸ 

has become the cornerstone. ⁹ 

118:23 This is the Lord’s work.

We consider it amazing! ¹⁰ 

[89:19]  ¹ tn The pronoun “you” refers to the Lord, who is addressed here. The quotation that follows further develops the announcement of vv. 3-4.

[89:19]  ² tc Many medieval mss read the singular here, “your faithful follower.” In this case the statement refers directly to Nathan’s oracle to David (see 2 Sam 7:17).

[89:19]  ³ tn Heb “I have placed help upon a warrior.”

[89:19]  ⁴ tn Or perhaps “a chosen one.”

[89:24]  ⁵ tn Heb “and my faithfulness and my loyal love [will be] with him.”

[89:24]  ⁶ tn Heb “and by my name his horn will be lifted up.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (see Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Ps 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 75:10; 92:10; Lam 2:17).

[118:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “exalts.”

[118:22]  ⁸ tn Or “rejected.”

[118:22]  ⁹ tn Heb “the head of the corner.”

[118:22]  sn The metaphor of the stone…the builders discarded describes the way in which God’s deliverance reversed the psalmist’s circumstances. When he was in distress, he was like a stone which was discarded by builders as useless, but now that he has been vindicated by God, all can see that he is of special importance to God, like the cornerstone of the building.

[118:23]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “it is amazing in our eyes.” The use of the plural pronoun here and in vv. 24-27 suggests that the psalmist may be speaking for the entire nation. However, it is more likely that vv. 22-27 are the people’s response to the psalmist’s thanksgiving song (see especially v. 26). They rejoice with him because his deliverance on the battlefield (see vv. 10-12) had national repercussions.