Psalms 89:38 (KJV)

What does Psalms 89:38 mean?

Psalms 89:38 describes a moment when God is said to have rejected and shown anger toward His chosen one, the "anointed." The verse expresses a deep sense of abandonment and displeasure, suggesting a break or distance in the relationship between God and His appointed leader.

In this psalm, the writer (traditionally Ethan the Ezrahite) is speaking to God, lamenting what feels like a reversal of God’s promises to the king from David’s line. The context is one of distress, where the psalmist is wrestling with the apparent contradiction between God’s earlier covenant promises and the current suffering or disgrace of the anointed king.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 89:38

• "cast off" (זָנַח, zanach): This word often means to reject or push away, carrying a strong sense of being abandoned or dismissed. Here, it highlights the psalmist’s feeling that God has turned away from His chosen one.
• "abhorred" (מָאַס, ma'as): This word means to despise or treat with contempt. It adds emotional weight, showing that the psalmist feels not just rejected, but actively disliked or scorned.
• "wroth" (עָבַר, avar): This word is often understood as "to pass over" or "to overflow," but in this context, it is used to describe God’s anger as something that has come upon or swept over the anointed.
• "anointed" (מָשִׁיחַ, mashiach): This term means "anointed one" and refers to the king, specifically someone chosen and set apart by God, often associated with David and his descendants.

Why Psalms 89:38 matters

• Psalms 89:38 clarifies that even those chosen by God, like the "anointed," can experience times when God’s favor seems withdrawn, which can be confusing in light of earlier promises.
• The verse highlights the emotional honesty of the psalms, showing that feelings of abandonment or disappointment with God are part of the biblical story.
• This verse marks a turning point in Psalm 89, shifting from praise for God’s faithfulness to a lament over apparent brokenness, which sets up the psalmist’s urgent questions and pleas in the following verses.