Psalms 89:26

KJV

He shall cry unto me, Thou [art] my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

KJV (with Strong's)

He shall cry {H7121}{H8799)} unto me, Thou art my father {H1}, my God {H410}, and the rock {H6697} of my salvation {H3444}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He will call to me, 'You are my father, my God, the Rock of my salvation.'

Berean Standard Bible

He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock of my salvation.’

American Standard Version

He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 89:26 presents a profound declaration of intimacy and dependence from the promised Davidic king to Yahweh, proclaiming, "He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation." This verse, embedded within a psalm that celebrates God's enduring covenant faithfulness to David's lineage, prophetically outlines the unique filial relationship and absolute trust that God's chosen royal descendant would exhibit, ultimately pointing to the Messiah's perfect reliance on the Father.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 89 is a complex and deeply theological psalm, often categorized as a royal psalm and a lament. It begins with effusive praise for God's steadfast love and faithfulness (hesed) and His mighty acts in creation and history (verses 1-18). The psalm then transitions into a divine oracle (verses 19-37), where God explicitly reaffirms His unconditional covenant with David, as initially detailed in [2 Samuel 7](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant"). This oracle promises an eternal dynasty, an enduring throne, and a unique father-son relationship between God and David's royal offspring. Verse 26 falls squarely within this oracle, articulating the intimate confession and reliance that this chosen king—the recipient of God's covenant promises—would express. The subsequent verses of the psalm (38-51) shift dramatically to a lament, questioning God's faithfulness in light of a severe national defeat or dynastic crisis, creating a poignant tension between God's promises and Israel's present reality.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the Davidic monarchy in ancient Israel. The Davidic covenant, established through the prophet Nathan, was foundational to Israelite theology and national identity. It promised David an eternal house, kingdom, and throne, signifying God's choice of David's line to rule over His people forever. Kings in the Ancient Near East often claimed divine favor or even divine sonship, but in Israel, this "sonship" was a unique covenantal adoption, signifying a special relationship of obedience, protection, and inheritance, rather than ontological divinity. The king was God's anointed (Messiah), His representative on earth, tasked with upholding justice and leading the nation in righteousness. The language of "father," "God," and "rock of salvation" reflects the deep personal and national reliance on Yahweh as the ultimate sovereign and protector, a common theme in Israelite kingship theology.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 89 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sonship and Intimacy**, portraying a unique filial bond between God and the Davidic king, where the king addresses God as "Father." This theme finds its ultimate and perfect expression in Jesus Christ, who uniquely and eternally is God's Son, as prophesied in [Psalms 2:7](/psalms/2-7 "Psalms 2:7 - God's Declaration of His Son") and affirmed in the New Testament (e.g., [Hebrews 1:5](/hebrews/1-5 "Hebrews 1:5 - God's Sonship of Christ")). Secondly, it emphasizes **God's Sovereignty and the King's Dependence**, as the king acknowledges God as "my God," signifying personal allegiance and submission to the Lord's supreme authority. Thirdly, the metaphor "the rock of my salvation" underscores **God's Unwavering Strength and Deliverance**. The "rock" (Hebrew: _tsur_) is a recurring biblical motif for God's steadfastness, refuge, and reliability, as seen in passages like [Deuteronomy 32:4](/deuteronomy/32-4 "Deuteronomy 32:4 - God is the Rock"). Finally, the entire oracle, including this verse, is steeped in **Messianic Prophecy**, looking beyond any individual earthly monarch to the ideal Davidic king, the Messiah, who would perfectly embody this relationship of absolute trust and dependence on God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Father (אָב, _'av'_):** This term signifies an intimate, covenantal relationship of protection, provision, and authority. While God is the Creator of all, the designation "my father" in this context points to a special, adoptive sonship for the Davidic king, establishing a unique bond of love, trust, and obedience akin to that between a human father and son. It implies a right to appeal, to receive guidance, and to inherit.
* **Rock (צוּר, _tsur'_):** This powerful metaphor denotes God's unyielding strength, immutability, and reliability. As a rock provides shelter, a firm foundation, and an unmoving stronghold, so God is the secure and unchanging source of stability, refuge, and protection for the one who trusts in Him. It emphasizes His enduring character and His ability to deliver.
* **Salvation (יְשׁוּעָה, _yeshu'ah'_):** This comprehensive term encompasses deliverance, rescue, victory, and well-being. It implies God's active intervention to save from danger, oppression, or distress, and to bring about prosperity and wholeness. To call God "the rock of my salvation" means He is the solid, dependable source from whom all deliverance and ultimate well-being flow.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He shall cry unto me":** This opening phrase, spoken by God Himself, indicates a future, active, and vocal expression of dependence and appeal from the Davidic king to God. The verb "cry" (Hebrew: _qara'_) implies an earnest, possibly urgent, call for help, recognition, or communion. It highlights the king's humble posture of reliance on God, rather than self-sufficiency.
* **"Thou art my father":** This is the first and most intimate declaration. It establishes a unique, covenantal father-son relationship. The king acknowledges God not merely as a distant deity, but as a personal, loving, and authoritative Father, implying a deep bond of affection, trust, and belonging. This is a privilege granted by God's covenant.
* **"my God":** This phrase signifies personal allegiance, devotion, and recognition of God's supreme authority and singular deity. It underscores the king's humble submission to Yahweh as his ultimate sovereign, acknowledging that his power and position are derived from God alone, and that his loyalty is exclusively to Him.
* **"and the rock of my salvation":** This final declaration combines two powerful images. "Rock" (צוּר, _tsur_) speaks of God's unwavering strength, stability, and refuge. "Salvation" (יְשׁוּעָה, _yeshu'ah_) refers to deliverance, help, and victory. Together, they proclaim God as the unshakeable, reliable, and ultimate source of the king's security, deliverance, and ultimate well-being, both personally and for his kingdom.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. Most prominently, **Metaphor** is used in the phrase "the rock of my salvation." The "rock" serves as a powerful image for God's steadfastness, immutability, and reliability, providing a secure foundation and an impregnable refuge. This metaphor deeply resonates with the ancient Israelite experience of relying on physical rocks for shelter and defense. Additionally, the direct address "Thou art my father, my God" exemplifies **Apostrophe** or **Direct Address**, where the speaker (the Davidic king) directly addresses God, creating a sense of immediate and intense intimacy. This direct address, coupled with the possessive pronouns "my father," "my God," and "my salvation," emphasizes the personal and exclusive nature of the relationship, highlighting **Intimate Language** that signifies a unique covenantal bond. The cumulative effect of these declarations also creates a form of **Climax**, moving from the intimate relational term "father" to the sovereign "God" and culminating in the comprehensive declaration of God as the ultimate source of security and deliverance, "the rock of my salvation."

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 89:26 encapsulates the core of the Davidic covenant, revealing a relationship between God and His chosen king marked by profound intimacy and absolute dependence. The theological significance lies in God's initiative to establish this unique "father-son" bond, not based on human merit, but on divine election and covenant promise. This verse foreshadows the ultimate reality of God's relationship with humanity through Christ, where believers, by grace, are adopted into God's family, gaining the privilege to cry "Abba, Father." It also reinforces the biblical truth that true security and identity are found not in human strength or earthly power, but in a humble, trusting reliance on God as the unchanging source of all help and deliverance.

* [2 Samuel 7:14](/2_samuel/7-14 "2 Samuel 7:14 - God's Promise of Sonship to David's Descendant")
* [Psalms 2:7](/psalms/2-7 "Psalms 2:7 - God Declares His Son")
* [Deuteronomy 32:4](/deuteronomy/32-4 "Deuteronomy 32:4 - God as the Perfect Rock")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers profound encouragement and a model for our own spiritual lives. Just as the Davidic king, and supremely Jesus Christ, could call upon God as "Father," "my God," and "the rock of my salvation," so too can we. Through faith in Jesus, we are adopted into God's family, receiving the Spirit of adoption by whom we can cry out, "Abba, Father" ([Romans 8:15](/romans/8-15 "Romans 8:15 - Spirit of Adoption")). In times of trouble, uncertainty, or need, this verse reminds us that we can confidently turn to Him, knowing He is our unchanging, all-powerful God, our refuge, and the source of our eternal salvation. Our security and identity are not found in our accomplishments or circumstances, but in this dependent, intimate relationship with the Lord. It calls us to cultivate a life of prayer and trust, acknowledging God as the ultimate provider, protector, and sustainer, our firm foundation in every storm.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God as "my father" transform your perception of prayer and your relationship with Him?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to more fully rely on God as "the rock of your salvation"?**
* **What does it mean for you personally to declare God as "my God" in a world with many competing allegiances?**

### FAQ
**Who is the "He" in this verse, and how does it relate to the Messiah?**

Answer: The "He" in Psalms 89:26 refers primarily to the Davidic king, the royal descendant of David, who is the recipient of God's covenant promises. In the immediate context of Psalm 89, it speaks of the ideal king in David's lineage. However, the language of unique sonship, eternal dynasty, and perfect dependence points beyond any single earthly monarch. Biblical theology understands this "He" to be ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. No human king perfectly embodied the ideal relationship of calling God "my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation" with the depth and purity that Jesus did. He is the ultimate Davidic Son, the true and eternal King, who perfectly fulfilled all the covenant promises and perfectly demonstrated this intimate reliance on the Father (e.g., [John 5:19](/john/5-19 "John 5:19 - Jesus' Dependence on the Father") or [Luke 23:46](/luke/23-46 "Luke 23:46 - Jesus' Final Cry to the Father")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 89:26 finds its most profound and complete fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the ultimate Davidic King and Messiah. While initially referring to the Davidic monarch, the depth of intimacy—"Thou art my father"—and the absolute dependence—"my God, and the rock of my salvation"—point irresistibly to Jesus. He is the unique Son of God, who alone perfectly embodies the filial relationship described here, continually addressing God as "Father" with unparalleled intimacy and authority ([John 17:1](/john/17-1 "John 17:1 - Jesus Prays to the Father")). Jesus perfectly trusted in God as His "Rock of salvation" throughout His earthly ministry, relying on the Father's strength and deliverance even unto death on the cross ([Hebrews 5:7-8](/hebrews/5-7 "Hebrews 5:7-8 - Jesus' Prayers and Obedience")). His resurrection is the ultimate demonstration of God being the "rock of His salvation," delivering Him from death and establishing His eternal throne ([Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Jesus From the Dead")). Thus, this ancient prophecy is not merely a historical record but a vibrant testimony to the person and work of Christ, through whom believers are now adopted as sons and daughters, empowered to cry out to God with the same intimate confidence: "Abba, Father" ([Galatians 4:6](/galatians/4-6 "Galatians 4:6 - Spirit of Adoption")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 7:14

I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

2 Samuel 22:47

The LORD liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

Psalms 95:1

¶ O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Psalms 62:6

He only [is] my rock and my salvation: [he is] my defence; I shall not be moved.

Psalms 62:7

In God [is] my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, [and] my refuge, [is] in God.

Psalms 62:2

He only [is] my rock and my salvation; [he is] my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

Matthew 26:42

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.