Psalms 89:38

KJV

¶ But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

KJV (with Strong's)

But thou hast cast off {H2186}{H8804)} and abhorred {H3988}{H8799)}, thou hast been wroth {H5674}{H8694)} with thine anointed {H4899}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But you spurned your anointed one, rejected and vented your rage on him.

Berean Standard Bible

Now, however, You have spurned and rejected him; You are enraged by Your anointed one.

American Standard Version

But thou hast cast off and rejected, Thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 89:38 marks a dramatic and poignant shift in Psalm 89, transitioning from a celebratory hymn of God's steadfast love and covenant faithfulness to King David into a deep lament. This verse expresses the psalmist's profound distress and theological confusion, as the current reality of the Davidic king's suffering and apparent abandonment by God seems to contradict the eternal and unconditional promises made to David's lineage. It captures the raw anguish of a believer grappling with seemingly broken divine promises and the experience of God's perceived wrath against His chosen one.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 89 is uniquely structured, beginning with an extensive hymn (verses 1-37) extolling God's faithfulness, power, and especially His unbreakable covenant with David, promising an eternal dynasty. Verses 3-4 and 19-37 elaborate on this divine commitment. However, with verse 38, the psalm abruptly shifts into a lament, expressing deep anguish and confusion. The psalmist catalogues a series of perceived divine rejections and defeats experienced by the Davidic king and his kingdom (verses 38-45), directly questioning God's faithfulness in light of the current national crisis. This stark juxtaposition of unwavering divine promise and devastating present reality creates the profound tension that defines the latter half of the psalm. The psalmist's plea for God to remember His promises (verses 46-51) underscores the hope that God will ultimately restore His favor, despite the current despair.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "anointed" in this verse refers to the reigning Davidic king, who was consecrated through anointing with oil, symbolizing divine election and empowerment. The Davidic Covenant, established in [2 Samuel 7](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant"), promised an eternal dynasty, an everlasting throne, and a secure kingdom. This covenant was foundational to Israelite theology and national identity, assuring them of God's perpetual favor on David's line. The shift to lament in Psalm 89 likely reflects a period of severe national crisis, possibly a military defeat, invasion, or even the Babylonian Exile, where the Davidic monarchy suffered humiliation, defeat, and the apparent loss of the throne. Such events would have profoundly challenged the people's understanding of God's covenant faithfulness, leading to the kind of questioning and distress expressed by the psalmist.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several major themes within Psalm 89 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **divine displeasure and wrath**, as God is depicted as "wroth" and having "cast off" His chosen king, reflecting a sense of divine judgment or discipline. Secondly, it grapples with the **perceived covenant failure**, where the psalmist struggles to reconcile God's unconditional promises with the dire circumstances facing the Davidic line. This creates intense **theological tension** regarding God's immutability and faithfulness. Thirdly, it underscores the **suffering of the anointed king**, emphasizing the vulnerability of even divinely appointed leaders when divine favor seems withdrawn. Finally, the verse is a powerful example of **lament and questioning**, demonstrating the biblical precedent for believers to express their deepest doubts, confusion, and pain directly to God when circumstances contradict their understanding of His character and promises, as seen throughout the [book of Psalms](/psalms/1 "The Book of Psalms").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cast off (Hebrew, _zānach'_):** This verb signifies a strong act of rejection, abandonment, or repudiation. It implies a deliberate and complete dismissal, as if something once cherished is now thrown away or discarded. In the context of God and His anointed, it conveys a profound sense of divine withdrawal and disfavor, suggesting a breach in relationship from the divine side, at least from the psalmist's perspective.
* **Wroth (Hebrew, _qātsaph'_):** This word describes an intense, active anger or fury. It is not merely displeasure but a strong emotional reaction, indicating that God's rejection is accompanied by a powerful, punitive wrath. This emphasizes the severity of the perceived divine judgment and the depth of the psalmist's bewilderment, as such wrath is directed at the very one God had previously chosen and blessed.
* **Thine anointed (Hebrew, _māshîach'_):** This is the Hebrew term from which "Messiah" is derived. In this Old Testament context, it refers to the king of Israel, specifically a descendant of David, who was consecrated for his royal office through anointing with oil. The psalmist's distress is magnified because the recipient of God's wrath is not just any individual, but "thine anointed"—God's own chosen and consecrated representative, the very embodiment of the Davidic covenant. This term sets the stage for its later, ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But thou hast cast off and abhorred":** The verse opens with a stark "But," signaling a dramatic contrast to the preceding verses that celebrated God's faithfulness. The psalmist directly accuses God of two powerful actions: "casting off" (rejecting, abandoning) and "abhorring" (detesting, loathing). These verbs convey a sense of complete and utter repudiation, indicating that God's previous favor has been replaced by a profound disinterest or even disgust. From the psalmist's viewpoint, God has actively withdrawn His support and affection from the Davidic king.
* **"thou hast been wroth":** This clause further intensifies the accusation, adding the dimension of divine anger. It's not merely a passive abandonment but an active, furious displeasure. This implies a punitive element, suggesting that the suffering of the king is a direct result of God's wrath. The psalmist is grappling with the idea that the very God who promised an eternal dynasty is now actively hostile towards His chosen one.
* **"with thine anointed":** The object of God's wrath and rejection is explicitly identified as "thine anointed," the Davidic king. This is the core of the psalmist's theological dilemma. How can the God who made an unconditional covenant with David, promising an everlasting throne to his descendants, now be so vehemently against the very king He consecrated? This phrase highlights the perceived contradiction between God's promises and the current, devastating reality, forming the heart of the lament.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 89:38 powerfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound lament. The most prominent is **Juxtaposition**, as this verse dramatically contrasts with the preceding 37 verses of praise and celebration of God's unwavering covenant faithfulness. This abrupt shift from exaltation to accusation creates a jarring effect, mirroring the psalmist's own internal struggle. **Anthropomorphism** is also evident, as God is described with human emotions and actions: "cast off," "abhorred," and "wroth." These human-like attributes are used to express the psalmist's perception of God's active disfavor. Furthermore, the verse is a prime example of **Lament**, a common genre in the Psalms where the speaker expresses deep sorrow, distress, and often questions God's actions or apparent inaction in the face of suffering. The intensity of the language, using strong verbs like "cast off" and "abhorred," also borders on **Hyperbole**, reflecting the psalmist's overwhelming sense of abandonment and despair, perhaps exaggerating the divine rejection to emphasize the depth of the crisis.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 89:38 presents a profound theological challenge, grappling with the tension between God's immutable promises and the painful reality of suffering and apparent divine abandonment. It forces a confrontation with the nature of God's faithfulness when circumstances seem to contradict His word. The psalmist's lament acknowledges the human experience of doubt and confusion in the face of adversity, yet it is expressed within the context of a relationship with God, demonstrating that honest questioning is permissible. Ultimately, the psalm, despite its despair, ends with a declaration of God's enduring praise, suggesting that even in the deepest valleys of doubt, faith can cling to the hope of divine restoration and ultimate faithfulness. This verse also implicitly raises questions about the nature of the Davidic covenant and its ultimate fulfillment, pointing forward to a greater "anointed one" who would perfectly embody God's promises.

* [2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-12 "2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Davidic Covenant")
* [Lamentations 2:7](/lamentations/2-7 "Lamentations 2:7 - God's Rejection of His Sanctuary")
* [Psalm 44:9](/psalms/44-9 "Psalm 44:9 - God's Apparent Rejection of His People")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 89:38 offers a profound invitation to honest engagement with God, even in our deepest pain and confusion. It validates the human experience of lament, reminding us that it is not a sign of weak faith to question God's ways when life's circumstances seem to contradict His promises. Instead, it is an act of profound trust to bring our raw, unvarnished emotions and theological struggles directly to Him. This verse encourages us to sit with the tension between divine sovereignty and human suffering, acknowledging that God's ways are often higher than our own understanding. It challenges us to hold fast to the character of God—His love, justice, and faithfulness—even when His actions seem inscrutable. The psalmist's willingness to voice such a bold accusation ultimately serves as a testament to an underlying faith that believes God is still listening and capable of answering.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you felt that God has "cast you off" or been "wroth" with you, even if you intellectually knew otherwise?**
* **How do you reconcile God's unchanging promises with difficult or contradictory circumstances in your own life or in the world?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the acceptable nature of lament and honest questioning in our prayer life?**
* **How does understanding the ultimate "Anointed One" (Jesus Christ) provide comfort or resolution to the tension expressed in this psalm?**

### FAQ

**Does Psalms 89:38 mean God broke His covenant with David?**

Answer: No, Psalms 89:38 does not mean God broke His covenant with David. Rather, it reflects the psalmist's *perception* and *experience* of God's actions during a time of national crisis and the apparent downfall of the Davidic monarchy. The Davidic Covenant, as established in [2 Samuel 7](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant"), was unconditional in its promise of an eternal dynasty. However, it also included provisions for divine discipline if David's descendants sinned (see [2 Samuel 7:14](/2_samuel/7-14 "2 Samuel 7:14 - Discipline for David's Offspring")). The psalmist, witnessing the humiliation and defeat of the Davidic king, interprets this as God's wrath and rejection, a severe form of discipline that *feels* like a breach of covenant. The psalm itself, despite the lament, ultimately reaffirms God's enduring faithfulness (e.g., [Psalm 89:52](/psalms/89-52 "Psalm 89:52 - Blessing the Lord Forever")). The tension between God's promises and the reality of suffering is a recurring theme in Scripture, often resolved by understanding God's discipline as an act of love (as seen in [Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - God Disciplines Those He Loves")) and by the ultimate fulfillment of the covenant in Jesus Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 89:38, with its lament over the perceived rejection of "thine anointed," finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the ultimate "Anointed One" (Messiah). While the Davidic kings often failed and experienced divine discipline, Jesus, the perfect Son of David, uniquely experienced the true "casting off" and "wrath" of God, not for His own sin, but for the sins of humanity. On the cross, Jesus cried out, "[My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")" echoing the psalmist's sense of abandonment, yet perfectly bearing the divine wrath that we deserved ([Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - Christ's Suffering for Our Sins")). Through His ultimate sacrifice, Jesus fully satisfied the demands of God's justice and perfectly fulfilled the Davidic covenant, establishing a kingdom that will never be cast off or come to an end ([Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32 "Luke 1:32-33 - Jesus' Eternal Kingdom")). Thus, the psalmist's lament, born from the temporary failures of an earthly king, ultimately foreshadows the perfect suffering of the true King, whose rejection ensures that all who believe in Him will never be truly cast off from God's love ([John 6:37](/john/6-37 "John 6:37 - All Who Come to Jesus Will Not Be Cast Out")).

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

Deuteronomy 32:19

¶ And when the LORD saw [it], he abhorred [them], because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.

1 Chronicles 28:9

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

Psalms 106:40

Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.

Psalms 89:51

Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.

2 Chronicles 12:1

¶ And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

2 Chronicles 12:12

And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy [him] altogether: and also in Judah things went well.

Lamentations 2:7

The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast.