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Psalms 78:69

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And he built his sanctuary like high [palaces], like the earth which he hath established for ever.

And he built {H1129}{H8799)} his sanctuary {H4720} like high {H7311}{H8802)} palaces, like the earth {H776} which he hath established {H3245}{H8804)} for ever {H5769}.

He built his sanctuary like the heights; like the earth, he made it to last forever.

He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth He has established forever.

And he built his sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which he hath established for ever.

Commentary

Psalm 78:69 celebrates God's magnificent establishment of His dwelling place among His people, emphasizing its grandeur and eternal stability.

Context of Psalm 78:69

Psalm 78 is a sweeping historical psalm, recounting God's faithful dealings with Israel from the Exodus to the establishment of the Davidic kingdom. It highlights Israel's repeated rebellion and God's persistent grace. Verses 67-72 specifically focus on God's rejection of Ephraim (representing the northern tribes) and His ultimate choice of Judah and Mount Zion as the place for His sanctuary and David as their shepherd. This verse, therefore, marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the permanent settling of God's presence in Jerusalem.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Majesty of God's Sanctuary: The verse describes the sanctuary (referring to Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem) as being built "like high [palaces]." This imagery evokes a sense of divine grandeur, strength, and an elevated status befitting the dwelling of the Most High God. It signifies the Temple's importance as the central place of worship and divine presence.
  • Divine Permanence and Stability: The powerful simile, "like the earth which he hath established for ever," underscores the enduring nature of God's chosen dwelling place. Just as God created and maintains the earth with unwavering stability (Psalm 24:2), so too was His sanctuary intended to be a permanent fixture, symbolizing His eternal covenant and presence with Israel. This contrasts sharply with the portable tabernacle that preceded it.
  • God's Sovereign Choice and Power: The act of building such a sanctuary demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty and immense power. He not only chose the location and the people but also ensured the establishment of a dwelling place that mirrored the steadfastness of His own creation.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "like high [palaces]" translates the Hebrew word ramim (רָמִים), which means "high places" or "exalted ones." While "palaces" is an interpretive addition, the core meaning conveys loftiness, prominence, and majesty, emphasizing the Temple's imposing and sacred structure, built to reflect God's own exalted nature.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalm 78:69 offers profound reassurance. It speaks to God's faithfulness in establishing His presence among His people. While the physical Temple no longer stands, the New Testament teaches that believers are now the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) and that the Church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). This verse reminds us that God's dwelling, whether physical or spiritual, is established with divine permanence and stability. We can trust in God's enduring presence and His unwavering commitment to His people, just as He has established the very earth "for ever."

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 29:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, [is yet] young and tender, and the work [is] great: for the palace [is] not for man, but for the LORD God.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:19 (2 votes)

    And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all [these things], and to build the palace, [for] the which I have made provision.

  • Revelation 20:11 (2 votes)

    ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

  • 1 Samuel 2:8 (2 votes)

    He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

  • Psalms 102:25 (2 votes)

    Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens [are] the work of thy hands.

  • Psalms 104:5 (2 votes)

    [Who] laid the foundations of the earth, [that] it should not be removed for ever.

  • Colossians 1:16 (2 votes)

    For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: