Psalm 89 | When the Crown Is in the Dust: Ethan's Cry and the Covenant Still Standing
Inspiration: Psalm 89
A Reflection on Psalm 89
Ethan the Ezrahite was no ordinary man. He was a man of wisdom—so much so that Solomon’s brilliance was measured against him (1 Kings 4:31). A Levite, perhaps, or a temple musician, Ethan wasn’t just a singer of songs—he was a seer of the covenant. He knew the promises of YHWH. He had seen the oil poured on David's head. He believed in the unshakable throne, the eternal line, the chesed—the steadfast love—that God had promised.
But somewhere along the way, Ethan looked around and saw ruins where royalty had once stood.
He saw a crown in the dust.
He saw walls breached, youth cut short, and neighbors mocking what was once holy.
He saw enemies rejoicing—while the throne of David seemed anything but eternal.
And from that grief, Psalm 89 was born.
The Song of the Faithful When Faith Feels Forgotten
This psalm begins in glory:
“I will sing of the steadfast love of YHWH forever...” (v.1)
It crescendos with a glorious retelling of God’s covenant:
“I have made a covenant with My chosen one… I will not lie to David.” (vv.3–4, 35)
But then it shatters:
“But now You have cast off and rejected… You have renounced the covenant…” (vv.38–39)
What happened? Did God forget? Was the covenant broken?
No.
Ethan’s faith was not in what he saw, but in what God had said.
Even while describing devastation, he never renounces YHWH. Even while detailing disgrace, he still closes with a doxology:
“Blessed be YHWH forever! Amen and Amen.” (v.52)
This is the mark of someone who has met God personally. Ethan doesn’t let disappointment rewrite the promises. Instead, he takes his confusion directly to the covenant-keeping King.
Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by Francesco Hayez
When We Are Ethan
We are often Ethan.
We’ve seen God move. We’ve believed His Word.
But then the world shifts. The temple trembles. The crown falls.
And we wonder… was it all in vain?
Psalm 89 gives us permission to say, “How long, O YHWH?”
It teaches us that lament is not rebellion—it’s intimacy.
It’s what the faithful do when the throne feels far away, they cry out to the One who can stop the pain.
But like Ethan, we must still bless Him. We must still believe that every promise in Yahushua is ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ (2 Corinthians 1:20)—even if the answer hasn’t arrived yet.
Because there was a greater Son of David to come.
And His crown did fall.
His throne was cast down—onto a cross.
But three days later, the covenant stood taller than ever.
Rooted in the Word: Reflection
Are you in a season like Ethan’s—where God’s promises feel delayed, or His faithfulness seems hidden? What would it look like to write your own Psalm 89—naming both the covenant and the confusion?
Take a moment to write:
A praise for what God has done
A lament for what still feels undone
A declaration of trust—even if all you can say is, “Blessed be YHWH forever.”
Verse for Meditation
“I will not violate My covenant or alter the word that went forth from My lips.”
(Psalm 89:34, TS2009)
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