The psalmist calls upon God to remember His promise so that shame may turn to vindication for those who remain faithful to Him.
“Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants; How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples.” (Psalm 89:50)
This verse occurs near the conclusion of Psalm 89, a psalm credited to Ethan the Ezrahite. Earlier in the psalm, the writer exalts God’s unbreakable covenant with David, praising the Lord’s steadfast love and His power to rule the earth with perfect integrity. Indeed, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne” (Psalm 89:14). As the psalm progresses, however, the tone shifts to lament. Here in verse 50, the psalmist cries out for God to remember how His servants endure public shame and taunting, urging Him to take note of their disgrace before the nations.
By invoking the name of the Lord to “remember,” the psalmist is not suggesting that God has forgotten His promises. Rather, it is a faithful appeal for God to act according to His covenant character. The psalmist lays bare his grief that the faithful people of God are mocked, seemingly left vulnerable to their foes. His plea presupposes that the God who established David’s throne, and who presides with righteousness and justice, will not abandon His promises even when circumstances appear desperate. This stark petition underscores the tension between God’s eternal covenant loyalty and the reality of human suffering, pointing ahead to the hope of God’s eventual vindication of His servants.
God’s consistent pattern throughout Scripture is to uplift those who are scorned for His name’s sake, ultimately transforming reproach into honor for all who remain devoted to Him. Therefore, the psalmist’s cry in Psalm 89:50 demonstrates both the rawness of lament and a resilient trust that the Lord will remain true to His covenant, restoring His people’s dignity in His perfect time.
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Psalms 89:50 meaning
“Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants; How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples.” (Psalm 89:50)
This verse occurs near the conclusion of Psalm 89, a psalm credited to Ethan the Ezrahite. Earlier in the psalm, the writer exalts God’s unbreakable covenant with David, praising the Lord’s steadfast love and His power to rule the earth with perfect integrity. Indeed, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne” (Psalm 89:14). As the psalm progresses, however, the tone shifts to lament. Here in verse 50, the psalmist cries out for God to remember how His servants endure public shame and taunting, urging Him to take note of their disgrace before the nations.
By invoking the name of the Lord to “remember,” the psalmist is not suggesting that God has forgotten His promises. Rather, it is a faithful appeal for God to act according to His covenant character. The psalmist lays bare his grief that the faithful people of God are mocked, seemingly left vulnerable to their foes. His plea presupposes that the God who established David’s throne, and who presides with righteousness and justice, will not abandon His promises even when circumstances appear desperate. This stark petition underscores the tension between God’s eternal covenant loyalty and the reality of human suffering, pointing ahead to the hope of God’s eventual vindication of His servants.
God’s consistent pattern throughout Scripture is to uplift those who are scorned for His name’s sake, ultimately transforming reproach into honor for all who remain devoted to Him. Therefore, the psalmist’s cry in Psalm 89:50 demonstrates both the rawness of lament and a resilient trust that the Lord will remain true to His covenant, restoring His people’s dignity in His perfect time.