Psalms 89:15,16 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

A new subject is here opened. The sacred writer, having celebrated the praises of Jehovah in what had gone before, now speaks of the happiness of his people. Moses had long before observed, that there was no people like Israel; none who had privileges so great and distinguished as they had, in a covenant God to look up to, and to be happy in forever: and here the Psalmist points out in what that happiness consists. Observe: He doth not say, Blessed is the people that hear only, but they that know the joyful sound. Probably he alluded to the calling of the people up to the assemblies of divine worship, the new moon feasts, and especially the jubilee trumpet on the great day of release. And although this trumpet of the jubilee was never sounded but once in every fiftieth year, and consequently was not familiar from frequency, yet not a poor captive in Israel's camp, that longed for the year of release, but perfectly knew the sound, the moment it reached his ear, on the morning of the day of deliverance. Reader, what is the joyful sound of salvation by Jesus, but the same? Oh, what a joyful sound indeed is it to that precious soul, convinced of sin and his utterly lost estate by nature and by practice, that thirsts for Jesus more than the hart for the water brooks! And, Reader, do remark the blessed effects. All such re deemed souls shall walk under divine light, and in the divine life. Jesus's name, his righteousness, his favor, his love, his visits, shall be their daily, hourly enjoyments. All their spiritual joy and happiness are in him, the Lord their righteousness; not in themselves nor in their highest attainments.