Ps. 89.19 (Pt. 2; raising up the lowly)

I want here to look more closely at the opening words of Yhwh’s vision-speech. First, we note its context. The immediately preceding verse ended with the word “king”, which concluded a section of Yhwh’s people praising the effect of his reign. Further back, we note that the first section has dealt, in large part, with the pacification of Yhwh’s enemies and his utter mastery and authority over them (and, his realm). The focus has been, in other words, almost entirely centered on the kingly reign of Yhwh. It is therefore no surprise that Yhwh’s first words are, “I have set a boy over warriors; I have raised up a chosen one from the people.” The Heavenly King is now ‘raising up’ his Earth King, his ‘image and likeness’. 

The fact that Yhwh draws a contrast between the ‘boy’ and the ‘warriors’ is significant, probably on several levels. On the one hand, it roots David firmly in the human realm. He is not a divine being in any sort. He is only ‘a boy’ and “from the people”. However, Yhwh’s authority is displayed most effectively through this ‘raising up of the lowest’. From this point on Yhwh’s speech is going to be marked by what he does to and for David. Repeatedly, it will be “I (have done so-and-so)…”. This incredible concentration on the “I” of Yhwh forms a type of mirror to the opening section where the psalmist repeatedly said, “You (have done so-and-so)…”. The point, I think, is that this ‘boy’ is now going to be the vessel of Yhwh’s electing-power. As such, even the smallest can be raised infinitely higher than highest if Yhwh acts on their behalf. His strength is made more manifest in weakness. (It is analogous to the ‘dead’ Abraham producing a nation. Prior to him, man was ‘fruitful and multiplied’ through its own ‘begetting’. Abraham, by contrast, is made divinely fruitful: “I will make you fruitful….”. Likewise with David, but from the reverse-pole of his age—this ‘boy’ becomes divinely raised up and instantiated as King.).