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Psalm 89:23
I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him.
21with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him.
22No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him.
23I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him.
24But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted.
25I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers.
Notice
The verbs “beat down” and “strike” make God’s pledge to defend David stark and violent, raising questions about divine judgment and how this promise applies today.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What questions arise as you read God’s promise to strike those who hate David?
Write on thisWhat changes in your reading when you distinguish David’s adversaries from people who oppose you?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Deuteronomy 28:7The LORD will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be struck before you. They will come out against you one way, and will flee before you seven ways.Both passages promise that God will defeat enemies before those he protects, with Deuteronomy describing their flight in seven directions.
2 Samuel 7:9I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who …Both concern God’s defense of David: Samuel recalls enemies already cut off, while the psalm promises action against his adversaries.
Psalm 2:9You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”Both use violent language for defeat, with Psalm 2 describing an iron rod and shattered pottery.
1 Chronicles 17:10and from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that the LORD will build you a house.Both record God’s promise to subdue David’s enemies, with Chronicles also promising that the LORD will build him a house.
Psalm 34:21Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.Both connect hatred with judgment: David’s haters face God’s blows, and those who hate the righteous face condemnation.
2 Samuel 22:40–44For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.Both attribute victory over opponents to God, with Samuel thanking him for battle strength and the subduing of attackers.
Psalm 18:40You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.Both describe God defeating enemies and use hatred to name the hostility directed toward the person he protects.
Psalm 132:18I will clothe his enemies with shame, but on himself, his crown will shine.”Both promise God’s action against a king’s enemies, expressed as striking them in Psalm 89 and clothing them with shame in Psalm 132.
John 15:23He who hates me, hates my Father also.Hatred is the shared thread: the psalm concerns David’s haters, while Jesus says hatred toward himself also reaches his Father.
2 Samuel 7:1When the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around,Both concern God’s protection of David from enemies, with Samuel describing the rest that followed their defeat.
2 Samuel 3:1Now there was a long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker.Both concern David facing opposition; Samuel describes war between rival royal houses, while the psalm promises God’s action against adversaries.
Luke 19:27But bring those enemies of mine who didn’t want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.’”Both describe violence against a ruler’s enemies in his presence, though Luke’s command belongs to a character in Jesus’ parable.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
God’s pledge concerns his protection of David amid real hostility. These words give you no warrant for personal revenge; the promised action against David’s adversaries belongs to God.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 89:23. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).