Psalm 89:1-15 – Misericordias Domini in æternum cantabo

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Psalm 89:1-15 chanted in the Sarum Use by Sarah James

Themes: The Psalmist shows God's great mercy to the house of David, and the promises which he had given to it of support and perpetuity, vv. 1-37; complains that, notwithstanding these promises, the kingdom of Judah is overthrown, and the royal family nearly ruined, vv. 38-52.
It is most probable that this psalm was composed during the captivity, as of Ethan and Heman we have already seen something in the introduction to the preceding psalm. The title should probably be translated, - To give instruction to Ethan the Ezrahite. The Chaldee has, "A good instruction, delivered by Abraham, who came from the east country." The Septuagint and Ethiopic have Nathan the Israelite; the Arabic has Nathan the Israelite. (From the Adam Clarke Commentary, 1831)

In Judaism: In some traditions, this is recited during Selichot, which are penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays, and on fast days. Verse 53 is the first verse of Baruch Hashem L'Olam (a paragraph) in Pesukei Dezimra (Morning Prayers) and Baruch Hashem L'Olam (a tapestry of 18 biblical verses, followed by a blessing titled Yiru Eineinu “may our eyes see”) after the Shema (a prayer) in weekday Maariv (Evening Prayer). Verses 16-18 are recited following the Shofar blowing on Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish New Year. In the Jewish arrangement this closes the third book of the Psalms. (Wikipedia)

In Christianity: Verse 20 is alluded to in Acts 13:22: “he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”

Nine hundred years ago, the Cathedral of Salisbury, England developed a unique form of chant and liturgy known as the “Use of Salisbury,” or “Sarum Use.” Differences from the Roman rite are both melodic (more florid in the Sarum) and textual (Elizabethan English rather than Latin). The best repository of Sarum Use tones is the St. Dunstan's Plainsong Psalter, from which Sarah has sung this psalm. Additional resources on Sarum Use plainsong at https://canticasacra.org.

Cropped photos from Wikimedia Commons, in order with relevant licenses as follows:
Photos 1-2, 4 – CC BY-SA 3.0 at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Photos 3, 6-9 – CC BY-SA 4.0 at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Photo 5 – CC BY-SA 2.0 at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

1. “Amazonia_Ecuador (Limoncocha Lake with Napo River),” Leo Sanchez, own work.
2. “Lake Sandoval,” Namiac, own work.
3. “Yasuní National Park (Ecuador), Agencia Latinoamericana de Información, own work.
4. “PuertoMaldonado_LagoSandoval2,” Xauxa, own work assumed.
5. “4_day_trip_to_La_Selva_Lodge_on_the_Napo_River_in_the_Amazon_jungle_of_E._Ecuador_-_lush_riverside_foliage,” Murray Foubister, own work.
6. “Saul15” (Ila tree), A. Jailloux, own work.
7. “Liane_vor_Baum,_Cuyabeno,_Ecuador,” Hanspeter Bellers, own work.
8. “Parc_amazonien_de_Guyane,_une_balade_à_Saül, Melanie Dinane, own work.
9. “Macrolobiumbäume_in_der_Laguna_Grande,_Cuyabeno-Reservat,” Fährtenleser, own work.

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