Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 89:19

"Then thou spakest in vision to thy saints, And saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people." — Psalms 89:19 (ASV)

The mention of the king allows the poet to bring still more into prominence the special promises made to Israel. The piece, which is couched in oracular language, is introduced by a prose statement recalling the sentences in Job which introduce a fresh speaker.

Holy one. —See Note, Psalms 16:10. Some manuscripts (compare Septuagint and Vulgate) have the plural. The singular is correct, referring no doubt to Nathan, as is seen from 2 Samuel 7:17; 1 Chronicles 17:15.

The oracular piece that follows (Psalms 89:19–37) is like Psalm 132:11-12, founded on this old prophetic passage; but while the original reference is to Solomon, here it is extended to all David’s posterity.

I have ... —Better, I have placed help in a hero — that is, I have chosen a hero as a champion for Israel.