What does "north and south" symbolize in Psalm 89:12? “You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.” Literal Picture, Broader Point • The psalmist names two opposite compass points—north (צָפוֹן, tsaphon) and south (יָמִין, yamin). • By affirming that God “created” them, Ethan reminds Israel that every direction, region, and people are the Lord’s handiwork. Nothing lies outside His jurisdiction. A Hebrew Merism • Hebrew poetry often expresses totality by pairing extremes (a literary device called merism). – “He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). – “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3). • Here, “north and south” represent every point on the compass—and everything in between. Reinforced by Geography • The next line mentions Mount Tabor (to the west of the Jordan) and Mount Hermon (in the far north). These two well-known landmarks reinforce the idea of Israel’s whole landscape rejoicing in its Maker. • North (Hermon/Lebanon range) pictures lofty snow-covered peaks; south (Negev) evokes arid wilderness—both belong to Him. Cross-References • Psalm 107:3—He gathers His people “from the east and west, from the north and south.” • Job 26:7—“He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.” • Isaiah 43:6—God commands the directions themselves: “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’” – Each passage underlines His sovereign authority over location and movement. The Covenant Thread in Psalm 89 • Verses 11-14 celebrate God’s cosmic kingship before shifting to His covenant with David (vv. 19-37). • By establishing that heaven, earth, north, south—all things—belong to Him, the psalm grounds the later promise: if God rules the universe, He can certainly keep His word to David’s house. Takeaways for Today • God’s rule is comprehensive; there are no “uncharted” corners where His authority stops. • Our confidence rests in the Creator who governs every direction our lives may turn. • Just as Tabor and Hermon “shout for joy,” all creation has reason to praise the One who formed it—and so do we. |
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