Psalms 87-89

Psalm 87 (of the *Korahites)
The Joy of Living in Zion

1-3 The LORD loves his holy mount Zion more than all other dwellings.
4-6 The LORD Himself registers those that were born there.
7 Singers and dancers says "All my springs are in you." In other words, Zion is their inspiration?

*The Korahites were descendants of Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi. See Exodus 6:14-30, esp. v. 24

Psalm 88 (of the Korahites, a Maskil (song) of Heman the Ezrahite)
Prayer for Help in Despondency
1-2 Hear me, O LORD, when I cry out at night.
3-7 I am as good as dead, because you are angry with me.
8-9 My friends shun me; I am shut in and cannot escape
10-12 Do your love and your wonders reach into the grave? Can you save in the "land of forgetfulness"?
13-18 I cry out to you, O LORD, but your face is hidden; I am desperate; your wrath and assaults surround me like a flood all day long; my companions are in darkness.

Psalm 89 (A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite)
God's Covenant with David
1-2 I will sing, proclaim, declare that your love and faithfulness will last forever.
3-4 You made a covenant with David to establish his descendants and throne for all generations.
5-18 Who in the heavens is like you?

• You rule the sea; you scatter your enemies
• The universe is yours; the mountains praise you
• You are strong, righteous, just, loving and faithful
  
• Happy are those who walk in your light, your name, your glory.

19-37 Then you spoke in a vision:

• I have chosen and exalted my servant David
• My hand and arm will be with him so that he will always be victorious over his enemies
• He will acknowledge me, and my covenant with him will stand forever.
• Though his descendants forsake me and I have to punish them, I will never forsake him nor violate my covenant with him

38-45 But now, O LORD, you have rejected him:

• You are full of wrath, renouncing the covenant
• He is the scorn of his neighbors and his enemies
• You have hurled his throne to the ground, covered him with shame

46-48 How long, O LORD, will you hide yourself? My time is short, because you have created mortals for Sheol.
49-51 Lord, where is your love, your faithfulness? Remember how your enemies taunt me.
52 Blessed be the LORD forever. Amen and Amen.

It seems that the psalmist Ethan in Psalm 89 is taking a different approach than Heman in Psalm 88. He starts with praise, then a reminder to God of His promises, then his complaint, finishing with a "by the way, Lord. Blessed be your name." Note also, the small letters in "Lord" in verse 49 and 50. I wonder if that's intentional.