Blessed Be the Lord for His Forever Faithfulness
All of creation, despite its fallen state because of sin, was made by God to praise Him. The angels, also creatures of His making, know that Yahweh is faithful. Therefore, despite the rebellion of the fallen angels, God is greatly to be feared because He is the Lord God of hosts.
The sovereignty of God is a despised doctrine by unbelievers; but the Holy One of Israel is mighty in His omnipotence. He rules over the forces of nature. He sets the boundary for the seas and stills the storms. He reigns as King of nations and crushes His enemies.
Not only has God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1–2), He sustains them by the Word of His power (Col 1:16–17; Heb 1:1–3). It all belongs to Him as the owner of it all (Ps 24:1). He administers all life and all inanimate aspects of the physical universe. People study what God has made; but do not acknowledge Him. They worship the creature rather than the Creator (Rom 1:25). Thank God that He is slow to anger, slow to wrath (Ps 103:8; 145:8).
God has created humanity in His image (Gen 1:27). Sin has marred that image so that people often resemble devils more than deity. None of the sons of Adam is fit to sit on the throne to rule over this world…save for God’s chosen servant (Ex 15:18; Ps 146:10; Lk 1:33; Rev 11:15; 22:5).
In the eternal council of God, an eternal covenant was decreed that promised eternal life (Heb 13:20), proclaimed by the eternal Gospel (Rev 14:6). The promise God made was to save a people from the righteous wrath of God against rebel sinners (Mt 1:21).
God chose His people (Rom 11:5–6). He wrote their names in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev 13:8; 17:8; 21:27); and He gave this remnant people to God the Son before the foundation of the world (Jn 17:2, 6, 24; 2 Tim 1:9). Christ came from heaven (Jn 16:28). He was without sin when He was enfleshed (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15). He was born into the tribe of Judah, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary (Is 7:14; Mt 1:18, 23). He was of the family line of David (Mt 1; Lk 3), the Bethlehemite with whom God chose to covenant, pertaining the eternal throne (Heb 1:8).
God’s promise to David was fulfilled in David’s son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who sits on the throne of God (Ps 110:1), at the right hand of majesty (Heb 1:3; 8:1), in heaven (Jn 14:2–3), having been entrusted with all authority to execute judgment (Mt 28:18; Jn 5:22), as the righteous Judge of all the earth (Gen 18:25). God has highly exalted Jesus, the God-man (Phil 2:9).
Psalm 89 ascribes a number of titles to the posterity of David. First, God calls Him (Jesus), “My chosen” (Ps 89:3) to emphasize God’s sovereign choice of His preferred King. This is no democracy. It is the kingdom of God with God’s Son as King, which is a second title (Ps 24; 89:18, 27; Col 1:13; 1 Tim 6:15).
Third, Ethan the Ezrahite references the title “My servant” (Ps 89:3, 20) to show the obedience of Christ, in contrast with the gross disobedience of demons and men. Jesus is the faithful covenant keeper; who always did what was pleasing to His Father/God.
Fourth, Jesus is called here, “My firstborn” (89:27), which declares primacy and the power and authority along with the responsibility over the family of God. This also alludes to His being the only begotten Son of God. Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of David.
One learns from Psalm 89:30–37 that God’s people, Israel, are prone to wander. Yahweh is a Father who loves and disciplines His children (Heb 12:4–11). Those who are brought into Christ and His kingdom receive the sanctifying Spirit (1 Pet 1:2). The child must grow up in Christ. The good food that brings the Christian to maturity is the Word of God, the bread of life, taught by the Spirit (Jn 14:26). In this, we learn and know God by learning Christ (2 Pet 3:18), who is the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24).
The witnesses of the sky, being the sun and the moon declare the unchanging God (Ps 89:36–37). God is immutable as are His eternal decrees (Eph 3:11). His plan is definite and all things must come to pass as Yahweh has ordained them (Acts 2:23). In this, God’s people have His favor; but from our perspective, divine discipline can feel harsh.
God’s grace never abandons His child under discipline. Even in the sense of harsh correction, severity is met with some kindness that reminds us that we are loved with an everlasting love (1 Jn 4:7–19).
The psalmist does not inquire if Yahweh or His anointed King will deliver His church from trouble; rather he asks “How long, O Lord?” The seasons of trouble will end, even if death is that end. The believer has hope, blessed hope. He or she knows about the covenant faithfulness of both God the Father and God the Son as Mediator. Just as night ends with day and winter ends with spring so our Deliverer is coming.
It is the Christian’s privilege and prerogative to remember the promise of God. It is also right for us to pray when we are in trouble. Prayer demonstrates one’s faith in God and the Christ. We present our need to God who already knows it before we ask for relief. The essence of prayer is to humbly submit to God’s will. Our Father knows best what we need and when.
The psalmist, Ethan, having deposited his petitions and pleas at the throne of the sovereign God, humbly leaves his concerns with God and closes with “Blessed be Yahweh, forever! Amen and amen.” The believer trusts in the Lord to make it right, whatever it is. Thus, Psalm 89 is for the troubled church to have words to express both lament and praise to the covenant faithful God, who assures us of glory after the season of suffering called, “life in this world” (Rom 8:18).
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 4, 2024
Psalm 89