Psalm 89 gives a great picture of God. We learn how we should relate to him based on the fact that “I have made a covenant….I have sworn to David….I will establish your offspring forever….build your throne for all generations”. We see a word multiple times in this chapter – the word forever. God does things for the long haul. He isn’t about the here and now – He sees the whole picture. Part of our issue as humans is that we don’t have the perspective that God does. He can see things from here til eternity. We can only see the present. We need to hang on to the One who not only sees the future, but directs it.
The psalmist reminds us that we should “sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever….praise your wonders….your faithfulness”. God is worthy of our praise. He gives us plenty to praise Him for. He is blessing us constantly. He is the owner of all that is. And He bestows it freely on us to be stewards of. But we must not forget that it is truly His.
Who is this God? The psalmist describes Him as:
- “greatly to be feared
- awesome above all
- mighty
- rule the raging of the sea
- crushed Rahab
- scattered your enemies
- heavens are yours
- earth also is yours
- world and all that is in it
- you have founded them
- created them
- mighty arm
- strong is your hand
- high your right hand
- Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne
- steadfast love and faithfulness go before you”
That is who God is. An amazing list of qualities that we need to know and cling to. He doesn’t change. Not now, not ever. God is consistent.
We also learn how to live a blessed life. The writer says: “Blessed are the people….who walk….in the light of your face….who exult in your name….for you are the glory of their strength….our shield belongs to the Lord….You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation”. The formula for blessing is not rocket science. In a word, it comes down to relationship. It comes down to walking humbly with the God of the universe and looking to Him as the provider and protector, the power and creator. We are at His mercy. The psalmist asks “What man can live and never see death”? It is a rhetorical question as we all will die. But while we live, we can live in God’s blessing. He is almighty and all powerful. And He wants a relationship with you and me. He’s ready – are you?
Posted by Rob T. on July 10, 2012 at 4:45 pm
I love this Psalm. I find that it is useful for instructing us about how to petition God. This is a song of worship, first and foremost, and then in the end asks God for what the Psalmist (Ethan) so desperately needs. This is a cry from his heart, that first, God is great, and will forever remember his promise to Israel (and directly to David’s line). Then, after praising God for all the things he is and does for him, Ethan cries out for God to save him; for God to remember the covenant he had made with David, and for Him to keep him from the disgrace which he is under.
To me, this is amazing. You have a man who is completely ashamed, and beaten, and yet the first thing he does is praise God, and the last thing he does is praise God. What comes between the two things is his hman nature, but the beginning and the end are praising God. How amazing!