Psalm 89 – God will never fail in His promises

Psalm 89 in a long poem. It closes book three of the Psalms, which started with Psalm 73.  The title tells us that this is a maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite, who was referred to 1 Chronicles 6:42 and 15:17, 19. This Psalm wrestles with God’s faithfulness to His promise.

 

The Psalmist began by declaring the lovingkindness and faithfulness of God, and then made reference to God’s Covenant with the house of David that was recorded in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. In that covenant God had promised prosperity to David’s line and that his throne would be established forever. In verses 3-4, the Psalmist particularly mentioned that covenant. And then in verses 5-38, he talked about the faithful God and His sovereign control. Truly there’s none like Him. God had decreed and established the Davidic throne forever. He promised faithfulness to His covenant with David. While He would punish David’s wayward children, He would never break His lovingkindness toward them, and David’s descendants shall always have the throne.  

 

Then when we come to verses 39-47, the Psalmist seemed to allege that God had forgotten His promise. The Davidic line was described as suffering reproach. Here is the Psalmist trying to make sense of God’s promise with the reality of the state of affairs the nation was in. It seemed incongruous that if God had promised to establish David’s line forever then why was their nation in such a devastated condition. The Davidic dominion was clearly described as in a state of disgrace and disarray. This led to the petition for God to remember His covenant. Despite the struggles, the Psalmist appropriately ended this Psalm with a doxology.

 

The Psalmist knew and declared the lovingkindness and faithfulness of God. He reiterated that God’s covenantal love would endure forever, and this great God certainly deserved to be praised. And He had wonderfully made a covenant to establish the throne of David forever. However, what did not make sense to him was the apparent neglect of the Davidic covenant. Why was the nation in such ravage? He then lamented and was left reeling in wonder. But wisely, he made a declaration of praise with the doxology in verse 52.       

 

Be sure that God is faithful despite our disappointment. His promises can never fail. From human perspective it may seem as if God had forgotten His promise. He never did and He never will. We must admit that we do not have the total perspective as God has. Even as people with limited perspective, we must concede that no one, whether on earth or in hell, can oppose the promises God had made and established in heaven in His eternal counsel. When we tenaciously trust God, He brings great relief and comfort despite the turmoil we may have to endure in the hardest of times. He is a promise keeping God. He may allow circumstances to happen to us that may seem incongruent with His goodness. But brace up, stay trusting and hopeful. In spite of how things may appear He will keep His word. You can count on it!