|
"Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen."
(Psalm 89:52)
Have you ever read a psalm from Scripture and wrestled with the fact that it didn't seem to have a happy ending or clear conclusion? Psalm 89 is one of those psalms. As a reminder, the psalm starts with Ethan writing words of praise to God and recounting the Davidic covenant. The psalm, however, takes quite a turn around verse 38 as the author wrestles with the recent events where it seems that the Davidic monarchy has been destroyed and the perception therefore is that God has ceased to be faithful to His covenant. God had promised that David's line would reign eternally (2 Samuel 7), and now there was no king from David's line ruling over Judah or Israel.
The author of Psalm 89 is confused. He doesn't understand how these events fit into God's plan and covenant and even says, "You have renounced the covenant with your servant and have defiled his crown in the dust" (Psalm 89:39).
For many, when tragedy strikes, it leads to a rejection of the Lord. The questions of "Why would God let this happen?" or "How could God be good now?" sadly drive many to doubt and reject God. In Psalm 89, Ethan appears to be genuinely confused and perhaps even angry. He knows the covenant God made with David, but circumstances seem to suggest that God has not remained faithful to His word. In a very human sense, he questions and wrestles with his disappointment. While Psalm 89 doesn't end with an explanation, it does end in a very encouraging way nonetheless. The psalmist doesn't get answers to his questions, he doesn't have a great revelation or gain understanding. Still, the psalm ends in praise: "Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen" (Psalm 89:52).
Furthermore, remember the first 18 verses of the psalm (or go back and read them if you haven't yet this week) which are full of God's praise. I read these 18 verses in a new light in view of how the psalm progresses. Ethan wrote these words of praise while in a season of confusion, thinking that the circumstances seemed to suggest that God had rejected the king and renounced His covenant.
When you wrestle with difficult circumstances or have big questions about God's goodness in the midst of challenges, cling to His character. Just as the psalmist recounts the character of God, remember what you know to be true about God, even when your mind is tempting you to doubt. When forced to choose between trusting God's promise or your perspective, bank on the Lord every single time. Cling to what is true and trust that God will fulfill all He has promised, even when you can't see it.
Tomorrow we will see how God does indeed remain faithful, even though the psalmist couldn't see how yet. So even when you can't see how God is going to be faithful to His promises in your own life, trust His character. Say, "Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen," (Psalm 89:52) even when you're also wondering, "How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?" (Psalm 89:46).
|
Apple
Spotify
Deezer
YouTube
