Psalm
89 reminds me of a phenomenon I call “kid Memory”. That is the
adult recollection of events from our childhood that turn out to be
completely inaccurate. We remember something we did “every year”,
that in reality happened only on one vacation, or an important
friendship that we are surprised to learn lasted only one school
year. Kid Memory surprises us with the size of little league fields
and the lifespan of pets. Kid memory makes water deeper, snow higher
and summers last forever. This psalm is likely written during the
Babylonian captivity and highlights our limited perspective on
eternity. It begins, “I
will sing of the Lord’s great love forever“.
Then he recounts the trustworthiness of God. “Your
faithfulness known through all generations… You established Your
faithfulness in heaven itself“.
He quotes God’s promises, “I
have
made a covenant with my chosen one…
David
my servant… I will establish your line forever…
make
your throne firm through all generations“.
Remember, God made a promise in 2
Samuel 7:12-17, “I
will raise up your offspring to succeed you“.
God
refers to Solomon, but prophetically Jesus would come through the
line of David to fulfill the promise. “I
will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for
My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I
will be his father, and he will be my son“.
The psalmist adds, “The
heavens praise your wonders…
your
faithfulness too… Who is like the Lord?“.
Kid memory sometimes disappoints us as adults, but the more we
mature in Christ, the more impressive He becomes.
The
psalmist next reminisces about the reality of God, “You
rule over the surging sea… You scattered Your enemies… You
founded the world and all that is in it.…
Your hand is strong,
Your
right hand exalted… Righteousness and justice are the foundation of
your throne; love and faithfulness go before you“.
Very few things from our childhood are still impressive to us as
adults, but he writes, about those “who
walk in the light of your presence… rejoice in Your name
all
day long“.
He explains, “For
You are their glory and strength“.
I’ve notice that people that spend time in God’s presence
continue to reflect His glory even as they age.
Perhaps
as an example, he mentions God’s hand on David. “I
have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have exalted a young man from
among the people… I have found David… My hand will sustain him…
My faithful love will be with him… My covenant with him will never
fail… I will establish his line forever“.
I believe God’s Holy Spirit was poured out on David and it was
clear to all that met him. God can make the ordinary extraordinary.
The
psalm concludes with reality of the present day. David was gone, the
kingdom was destroyed, and the people turned from God’s promise.
He is reminded of the warning God gave, “fail
to keep my commands… I will
punish
their sin… but I will not take My love from him, nor will I ever
betray My faithfulness“.
Again we see that you cannot separate God’s righteousness from His
Mercy. Sin always has a consequence. God declared, “I
will not violate My
covenant“.
It was the people that failed, not God, yet the psalmist hurls
accusations. “You
have rejected, You have spurned,
You
have been very angry with Your anointed one. You have renounced the
covenant… put an end to his splendor and
cast
his throne to the ground…
covered
him with a mantle of shame“.
The people that blame everyone else for their problems live in
misery. God gives us free will and we blame Him for our choices? He
asks, “How
long will Your wrath burn… where is Your former great love?“.
Like the former jock going back to the empty stadium in search of
former glory, he is looking in the wrong place. Haggai chapter 2
gives a promise to the people that returned to Jerusalem after
captivity. “My
Spirit remains among you; do not fear…The glory of this latter
temple shall be greater than the former…And in this place I will
give peace“.
The temple was rebuilt, but I believe his promise was for the Savior
that was still to come. Earlier in the psalm David shouted
information for all to hear, “You
are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior“.
Always remember this, Jesus loves me this I know, ‘because the
Bible tells me so
.