Psalm 89 – Remembering the Covenant with David, and Sorrow for Lost Blessing

Published August 30, 2023 by Rev. Pete Van't Hoff in Devotions

Ethan the Ezrahite, at Psalm 89, considers the covenant God keeps with His people.

1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;
With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever;
Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.”

“I have made a covenant with My chosen,
I have sworn to My servant David:
‘Your seed I will establish forever,
And build up your throne to all generations.’ ” Selah

He then describes, the God with whom covenant is kept.

11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.
12 The north and the south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name.
13 You have a mighty arm;
Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before Your face.

And the contents of such a covenant are heard.

30 “If his sons forsake My law
And do not walk in My judgments,
31 If they break My statutes
And do not keep My commandments,
32 Then I will punish their transgression with the rod,
And their iniquity with stripes.
33 Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him,
Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.
34 My covenant I will not break,
Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.

Finally, knowing the punishments deserving of a wayward people, but also that God’s covenant never fails, Ethan cries out for the Lord’s mercy.

46 How long, Lord?
Will You hide Yourself forever?
Will Your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my time is;
For what futility have You created all the children of men?
48 What man can live and not see death?
Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah

And then ends his singing rightly.

52 Blessed be the Lord forevermore!
Amen and Amen.

Let us pray.

Dear Lord and heavenly Father,

Blessed be Your holy name. We may only call you our Father because of the covenant made with us, through Your Son. We may only cling to Your mercies because of the Holy Spirit regenerating work, in the name of Your Son. As Your people of old yearned for Your presence and strength, we eagerly await the return of Your Son in glory. How long, Lord? Blessed be the LORD forevermore! Amen and Amen.

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