The Psalm reading from this past Sunday, the First Sunday following Epiphany, is Psalm 89. Let’s take quick look at this passage of Scripture. The Psalm was written by Ethan the Ezrahite,who sought to remind the reader of the faithfulness of God to keep His promises. Years earlier God had made a covenant with King David the He would establish his house or lineage and that his kingdom would last forever. II Samuel 7:12-16 spells out the Davidic Covenant, where God makes this promise.
As the people of Israel would have read Psalm 89 during this time in their history and over the passing years, they may have been wondering if God had forgotten this promise. When David’s grandson was king, the northern half of the kingdom split off. Then, years later, the people were to go into captivity in Babylon, and the monarchy is eliminated by their conquerors. Babylon, Persia, Greece, then Rome. All through these many hundreds of years, those that read this psalm needed to be reminded and reassured that though it might look like God had forgotten the promise, He hadn’t.
As God promised promised David, there is always One who will be seated on his throne. Our Lord Jesus was of the line of David. It is He who will sit on the throne of David forever.
We can trust God to keep His promises. Are there some promises that we might need a little reassurance that God will keep - some that at the moment might seem like He has not, or will not keep? Our bank account may be at double zeros, but do we remember that God has promised to always provide for our needs? Remember His promise in Philippians 4:19: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus".
We may be standing at the edge of the grave of a dear loved one, a spouse or a child; but do we remember that God has promised that if they are believers, they will live forever? Remember His promise in John 11:25-26: "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." He always keeps His promises.
Sarah, excellence comments.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah, for this reminder. From my observation it appears that the biggest problem people have in seeking the promises of God in their lives has more to do with timing than anything. God's time table is so different from our human understanding of it. For many, God fails in their eyes because what they claim as a promise does not happen immediately, but the heroes of the scriptures point out the necessity to wait on the Lord.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Sarah on starting the blog. Thank you for the posts thus far. May God continue to be with you using you as His mouthpiece to reach the lost and to encourage those who have accepted His salvation.
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