God's Promises Are Forever

Psalm 89:1-18

Our psalm selection from this past Sunday’s Lectionary is the first half of Psalm 89, and is one that speaks of the greatness of God.  The psalmist, a fellow named Ethan the Ezrahite, first sings of God’s mercy and faithfulness (vs. 1-2).   A simple definition of mercy is not receiving the just punishment that is due to you.  If someone speeds down the highway, going way over the speed limit, and the police pull them over and just gives a warning rather than a $100 ticket, he had mercy on them.  God shows us mercy all of the time.  Our sins and behavior would always call for just and swift punishment from God, but He has mercy on us.  That should always call for us to sing His praises.

Ethan also speaks of God’s faithfulness.  When God speaks and gives a promise to His people, He is faithful to deliver on that promise.  God gave a promise to King David that He would establish his throne forever (vs. 3-4, and also later in the psalm in verses 35-37).   Sometimes we can look at God’s promises and think that He has forgotten them.  From the time of King David to the time of Jesus there is approximately a thousand years.  During that time David’s kingdom was conquered, first by the Babylonians, then the Persians, the Greeks, and finally the Romans.  That promise didn’t look like it could or would be fulfilled.  Jesus, the Son of God, was also through His human lineage, a descendent of David, and His kingdom will never end.  God’s promise to David has been kept.

What about other promises that God has made?  Sometimes when things are very scarce and the wallet is empty, can we trust that God will keep His promise to always provide for us (Philippians 4:19)?  What about when we feel so alone and that no one cares about us?  Hasn’t He promised to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5)?  God always keeps His promises!  He is a faithful God, as our psalmist friend Ethan reminds us.  

Sometimes it may seem slow in coming, like the promise made to David seemed to be, but He always comes through.  Jesus has promised to return and bring His children, us believers, with Him back to heaven.  Unbelievers scoff at that, saying that it’s been 2,000 years now, that it’s a lot of nonsense (II Peter 3:3-11).  Even some believers might start to doubt if this will ever happen.  The whole world doubted Noah’s proclamation of God’s Words.  A good hundred years or so, “Yeah right, Noah!  You’re crazy in the head!”  Who was sorry when they found themselves on the wrong side of the door of the ark?!  God always faithful, and always keeps His promises, no matter how long it might seem.  Jesus will return for His children who should be watching and waiting.

In the remainder of this portion of the psalm, Ethan speaks of God’s glory in His creation. He uses rhetorical questions to state that there is nothing or no one, implying false gods, to compare with Him.  In verses 5 and 6 he speaks of God’s glory in the heavens.  Many people in ancient times worshipped the stars, moon, or planets in the sky.  Could they compare with Yahweh?  Or even the angels?  No!  Verses 9 and 10 proclaim that Yahweh rules over the oceans and all that is in them.  “Rahab” would be a name for a mythical sea monster, and also sometimes refers symbolically to Egypt, which frequently tormented their country.  I don’t live near an ocean, but I can imagine how tempestuous huge storms at sea could be, with the raging and crashing waves.   God rules over them.  He is all-powerful over all creation, the heavens, the earth, north and south (vs. 11-12).  Who can compare with Him, the psalmist asks?  No one or nothing!

Because of God’s character, we can trust in Him (vs. 13-14).  He is all powerful, but also a just and righteous God.  He is a God of truth, but also of mercy.  As His blood-bought children we are blessed, and can rejoice and sing His praises (vs. 15-18).   Truly, as Ethan says, there is none who can compare with our God!