Psalms 89
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.”
Psalms 89:14-18
Psalm 89 grew on me. Several days ago I read it first thing in the morning- around 6:15. Upon finishing my brain said something loud and clear... “HUH?”
So I read it the next day and honestly things didn’t become much clearer. The author was Ethan the Ezrahite, who as the name indicates- isn’t David; meaning I don’t even know the story behind the author. But today I read it about 6 or 7 times. I looked over some online commentaries in between readings. It started becoming clear, the Psalm is focused on the unmovable characteristics of God; and His eternal promise to all who believe through His covenant with King David.
God’s love is described as steadfast several times throughout Psalm 89. I read the Hebrew meaning is difficult to convey with any single English expression, and thus we see different English Bibles using a variety of translations in different contexts: steadfast love, lovingkindness, love, kindness, mercy, loyalty, favor, devotion, goodness, and still others. When you look through the old testament worldview of the author you can begin to understand why God’s covenant with David is praised so heavily. Promising that an heir of David’s would live “forever” and “for all generations” was a manifestation of God’s kindness, loyalty, devotion... or steadfast love.
For us, on this side of the cross, we know that through David’s line came Jesus. The One whose lovingkindness led him to the cross to die for the sins of the world. Jesus, in line with the covenant of David, became the reality of God’s faithfulness; the physical proof of His mercy; the giver of unearned favor. The King of Kings came to earth with the same foundation He had in heaven- righteousness and justice.
Now we get to be the “blessed” people from verse 15. “Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. For you are the glory of their strength;”
A festal shout is one of celebration, victory and justice. To "know the festal shout" is to express the joy that comes from experiencing God's steadfast love and faithfulness. It is significant that it is "the people" who is said to know this. The "festal shout" is something that can only be known collectively, as the gathered people of God. However loud one yell might be, no one can produce a "festal shout" on their own!
Church, your story of salvation begins with time itself. For all of time Jesus has been faithful and steadfast in His love for His people. He will stop at nothing to save you. And our response should be nothing less than a festal shout of joy and thankfulness and awe. Let’s begin to shout louder together for God is the glory of our strength!
B
Psalms 89:14-18
Psalm 89 grew on me. Several days ago I read it first thing in the morning- around 6:15. Upon finishing my brain said something loud and clear... “HUH?”
So I read it the next day and honestly things didn’t become much clearer. The author was Ethan the Ezrahite, who as the name indicates- isn’t David; meaning I don’t even know the story behind the author. But today I read it about 6 or 7 times. I looked over some online commentaries in between readings. It started becoming clear, the Psalm is focused on the unmovable characteristics of God; and His eternal promise to all who believe through His covenant with King David.
God’s love is described as steadfast several times throughout Psalm 89. I read the Hebrew meaning is difficult to convey with any single English expression, and thus we see different English Bibles using a variety of translations in different contexts: steadfast love, lovingkindness, love, kindness, mercy, loyalty, favor, devotion, goodness, and still others. When you look through the old testament worldview of the author you can begin to understand why God’s covenant with David is praised so heavily. Promising that an heir of David’s would live “forever” and “for all generations” was a manifestation of God’s kindness, loyalty, devotion... or steadfast love.
For us, on this side of the cross, we know that through David’s line came Jesus. The One whose lovingkindness led him to the cross to die for the sins of the world. Jesus, in line with the covenant of David, became the reality of God’s faithfulness; the physical proof of His mercy; the giver of unearned favor. The King of Kings came to earth with the same foundation He had in heaven- righteousness and justice.
Now we get to be the “blessed” people from verse 15. “Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. For you are the glory of their strength;”
A festal shout is one of celebration, victory and justice. To "know the festal shout" is to express the joy that comes from experiencing God's steadfast love and faithfulness. It is significant that it is "the people" who is said to know this. The "festal shout" is something that can only be known collectively, as the gathered people of God. However loud one yell might be, no one can produce a "festal shout" on their own!
Church, your story of salvation begins with time itself. For all of time Jesus has been faithful and steadfast in His love for His people. He will stop at nothing to save you. And our response should be nothing less than a festal shout of joy and thankfulness and awe. Let’s begin to shout louder together for God is the glory of our strength!
B
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