This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
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Psalm
CHAPTER 89
Ps 89:1
1 Mas'-chil of E'-than the Ez'-ra-hite.
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
Ethan is recorded (1Chronicles 6:42) as the father of Adaiah, and the son of Zimmah: all in the desendency of Asaph.
His song here is of "the mercies of the LORD," and he promises to proclaim the faithfulness of God!
2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.
God's greatest manifestation of His "mercy" is in the fact that He has been "faithful" to mankind concerning His promise of Messiah.
Though we are miserable sinners all, God promised a Messiah through the descendency of David. That Messiah would set up a kingdom that endures forever. Jesus is that Messiah.
Because of God's "faithfulness," there is a kingdom in place today which includes all those who surrender to Jesus as Lord. That kingdom will endure FOREVER!
5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
The praises of God will ring throughout heaven for eternity. God's "faithfulness" will be forever proclaimed by "the congregation of the saints."
There is NONE in heaven or earth that can "compare" to God! He is the One and ONLY God! His mighty power is above all angels and men. Therefore, we should "reverence" Him -- honor, love and obey Him.
9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
10 Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.
The word "Rahab" here is symbolically used of Egypt, and suggests the character of a sea monster.
It was God Who broke Egypt's hold on Israel and buried her army in the Red Sea!
11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
This Lord, God, known by the name of Jehovah, is OWNER of all things!
13 Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
The mighty "arm" of God is His "right hand." Jesus is the manifestation of God's "right hand" (see Mark 16:19, Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 10:12, 1Peter 3:22).
True justice and judgment are from God because they are the "habitation" of His holiness. True mercy and grace are from God because they are constantly emitted from His "face."
When the "born again" come to our ultimate home (heaven), we shall be "blessed with the "joyful sound" of eternal praise for God (verse 15). And we shall eternally walk in the "light" of God's presence and person.
God is our "defence" (verse 18), and is the KING of who we are. Therefore, it will be HIS NAME which is praised eternally!
19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.
24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.
26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
God spoke to David (the "holy one") and promised that one of his descendents would be "exalted." This one descendent of David would be called the "Firstborn" (verse 27). He is "Firstborn" because He is the One and Only physical manifestation of God Himself. And He is "Firstborn" because, as the manifestation of God Himself, He existed before Adam.
This "Firstborn" will be exalted "higher than the kings of the earth." (verse 27).
God did not make a covenant with mankind to bring salvation. God made a covenant with GOD to bring salvation to man (see verse 28).
This One and ONLY physical manifestation of God; this One and ONLY exact likeness of the Holy God, is JESUS (Hebrews 1:1-3).
And God promises that the "seed" of Jesus will "endure for ever." Those who are "born again," by surrender to Christ as Lord, are assured eternal glory with Him forever!
30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
36 His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me.
37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
God also promises that the "seed" of Christ shall be disciplined if they break or forsake His Word and are not obedient to His will (verse 30-32). This thought is reiterated in Hebrews 12:6-8.
The world is temporary, and all created fleshly human beings are temporary. But the persons of the "born again" will reside FOREVER in the presence of God around the throne of the Son.
The "faithfulness" of God is being proclaimed. And the "faithfulness" of God will be proclaimed by Christ's children forever as a WITNESS in heaven (verse 37).
38 But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.
39 Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
40 Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.
41 All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.
42 Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.
43 Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.
44 Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.
45 The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.
The psalmist, Ethan, realizes that God has effectively SHUT DOWN the kingdom of Israel that was begun in David's reign.
God has brought shame and reproach upon the "seed" of the promised Messiah. It was according to His promise because they had "broken" His statutes and "forsaken" His judgments.
But take note in the following that the psalmist also recognizes this is a TEMPORARY THING!
46 How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
The question is raised, "How LONG, LORD?" How long will God have to chasten His people before they turn again to Him?
The psalmist realizes that the kingdom lost through idolatry may not be restored before his life is over on this earth (verse 47).
But he also realizes that though death may come, he shall be SAVED from the grave! (verse 48)
49 Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?
50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;
51 Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.
52 Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.
Ethan calls for the "former lovingkindnesses" and asks God to reduce the "reproach" of His servants.
God has allowed the "enemies" to bring the reproach upon His people (verse 51).
To Ethan, it is a present reality that God is disciplining the nation because of their "UNfaithfulness" to Him.
But God is FAITHFUL! Even though He disciplines as a loving Father, God will never totally remove His mercy and grace.
Therefore, Ethan pronounces a tremendous benediction for this song:
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.
"6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."
Even though God will certainly discipline His children, his "lovingkindness" (verse 33) and His faithfulness (verse 34) will NEVER be taken away from those children!
"Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen."
Whatever might be happening in your life for the present, remember that God is FAITHFUL!!