Advent 2009MESSIAH IN THE PSALMS

Psalm 89

 

Just as PSALM 72 concludes the second “book” in Psalms, so PSALM 89 concludes the third “book.”

 

PSALM 72 presents an ideal picture of Solomon’s kingship as one marked by justice – helping the weak and punishing those who oppress.  

Though Solomon failed, this ideal picture is fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ, who brings justice to earth.

 

PSALM 89 reflects on the tension between God’s faithfulness and the tragic unfaithfulness of David’s descendents.

PSALM 89 A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

1I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;

with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all

generations.2For I said, "Steadfast love will

be built up forever; in the heavens you will

establish your faithfulness."

GOD’S CHARACTER

PSALM 72 

Justice

PSALM 89

Steadfast love = hesed

Faithfulness = )emunah

GOD’S CHARACTER

5Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,

your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!

8O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all

around you?

GOD’S CHARACTER

14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness

go before you.

GOD’S CHARACTER

PSALM 89 extols God for his steadfast love and faithfulness.

These character traits are relational and dynamic.

They are also traits we can seek to emulate.

THE DAVIDIC COVENANT

3You have said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one;

I have sworn to David my servant:

4'I will establish your offspring forever,

and build your throne for all generations.'"

THE DAVIDIC COVENANT 

19Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said . . .

20“I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have

anointed him,21so that my hand shall be

established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.”

 

THE DAVIDIC COVENANT

24My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn

be exalted.28My steadfast love I will keep

for him forever, and my covenant will stand

firm for him.  

THE DAVIDIC COVENANT

30If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to

my rules,31if they violate my statutes

and do not keep my commandments,

32then I will punish their transgression with the rod

and their iniquity with stripes,   

THE DAVIDIC COVENANT

33but I will not remove from him my steadfast love

or be false to my faithfulness.34I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went

forth from my lips.

THE DAVIDIC COVENANT

35Once for all I have sworn by my holiness;

I will not lie to David.36His offspring shall endure

forever, his throne as long as the sun

before me.37Like the moon it shall be

established forever, a faithful witness in the skies.

  

THE DAVIDIC COVENANT

PSALM 89 presents God’s promise to David of an eternal dynasty as a witness to His 

faithfulness.

Even if David’s descendents are unfaithful, God will remain faithful in showing steadfast 

love and keeping the covenant.   

REJECTION OF DAVID 

38But now you have cast off and rejected;

you are full of wrath against your anointed.

39You have renounced the covenant with your servant;

you have defiled his crown in the dust . . .

Exile

  

REJECTION OF DAVID

46How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever?

How long will your wrath burn like fire?

  

REJECTION OF DAVID

49Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,

which by your faithfulness you swore to David?

  

REJECTION OF DAVID

50Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked,

and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations,

51with which your enemies mock, O LORD,

with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.

  

REJECTION OF DAVID

The psalmist pours out his heart to God in painful candor.

Even though he extols God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, his experience strongly suggests God has changed His mind and 

rejected David.

Where is the God of steadfast love and faithfulness?

  

WHAT NOW?

We experience God’s apparent absence with regard to the second Advent of Christ.

We also experience God’s apparent absence with regard to 

His promises to us of:

Power

Presence

Protection

  

WHAT NOW?

PSALM 89 concludes with a brief doxology:

52Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.

  

WHAT NOW?

PSALM 90 begins Book IV, and returns to the time of Moses for 

hope.

PSALM 90

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

  

WHAT NOW?

1Lord, you have been our dwelling place

in all generations.2Before the mountains were

brought forth,or ever you had formed the

earth and the world,from everlasting to everlasting

you are God.

  

WHAT NOW?

The faithful in Israel also looked forward, confident God would eventually fulfill his covenant.

The New Testament writers affirm that Jesus Christ is God’s 

answer to PSALM 89.

WHAT NOW?

JOHN 117For the law was given through

Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

grace = hesed 

truth = )emunah49Nathanael answered him,

“Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

WHAT NOW?

In sending Jesus Christ, God has established once for all His 

steadfast love and faithfulness.

God always keeps His promises.

Jesus will return to help the weak and punish the oppressor.

God in Christ does give us power, presence, and 

protection.

WHAT NOW?

The bottom line of our response to and relationship with God is 

faith and hope.

We look back to Jesus’ first advent as a witness to his 

second coming.

We look back to God’s faithfulness to those who 

preceded us for hope for our future.

WHAT NOW?

HEBREWS 11 (The Message)

1-2The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in

God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything

that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what

distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

  

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Most merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what I have done,and by what I have left

undone.

I have not loved you with

my whole heart;I have not loved my

neighbor as myself.

I am truly sorry and I humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on me and forgive me;

that I may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways,to the glory of your

Name. Amen.