February 5th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

The Forever God

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Opening Prayer

“Praise God who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

Read Psalm 89:1-29

[1] A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. [2] I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. [3] You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, [4] ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.'” Selah [5] The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. [6] For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? [7] In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. [8] O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you. [9] You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. [10] You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies. [11] The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it. [12] You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name. [13] Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. [14] Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. [15] Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. [16] They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness. [17] For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. [18] Indeed, our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel. [19] Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: “I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have exalted a young man from among the people. [20] I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. [21] My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. [22] No enemy will subject him to tribute; no wicked man will oppress him. [23] I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries. [24] My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted. [25] I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers. [26] He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ [27] I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. [28] I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. [29] I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

The promises of God are “yes and amen.” Those are God’s promises to you and me—today and always.

Think Further

We find the idea of “forever” appearing here several times and in reference to the one who alone is worthy of the word, for God exists from eternity to eternity. Hence, he alone can love forever—”your love stands firm forever” (2). It is on this unshakable foundation that God made a covenant with Israel’s King David that his line would be established forever and that his throne would never be empty (3,4).

Ethan the Ezrahite, who wrote this psalm, must have already seen disturbing developments in the family of David. He saw decay already setting in when he surveyed the sons of David. As it turned out in history, the royal descendants of David were largely disappointing, proving themselves to be unfaithful and unworthy of the promises of the eternal God. There was a time when the throne of David lay in the refuse pile of history, his crown forgotten except by the faithful who still clung on to God’s promises in spite of the mocking words of the enemies of God (50,51) and the challenge of historical circumstances. Ethan must have wondered about God’s everlasting covenant with David. Without realizing it, he points by faith to a distant Son of David who would prove that the eternal God keeps all his promises (24-29). The Son of God would become the son of David to whom would belong God’s eternal throne (Acts 13:32-37; Psa. 10:16). All this is possible because God is like no one else; he is sovereign and is full of faithful love and righteousness (5-18). He will keep all his promises, even though at times our circumstances may tell a different story. This psalm reminds us to look beyond David to Jesus, in whom are all the promised blessings of God. Because of him we can hope to sing forever (1).

Apply

“No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). Thank God for a promise that is especially dear to you.

Closing prayer

Lord, what a mighty God You are! Your promises are true and You are the God who makes things happen. I worship You.

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