Title: Faithful God (Psalm 89:1-18)
Contents
*Introductory words
The great theme of this psalm is the prayer of David's descendants who are in crisis, asking God to fulfill David's covenant. God foretold certain grace to David early on. 2 Samuel 7:8-16 (8-9, 16)
It is far from gathering many people and truly seeking God. When it comes to the number of people worshiping, what man sees and what God sees are different. In John 4:23, Jesus said, “The hour is coming and is now, when those who truly worship the Father will worship in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for those who worship him like this.” This is an expression of what kind of worship God is pleased with. Then, let's see how God's providence is revealed through the poet.
Let's look at verses 1-4.
It is quite fitting that the poet first sings of God's kindness and faithfulness in the beginning. God's mercy toward his people is eternal. And in any case, it is immutable. So, once a promise is made, it must be fulfilled.
Num 23:19, “God is not a man, he is not ignorant; he is not the Son of Man, so that he has no regrets. How can you not do what he has said and not put into practice what he has said?”
God's mercy and faithfulness are the subject of praise. In other words, it is to praise the covenant promised to us and the God who executes those promises. (Great is the Lord's mercy toward us.
However, as in the text, most of God's providence occurs without human awareness. Jesus taught this secret providence through the parable of the growing seed and the parable of the leaven.
Matthew 13:33, “He also spoke in parables, for the kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and put in a powder to make it all swell.” / Mark 4:26-27, “He also said, “The kingdom of God is man.” It is like the sown of this seed on the ground, and while he sleeps and wakes day and night, a seed sprouts and grows, and he does not know what happened.”
Thus, even if we do not feel God's hand, the poet here teaches us what we should do first. See verse 1 of the text. “With my mouth I will make known from generation to generation your faithfulness.” This is not simply ‘I will declare with my mouth’. “I will tell you with my mouth.” In other words, it means that we will do it so that other people can fully understand and understand it so that they can acknowledge God.
Next, let's look at verses 5-13 of the main text.
The poet makes it clear in the text that God is the object of service and praise, not the object of human judgment or comparison. The God to be praised is a strong and mighty God. The psalmist praises God as the Creator, the Lord of power unmatched by any of creation.
In particular, for Jews, who are nomadic farmers, because they do not settle in one place, there were many times when they encountered danger or enemies. That's why they called Almighty God, the God who rescues them from danger and protects them. (There are many concepts of ‘God of the mountains’. That is, it is the concept of the God of nomads in the age of nomadic life. )
Gen 17:1,7 (God appeared to Abraham), Exodus 6:2-3 (God appeared in the days of Moses)
Judging from the circumstances of this psalm, we can see that the circumstances given at that time were difficult and difficult. Because the poet is appealing to God to fulfill the covenant promised to David. This indicates that the situation at the time was not good. In this case, what appeals most to the poet is to find .
So, in the text, we sing that neither angels nor human beings nor even great nature can compare under the power of God. This God,
1) The hand of creation.
11, “The heavens are yours… You have built the world and its fulness.” Today, our adversary, Satan, is also an angel of power. However, he too is just a creature that cannot create anything on its own, just like humans. The true power lies in the power of God to create something out of nothing.
2) The hand of power.
10, “The Lord … You have scattered them with your mighty arm.” What is ‘Rahab’? It refers to Egypt, which opposes and afflicts Israel. The hand of God is the humble and meek, and to the wounded one is infinitely warm and tender. However, it is the most fearful and powerful hand of judgment for those who are hardened and proud and oppose God.
3) The hand of salvation.
13, God's right hand symbolizes power. “The hand of power is lifted high” means the God who works out salvation.
How can we not praise the majesty of God?
Finally, let's look at verses 14-18.
“The people who know pleasant sounds are wealthy… ” As mentioned earlier, the background of this poem is dark. In other words, the kingdom of Judah was destroyed. What would be a 'pleasant sound' in this context?
Some even call it the Gospel of the New Testament. However, considering the circumstances at the time, although the environment is gloomy, it is God's promise that he will never cut off the line handed down from David. In other words, those who believe in David's covenant experience are blessed.
Such a person lives under God's protection or walks with Him. See verses 15b-16. “O LORD, they walk in the light of your countenance, and all day long they rejoice in your name and are exalted because of your righteousness.”
Saints are not people who are bound by circumstances and circumstances. A believer is a being who always lives before God no matter what the current reality. The light of the Lord's face, the life of imago Dei. What would life be like for a person who lives before God? “Rejoice in the name of the Lord all day long… ” (verse 17), a life that pleases God in all things and is pleasing to God. Such a person, as Romans 12:12 says, “rejoices in hope, is patient in tribulation, is steadfast in prayer”.
In this way, God restores and exalts those who trust and exalt God.
Text verses 16-18, 1 Peter 5:6-7
If you exalt God, God exalts you. Do not forget that you are in the presence of God in any circumstances, and I pray that you will live a life that praises, rejoices, and exalts the Lord.