Psalm 89

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. (v 1)

The writer, Ethan, begins his recital by establishing his theme: God's faithfulness. The word "faithfulness" appears no less than 6 times in this psalm, used both by the psalmist and God Himself. If there were ever any doubt, we see from this psalm, and from generations succeeding its writer, that God is faithful.

The word faithful "implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted" (Webster's dictionary). This definition is amplified when considered in light of Psalm 89. The writer, for his part, vows to praise God's mercies and declare His faithfulness throughout the ages. In reality, he cannot do this because, being mortal, he has died and gone to be with the Lord. However, the Faithful One of whom he sings makes it possible, because a) the writer will live on to make his declaration in the resurrection, and b) more pertinently, thousands of generations later, we declare the psalmist's words as immortalised in the Bible.

Furthermore, God speaks in vv 3-4:

I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations.

Even though the psalm writer despairs and feels God has abandoned the Israelite nation by the end of his recital (vv 39-51), we know today that God kept His word, as stated in vv 33-36. In the ultimate fulfilment of the promise, the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth as David's seed, and by Him, we are assured that God's faithfulness endures forever. As you meditate on this psalm, take special note of God's words in verse 34:

My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.

Whatever promise you have received from God is certain to be fulfilled through Jesus Christ, for as Paul confirms in his epistle to the Corinthians:

...the Son of God, Jesus Christ... was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes." For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Cor 1:19-20 NIV)

His coming, death and resurrection are the eternal confirmation of God's enduring faithfulness. He will do (and has already done) what it takes to ensure the fulfilment of His promise to you. To assure you of this truth, take a look at 2 Peter 1:3:

...His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

God has never failed, and He will not begin with you. So, I encourage you today to wait patiently for the Lord's promise. He may not arrive early, but He will not be a day late to give you that desire of your heart.

Prayer

Faithful Lord, I ask for the patience to wait on the fulfilment of your promise in my life, and as I wait, I will sing of and declare your mercies and faithfulness, that the world might know that you are eternally faithful.