Sunday, November 4, 2012
pm
Where Is Your Former Loving Kindness
Psalm 89
The psalm, which we will read in a moment (though lengthy), is
written during a time when the throne of David has been cast down (vs.
38-45). Prior to this, the
author sings the praises of God and His promise to David and the
eternity of his throne. He
writes in distress. Most
commentators attribute this psalm to the beginning of the fall of
Jerusalem to Babylon, which would lead to the destruction of Solomon’s
temple and captivity of the king.
The last king in succession to David’s lineage was a king named
Jehoiachin (Jeconiah). He
was 18 (8 y/o – 2 Chron. 36:9) when he became king (2 Kings 24:8) and
only reigned for 3 months before being carried away to Babylon in
captivity. Following him was
a couple of puppet rulers for Babylon, but the destruction of the city
was inevitable. This
fits our text most appropriately as a series of Kings have reigned that
can gain no real footing.
The psalmist writes in frustration that the promise of God has not been
fulfilled.
The OTHER possibility
is that this Ethan is the one mentioned in 1 Kings 4:31, but he outlived
Solomon and saw the kingdom divide between Jeroboam and Rehoboam, who
was described as a young king (his contemporaries were young).
The problem with this approach is the devastation of the throne
of David described in our psalm does NOT fit the state of the throne of
David during Rehoboam’s time.
In fact, the only reason Rehoboam is on the throne is because of
God’s promise, which our present psalm describes as having been
abandoned.
Because of this, the best fit is the former description and
that there were many Ethan’s throughout Judah’s history.
Let us examine SOME of the points in this psalm.
Because of its length, we will not do a verse by verse study, but
rather we will notice some of the key thoughts in this psalm.
a.
The psalm begins in
typical fashion – praising Jehovah God.
b.
The Psalmist vows to
acknowledge God’s mercies forever.
c.
In. vs 3-4 he mentions
the covenant God made with David.
That is the basis of this psalm.
One of the key texts in scripture (related to man’s redemption)
is God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7 to establish his throne forever.
Let us notice 2 Samuel 7:12-16 where the promise is made.
a.
The psalmist attributes
all of creation to the LORD – vs. 5 the heaves will praise You (cf. Psa.
19:1-4)
b.
His faithfulness has
been demonstrated in the assembly of the saints – the psalmist see how
God has over and over proven His faithfulness to His people.
c.
None in the heavens
compare to Him
d.
He is to be feared in
the assembly of the saints, and held in reverence – truly He is worthy
of praise and honor.
e.
He is mighty (vs. 8)
f.
Faithfulness surrounds
Him - it is in His character.
g.
He controls nature (Vs.
9)
h.
And nations (vs. 10) –
Rahab is a reference to Egypt.
i.
He is creator of all
(Vs. 11-12)
j.
He is righteous and
just, merciful and truthful (vs. 14)
k.
The righteous rejoice in
His name (vs. 15-16)
l.
Vs. 18, “Our shield
belongs to the LORD, and our king to the Holy One of Israel”
- God is their protector (and has been)
a.
Vs 19-23 describes the
choice of David to replace King Saul as Samuel was instructed to anoint
him – 1 Sam. 13:14 finds Samuel telling Saul he has been rejected as
king. 1 Kings 16:1-13 describes the anointing of David.
b.
Vs, 24-29 describe the
promise God made to David and how he would be established.
He would be one who served God and would prosper for the nation
and for God.
Vs. 28-29, “My mercy I will keep
for him forever, And My covenant shall stand firm with him.
His seed also I will make to endure forever, and his throne as
the days of heaven.”
The psalmist acknowledges the promise of God to establish David’s
throne.
a.
In these verses we find
an enduring promise dealing with the throne after David.
b.
The promise is even made
that if David’s descendants forsook God’s laws, and they did often,
beginning with Solomon toward the end of his life, that God would punish
them, BUT He would not allow His faithfulness to fail.
In other words, the throne of David would continue “forever”.
c.
Notice vs. 34-35 – “MY
covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My
lips. Once I have sworn by
My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever…”
d.
Some observations are in
order here.
i.
The statement IS
consistent with God’s character – when He makes a promise, He keeps it
and that is something we can count on.
He does not lie – 1 Sam. 15:29, God is “not a man, that He should
relent.” 1 Cor. 1:9 says
that God is faithful.
Heb. 6:18 mentions that it is impossible for God to lie.
Jas. 1:17 says of God that there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Matt. 24:35 – Jesus said His words would not pass away.
2 Tim. 2:13 – God cannot deny Himself.
ii.
Was there anything about
God’s promise that was conditional?
1 Kings 2:1-4, as David gives final instructions to Solomon, he
admonishes him to remain faithful so that “the Lord may fulfill His word
which He spoke concerning me…”
Furthermore, to what degree would God punish those who rebelled?
Was it consistent with their rebellion toward Him?
iii.
Did God force His people
to follow Him? The truth is, it was not God that rejected the throne of
David, but those on the throne of David rejected God.
And even with that, God’s throne lasted.
iv.
Finally notice vs. 34,
36-37 – It was the covenant, David’s seed and his throne that would
endure forever, as the moon and sun in the sky will last.
Is there anything in these verses that precludes the culmination
of this promise with his throne in heaven?
a.
The description of the
throne and crown here is harsh.
The way these verses are written it seems the psalmist is saying
God has failed to keep His word.
He describes a throne and crown as being utterly decimated.
b.
Like our previous psalm
(one without hope), we seem to have here a rash accusation, AGAINST GOD,
without full understanding.
c.
AGAIN I ask, who was it
that abhorred the throne and covenant? Was it not the wicked kings who
refused to submit to God’s will.
d.
Lesson for us – be
careful before you make accusations against God – His ways are past
finding out. Again we are
reminded of Romans 11:33 (His ways are past finding out) & Romans
9:19-21 warns against the clay questioning the potter.
a.
The psalmist concludes
by asking for deliverance.
Like so many psalms we have noted, he asks if the LORD would hide
Himself forever.
b.
The psalmist’s hope is
to see the deliverance before his death (vs. 47-48)
c.
He recalls “the good old
days” and THINKS that God’s lovingkindness is with them no more.
But he is simply mistaken – God’s ways are NOT our ways. (Isa.
55:8-9)
d.
One observation I have
noted as I prepared this lesson – if God permitted wickedness on the
throne of David, it would have prevented Him from bringing the ultimate
King to His throne.
This verse is believed by most to NOT belong to this psalm, but rather
is the conclusion of this 3rd book (of 5) of psalms.
a.
The promise of its
lasting nature – see Jeremiah 33:14-18 – a prophecy of the throne
restored. Bear in mind, this
is written as Jerusalem is being destroyed and the physical throne of
David has been vacated.
Isaiah 9:6-7 – we find here a
description of the promised Messiah, who would sit upon the throne of
David.
b.
The throne of David is
NOW occupied
– Acts 2:29-36. On the day
of Pentecost, Peter declared Jesus “Lord and Christ” (Master or King &
Annointed). He IS on the
Throne of David.
1 Cor. 15:25-26 – Jesus is reigning and must reign until He has put all
enemies under His feet.
Heb. 1:3, 8– speaking of Christ, He has “sat down at the right hand of
the Majesty on High; OF Jesus it was said, “Your throne, O God, is
forever and ever”
Heb.10:11-13, Jesus was offered once for our sins and “sat down at the
right hand of God…”
Jesus IS reigning on the throne of David.
c.
Thus God is still
fulfilling His promise. IN
Ps. 89:33 we read, “Nevertheless
My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My
faithfulness to fail.”
Can that still be said to be true in relation to the throne of David?
Since Jesus is now on that throne, it is a CLEAR yes!
d.
NOTE: Premillenialists
use passages such as this psalm to argue that the Christ will return to
this earth and restore the physical throne of David in Jerusalem.
But that is not necessary to fulfill scripture, nor is it
consistent with what we read in scripture.
Consider Jeremiah 22:30, a prophecy spoke of Coniah (Jehoiachin)
– “Write this man childless…”
This passage makes it NOT possible for a descendent to reign IN
JUDAH.
And thus we can see another psalm.
Before we are to harsh on Ethan, consider that we have the
hindsight to see the fulfillment of God’s promise concerning David’s
throne. That is something
that many, even today still don’t understand (cf. Premillenialism).
This Psalm is filled with lessons learned by what it says AND
what it does NOT say. Let us
learn to He His word in context and glorify God with the reverence He
deserves.