In The Word
Read: Psalm 89:1-37
The Lord’s Covenant with David, and Israel’s Afflictions.
A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
89 I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever;
To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.
2 For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever;
In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”
3 “I have made a covenant with My chosen;
I have sworn to David My servant,
4 I will establish your seed forever
And build up your throne to all generations.” Selah.
5 The heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies is comparable to the Lord?
Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord,
7 A God greatly feared in the council of the holy ones,
And awesome above all those who are around Him?
8 O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
9 You rule the swelling of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still them.
10 You Yourself crushed Rahab like one who is slain;
You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.
11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all it contains, You have founded them.
12 The north and the south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.
13 You have a strong arm;
Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Lovingkindness and truth go before You.
15 How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance.
16 In Your name they rejoice all the day,
And by Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of their strength,
And by Your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
And our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19 Once You spoke in vision to Your godly ones,
And said, “I have given help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 “I have found David My servant;
With My holy oil I have anointed him,
21 With whom My hand will be established;
My arm also will strengthen him.
22 “The enemy will not deceive him,
Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
23 “But I shall crush his adversaries before him,
And strike those who hate him.
24 “My faithfulness and My lovingkindness will be with him,
And in My name his horn will be exalted.
25 “I shall also set his hand on the sea
And his right hand on the rivers.
26 “He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,
My God, and the rock of my salvation.’
27 “I also shall make him My firstborn,
The highest of the kings of the earth.
28 “My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever,
And My covenant shall be confirmed to him.
29 “So I will establish his descendants forever
And his throne as the days of heaven.
30 “If his sons forsake My law
And do not walk in My judgments,
31 If they violate My statutes
And do not keep My commandments,
32 Then I will punish their transgression with the rod
And their iniquity with stripes.
33 “But I will not break off My lovingkindness from him,
Nor deal falsely in My faithfulness.
34 “My covenant I will not violate,
Nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.
35 “Once I have sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David.
36 “His descendants shall endure forever
And his throne as the sun before Me.
37 “It shall be established forever like the moon,
And the witness in the sky is faithful.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
The major theme of today’s psalm is Yahweh’s loving-kindness and faithfulness. These two words are written seven times throughout the entire psalm. The psalmist said that the words “loving-kindness” and “faithfulness” are a “joyful sound” to our ears. They lead us to “rejoice all the day” in the name of our great God. The writer illustrates God’s loving-kindness and faithfulness through the covenant with David to establish His throne forever. That promise was fulfilled through Jesus Christ who will eternally sit on the throne in Heaven. In Jesus, God’s loving-kindness and faithfulness is established forever.
The Hebrew word for loving-kindness is difficult to translate as it has no exact equivalent in English. It can be defined as loyal love, unfailing kindness, and steadfast devotion based on a relationship. It is not random, occasional acts of kindness. Rather, it is intentional gifts of favor and grace out of deep love for the beneficiary.
Faithfulness means trustworthy, steady, and dependable. It is demonstrated by being with a person consistently throughout time, situations, and even difficulties. The faithfulness of God gives us the ability to trust and to depend on Him. When we are dependent on Him, God keeps His promises to hear our prayers. He helps us and walks with us throughout our lifetime.
When describing God, it can be said that He is faithful in showing loving-kindness to His children. Take a moment to praise God today about the many ways He has shown you loving-kindness and faithfulness. Then make a commitment to demonstrate these wonderful traits to others.