Lord, where are your promises? (PSALM 89)

For those joining us for the first time this summer, it is helpful to remember that we are in a series of preaching of psalms from the third book of psalms (ps 73-89). Today we continue this series with Psalm 89.

Although it begins with an expressive praise, which also contrasts with the atmosphere of volume III, this psalm remains a poignant lament testifying to a deep crisis of faith.

If we were to classify the psalms of the third collection into two categories: the psalms of praise and the psalms of lamentation; only four psalms among the seventeen would count as praise. And these praises are especially linked to happy memories and hopes :

In Psalm 84, the memory of the happiness experienced in the house of God reveals a hope of return to the temple in the context of exile. In Psalm 85, the forgiveness of the people's sins and the joy of returning to their country is celebrated in anticipation. In Psalm 86, the king of Israel prays and rejoices to obtain God's grace and help. In Psalm 87, the holy city loved by God, mother of all people is celebrated.

James H. Hutchinson describes « 4 optimistic psalms […] which radiate light in relation to Israeli institutions particularly lacking in times of exile: a temple, a country, a king, a city. ». The regret of a temple, a country, a king, a city are transcribed with a glimmer of hope in these psalms.

Except for these psalms and a few mentions of joy for example on feast days (81:2-6) or after the favorable intervention of God (Ps.79:13), the rest of the volume expresses rather lamentations, complaints, and supplications for help.

Basically two questions come up persistently in the volume from the beginning of the collection:

-   Why, O God, do you definitively reject us? Why are you angry with the flock of which you are the shepherd? (74:1)

-   How long, O God, will the adversary utter his insults, and the enemy continually despise your name? (74:10)

Why God do you hand us over to our/your enemies? And until when God will you let it happen?

By way of closing, Psalm 89 does not resolve the personal and collective questions that the psalmists echoed in the book, even if a few answers were provided to the many WHY?

For example, in Ps.78 and 81, readers/listeners of the collection are remembered that Israel regularly disobeyed the Lord by preferring to follow his evil plans rather than walking in the ways of God.

We also find these elements of response to the question WHY? in Psalm 89, particularly under the conditions stipulated in God's covenant with David:

« 31 If his sons forsake my law and do not walk in my rules, 32 if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, 33 I will punish their transgressions with the rod and their faults with blows,

These conditions of God's covenant with his king were clearly stipulated to David and to Saul before him (1 Sam 8; 1 Sam 12; 2 Samuel 7 :11-16 ). Furthermore, the Old Testament makes numerous references to such conditions stipulated to the leaders and to the people of

Israel.

The successive kings of Israel having failed to honor their commitments, the terms of this alliance apply against their infidelity.

God abandoned the king and delivered the kingdom to the plunder of his enemies.

It is in this dramatic context that the psalmist writes the lament of Ps.89.

Let's see together in the text:

How does the psalmist still hope for the promises of the covenant when the throne is overthrown? How does the psalmist manage to praise God when the kingdom is delivered to its enemies? How does he manage to praise God when there is no longer an heir of the covenant in Israel?

Nowadays these questions are asked differently:

How can we keep faith when the goodness of the past has disappeared? How can we believe God's promises when everything is turned upside down? How can we believe in God’s covenant promises when everything is contrary?

PSALM 89

The psalmist's lament paradoxically begins with a fairly long eulogy of the eternal goodness of God and his alliance. The psalmist begins thus:

2  I will sing always the kindnesses of the Lord, my mouth will make known your loyalty of generation to generation.

3  Yes, I say it: “Kindness is built for always; you melt your loyalty in the sky."

4  I did alliance with the one I chose, I did this oath to my servant David:

5  “I will strengthen your descendants always and I will establish your throne for eternity.» – Pause.

The psalmist wishes to make known, through a praise that he desires to be constant in his mouth, the faithfulness and goodness of God. The durability of two of these characters of God is particularly emphasized in these few verses (rehearsals of “always”, “from generation to generation”, “for eternity”).

For the psalmist, as long as the sky covers the earth, the inhabitants of the earth (and particularly those of its people) will be able to count on the mercy and benevolence of God - V.3.

                     In other words:           God is faithful, so his goodness will last forever

The psalmist bases his praise on two reasons for infaillble trust despite the crisis of the kingdom:

1-     The sustainability of the Kingdom of God: the Kingdom of God is eternal

2-     The enduring nature of God’s covenant: God’s covenant is eternal

                                    I.             The sustainability of the Kingdom of God

(v.6 à19)

The psalmist's confidence in God's enduring mercy rests on his indisputable reign. From verses 6 to 18 the psalmist exalts the majesty, the power and the fear inspired by the Lord God. He thus recalls that the faithfulness of God is visible in the constancy of the world which he created and over which he reigns entirely in Sole Sovereign (as sole Lord).

                              a.    God is undisputed Lord throughout the universe (v.6-13)

The Kingdom of God extends from heaven to earth - (or from earth to heaven).

« 6 Heaven celebrates your marvelous works, Lord, and your faithfulness in the assembly of the saints. 7 For who in heaven can compare himself to the Lord? Who among the sons of God is like you? 8 God is formidable in the great assembly of saints, he is terrible for all those around him. »

“The assembly of saints” in heaven celebrates the wonders and faithfulness of God. No member of this heavenly assembly (no angel or cherubim or celestial being) can compare to the Lord God. The LORD God is terrible, the LORD God is terrible in the midst of those around him in the great assembly of the saints. If the angels who stand in the presence of God fear the Lord, how much more must we who dwell on the earth fear and worship the Lord God who reigns in heaven.

“ 9 O Lord, God of hosts, who is mighty like you? Lord, your faithfulness surrounds you. 10 It is you who master the pride of the sea; when its waves rise, it is you who calm them. »

« 12 The sky is yours, the earth is yours too; it is you who founded the world and what is in it. 13 You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon acclaim your name. »

There is no comparable person in the universe. The God who created the world has laid all the foundations that support it and maintains good order: “it is you who masters the pride of the sea”. No one other than God is capable of exercising such authority. This is what the disciples realized (more than 6 centuries later) when they asked Jesus this question: “Who then is this, to whom even the wind and the sea obey?” Mark 4:41

The world that God created is entirely subject to him.

Furthermore, the entire universe celebrates the creative power of God. The sky, the earth and all the diversity they contain from North to South, from the arid mountains of Tabor to the snow-capped mountains of Hermon, all the splendors of the universe give glory to their creator.

Just this summer, we hiked with friends in the mountains, and I remember our admiration of the panorama at every viewpoint that could provide a break. Then we continued our hike to a mountain lake where our swim was a delight after a hot day of hiking. And finally we camped there under a clear sky in the mountains. As we contemplated the entire expanse of the Milky Way we drowned ourselves in deeper and deeper discussions. In this context, we were particularly aware of our smallness in the face of the immensity of God's creation, in the face of the immensity of its variety and the immensity of its beauty.

Everything God has created is admirable and celebrates his glory.

The Lord God reigns in the heavens, the Lord God also reigns on the earth.

                              b.   God is Lord undisputed by earthly kingdoms (v.11-15)

The psalmist knows the history of Israel. He remembers how God freed his people from their slavery in Egypt, the dominant regional power of its time. By great acts of judgment (Ex.6 :6-7 ; Ex :14 :13-18), God manifested his power in Egypt and made his glory shine so that his name would be proclaimed throughout the whole earth (Ex.9:16) - watch the preaching series on Exodus interrupted by the summer break or simply reread Exodus-.

« 11 You have crushed Egypt, you have pierced it, you have scattered your enemies with the power of your arm. » [...]

« 14 Your arm is powerful, your hand strong, your right hand high.

15  Justice and right form the basis of your throne, goodness and truth are before you. »

Unlike the domination of the kings of the earth, the Kingdom of God asserts justice, right, truth and goodness. We find these values in the law God gave to Israel (cf. law of Moses Ex.21;22;23; particularly Ex.23:1-9). Through his law God teaches Israel the practice of justice. In particular, he defends the rights of the weakest (widows, orphans and foreigners) and condemns favoritism, abuse of power and the infidelity of his people.

                              c.     God is the Lord celebrated on earth and in heaven (v.6-8; v.16-19)

« 6 Heaven celebrates your marvelous works, Lord, and your faithfulness in the assembly of the saints. 7 For who in heaven can compare himself to the Lord? Who among the sons of God is like you? 8 God is formidable in the great assembly of saints, he is terrible for all those around him. »

Notice the parallel between the celebration of God in heaven at the beginning of this section and the celebration of God by His people to close this section.

16  Blessed are the people who know how to acclaim you: they walk in your light, Lord, 17 he always rejoices in your name and glory in your righteousness, 18 for it is you who make its beauty and its power; it is your favor that raises our strength. 19 Our protector belongs to the Lord, our king belongs to the Holy One of Israel.

The people belonging to the Lord thus join the heavenly assembly in the celebration and acclamation of the glory of God. His people take pride in belonging to the only God who reigns in majesty in the heavens, the One who founded the universe as we can observe it (and beyond what we know), the God who established its foundations, and who rules as Lord over it. The Almighty Power of the Lord God crushes all the powers of the earth before his people.

Consequently, if the Lord has made promises, nothing can prevent them from being kept. The reign of God is incontestable, these decrees are irrevocable. The psalmist therefore remembers God's covenant with David and expects to see God keep his promises. Nothing and no one can stop him.

                                    II.           The enduring nature of God’s covenant

v. (19-38)

The praise of the psalmist evokes a second reason for confidence just as infallible as that first: God will be faithful to his covenant. God's covenant is eternal.

4 I did alliance with the one I chose, I did this oath to my servant David: 5 “I will strengthen your descendants always and I will establish your throne for eternity.» – Pause.

The Lord God, Faithful and Good, having taken an oath to establish " forever " a descendant of the line of David on the throne, the psalmist is certain that this promise will be kept!! He cannot doubt the faithful character of God nor the sure character of what he has promised. A king from the line of David will reign over Israel forever, and his throne will be established by the Lord himself.

               In other words:            God promised it, so there will always be a king in Israel

The psalmist relies on God's covenant with David which can be reread in 2 Samuel chapter 7 (precisely v.8-16). When David wanted to build a house for the ark of the Lord, God made this covenant with him:

«Your house and your kingdom will be established forever after you, your throne will be established forever.» (v.16 of 2 Samuel 7) (S.21)

The psalmist takes up the terms of this covenant and remembers the promises that accompany it. Three major points can be noted:

                  a.    God has consecrated his king (V.19-21)

19 Our protector belongs to the Lord, our king belongs to the Holy One of Israel. 20

You spoke to your faithful in a vision, you said: “I have helped a hero, I have chosen a young man from among the people. 21 I found my servant David, and anointed him with my holy

oil.

The psalmist recalls the story of the election of David (reread in 1 Samuel 16). While David, the youngest of his siblings, looked after his father's sheep, God directed the prophet Samuel to appoint David as king of Israel. Samuel secretly consecrated David with anointing oil, reserved for the consecration of objects of worship, high priests and kings. Anointing oil is poured on the head as a representation of the holiness that is necessary for God's service as head of his people. Consecration makes the high priest and the king representatives of God for the people.

                  b.   God promised to support his king (V.22-28)

In verses 22-28, the psalmist recalls God's commitment to support David and in particular to support his victory against his enemies. The Kingdom of Israel must extend to the ends defined by God (Ex.23.31) from the Red Sea to the Euphrates. And King David will be able to count on God to elevate the kingdom of Israel above other kingdoms.

22 My hand will support him and my arm will strengthen him. 23 The enemy will not be able to deceive him, nor the wicked will oppress him. 24 I will crush his

adversaries before him and I will strike down those who hate him. 25 My faithfulness and my goodness will accompany him, and his strength will increase through my

name. 26 I will extend his dominion over the sea, and his power over the rivers. 27 He himself will call on me: 'You are my father, my God and the rock of my salvation!' 28 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of kings on earth.

                  c.    God promised to preserve the king's dynasty (v.29-38)

29 I will always preserve my kindness to him, and my alliance will be assured to him. 30 I will give him eternal descendants, and his throne will last as long as heaven.

[..]

34 but I will not withdraw my kindness from him and I will not betray my faithfulness, 35 I will not break my covenant and I will not change what has come out of my lips.

36 I once took an oath by my holiness, I will not lie to David. 37 His descendants will always exist; his throne will be like the sun before me, 38 like the moon it will be established forever. The witness in heaven is faithful.” - Break.

The durability of this alliance is as certain as the faithfulness of God. God's commitments here are infallible. God took an oath on his holiness. Suffice to say that there is nothing more covered than this alliance from now on. There is nothing more precious, nothing more glorious than the holiness of God. God cannot lie. He is holy.

Once again heaven bears witness to the faithfulness of God. The throne of David's descendants will be before God like the sun and the moon, that is to say, it will be forever, even when they are no longer visible to us, they are there.

                                    III.                           And yet, we no longer see your goodness Lord!!

(V.39-53)

The psalmist's crisis of faith is all the more tragic because the contrast between the preceding serenity and the lament that follows is striking. What the psalmist observes in reality is not pleasing either for the king or for the people he leads. The king's crown is on the ground, the city walls have fallen, the fortresses have not held up against the enemies. The kingdom is defeated, it is destroyed and it is stripped of even its members by deportation. The promises of a throne and a king established eternally are far away. God rejected the king, put him to shame, and handed the kingdom over to Israel's enemies.

39 And yet, you rejected, you pushed away the one you had designated by anointing, you were angry with him! 40 You broke up the covenant with your servant, you have

dishonored his crown by throwing it to the ground. 41 You have destroyed all its walls, you

have laid its fortresses in ruins. 42 All passers-by rob him, he is an object of contempt for his neighbors. 43 You have strengthened his adversaries, you have made all his enemies

happy; 44 you turned back the edge of his sword and did not support him in battle. 45 You

have put an end to his splendor and you have thrown his throne to the ground; 46 you have shortened his youth, you have covered him with shame. - Break.

The contrast is poignant!!!

Where have your promises gone Lord? Where is the established dynasty of David? Why did you abandon him to your enemies?

Translation « you broke up the covenant with your servant” seems to indicate in the mouth of the psalmist that God has not kept his promise, even though he explicitly stated that he would never break his covenant in verse 35. « I will not break my covenant, nor change what has gone out of my lips.”

Everything is turned upside down! The psalmist is tormented!! His faith is shaken!!

God cannot contradict himself like this. He is not a man to lie!! He cannot abandon his promises!! It cannot be defeated by our adversaries!!

These decrees are incontestable. He rules over everything.

The situation is dramatic for the psalmist. It is not only about the crisis of the kingdom but it is also about the deep crisis of confidence that it causes, doubt heartbreaking that it arouses, uncertainty disturbing that it creates in such a situation. A situation experienced one day or another by all believers.

How can we reconcile the fall of the Kingdom and the promises of God in his alliance?

In other words, if God does not keep His promises, how can I still trust Him?

Notice that under the conditions of his benevolence to verse 33, God announces that he will punish the transgressions of the kings succeeding David by the stick (and by blows), and not by the sharp sword. The stick is used to correct, the sword is used to cut. God promised to correct David's descendants if they abandoned his law, but he also promised that his covenant would survive them, that it would never be broken.

Other translations of verse 40 offer: « you disdained / you pushed back the covenant with your servant” translations that are more respectful of the sustainability of this alliance.

Moreover, the psalmist maintains his trust in God despite the circumstances. The psalmist still hopes for divine intervention in accordance with his covenant despite all situations to the contrary. Who else could come to the kingdom's aid?

47 How long, O LORD, will you remain hidden? How long will your fury burn like fire? 48 Remember how long my life is and for what nothingness you created all men. 49 What man can live without seeing death? Who can save his soul from hell? - Break.

The question HOW LONG? still has not received a response. The psalmist does not know how much longer he will have to hope.

Yet he chooses to rely on God's faithfulness to see the restoration of the kingdom. And even though death robs him of seeing that day, he expects God to restore the kingdom according to his promise. He expects God to restore order.

The psalmist cannot bring himself to the idea that God has abandoned his promise, he cannot bring himself to the idea that God has abandoned his people, or even to the idea that God has been defeated. He is convinced that God will keep his Word. He still remembers the past actions of God.

50 Where, Lord, are your former kindnesses, those which, in your faithfulness, you promised by oath to David? 51 Remember, Lord, the shame of your servants! Remember that I am

responsible for all these numerous peoples! 52 Remember the insults of your enemies, O LORD, their insults against the steps of the one you have anointed!

The psalmist says to God in other words:

although I no longer see your promised goodness Lord, those which we have already tasted in the past, although I no longer see the fulfillment of your promises, I will continue to trust, to hope in You. I will implore you until the end, whatever that end may be! Remember your promises. Remember us. God has not forgotten his covenant.

IV.        How can we believe God's promises when everything is turned upside down?

With more than 2000 years of hindsight, we know that it was only 600 years after the destruction of the temple and the exile in Babylon that God fulfilled his promises to David's heir. His people have obtained the full fulfillment of the covenant promises in the person of Jesus Christ “the Root of David.” Through Him, in His great mercy, God has extended His new covenant to all peoples and nations.

2. Corinthians 1.20 :

« Indeed, for all the promises of God, it is in him that the “yes” is found and it is [therefore] also through him that we say “amen” to God, for his glory.. ».

2.Pierre 1 :11 :

“For thus will entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be largely granted to you »

In Jesus Christ all the promises of God are fulfilled. In Jesus all the terms of the alliance are respected and come true. He is the Messiah (divine anointing), Son of God (Beloved), firstborn among all men. Christ is exalted to the right hand of the Father (Acts 2.33), where he sits to reign over the world eternally (1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 11:15). It is through Christ that we also share in the eternal kingdom promised by God to David.

We realize with this psalm that God's perspective on the course of events is a perspective of eternity. Infinite eternity in the past and infinite eternity in the future, in comparison to our perspective limited by the duration of our days and by our contexts.

This psalm then becomes an absolutely valuable resource in times of crisis for us today. When we find ourselves in a situation where doubt sets in and questions are heard louder than God's faithfulness, we can take inspiration from this psalm to pray to God. In such circumstances, the perseverance of the psalmist despite the apparent failure of divine promises is an example to follow.

Faced with the heartbreaking doubt that passes through him, I identify several good reflexes of the psalmist:

1)  Remembering God's Character

At the moment when his faith is most shaken, the psalmist decides to take up his pen and remember the deeds of the Lord. He began by remembering the majesty and power of God, the very ones he celebrated in the temple before its destruction. He remembered his faithfulness in the past and his goodness from generation to generation.

Anchoring his thoughts in God in times of crisis allowed him to find reasons for praise despite his torments. In times of doubt, we also have God's Word to remember His constant acts of faithfulness and mercy toward His people.

2)  Speak openly to God

The psalmist also very honestly expresses his perplexity at the success of God's adversaries. He does not cover his feelings or his doubts with a veil of propriety before God. On the contrary, in his moving lament, he fully confessed to God his incomprehension at the apparent failure of his promises. His bitterness is real and he does not hide it from God.

As children of God we do not have to be afraid to express to Him all our struggles, our fears, our pain and our resentments. I believe in fact that God prefers to hear the expression of our deepest feelings (even anger) rather than listening to decorous formulas that we express from lip service.

David A Seamands, writes: “God is not the author of all events, but he is indeed the master of all events. This implies that nothing has ever happened to you that God cannot and will not use for your good, as long as you do not leave it in His hands. ", Healing emotional wounds.

God invites us to surrender everything to Him. Even doubt or anger...Everything.

3) Firmly hope for the goodness of God

Despite the lack of immediate resolution of the tragic dilemma between the hope of the fulfillment of God's promises and the apparent failure of them, the psalmist chooses to maintain his trust in the Lord until the end. .

The Lord is not overwhelmed by the course of events. They are part of a much larger story. His vision is broader than ours. God is sovereign over all the events of your life. In his faithfulness, He will fulfill his promises in due time and in every situation he will keep you close to Him. Like the psalmist who found the resources for his praise in God, God will support you and he will support your faith.

Pray that God strengthens your faith in every circumstance.

In his book, If You Want to Go Far, Ralph Shallis writes that: “Faith is forged in pain. Far from making it disappear, it stimulates it. » Another man I like to quote, Georges Muller, prays like this: “May the Lord preserve in our souls the living memory of these deliverances; and may each new mark of his faithfulness serve to increase our confidence in him. ", the Audacity of Faith.

4) Praise God

Notice that in his struggle of faith, the psalmist begins his lament with praise and an exercise of great discipline and piety, he also ends his lament with brief praise.

With more than 2 thousand years later we say with the psalmist and the great assembly of saints

(read with me v.53)

53 Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen! Amen!