Advent 2009 M ESSIAH IN THE P SALMS Psalm 89

Just as PSALM 72 concludes the second “book” in Psalms, so PSALM 89 concludes the third “book.”

PSALM 72 presents an ideal picture of Solomon’s kingship as one marked by justice – helping the weak and punishing those who oppress. Though Solomon failed, this ideal picture is fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ, who brings justice to earth.

PSALM 89 reflects on the tension between God’s faithfulness and the tragic unfaithfulness of David’s descendents.

P SALM 89 A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. 1 I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 2 For I said, "Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness."

G OD ’ S C HARACTER PSALM 72 Justice PSALM 89 Steadfast love = hesed Faithfulness = ) emunah

G OD ’ S C HARACTER 5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! 8 O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?

G OD ’ S C HARACTER 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

G OD ’ S C HARACTER PSALM 89 extols God for his steadfast love and faithfulness. These character traits are relational and dynamic. They are also traits we can seek to emulate.

T HE D AVIDIC C OVENANT 3 You have said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 4 'I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.'"

T HE D AVIDIC C OVENANT 19 Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said “I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, 21 so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.”

T HE D AVIDIC C OVENANT 24 My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.

T HE D AVIDIC C OVENANT 30 If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, 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,

T HE D AVIDIC C OVENANT 33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. 34 I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.

T HE D AVIDIC C OVENANT 35 Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David. 36 His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me. 37 Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies.

T HE D AVIDIC C OVENANT PSALM 89 presents God’s promise to David of an eternal dynasty as a witness to His faithfulness. Even if David’s descendents are unfaithful, God will remain faithful in showing steadfast love and keeping the covenant.

R EJECTION OF D AVID 38 But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed. 39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust... Exile

R EJECTION OF D AVID 46 How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?

R EJECTION OF D AVID 49 Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David?

R EJECTION OF D AVID 50 Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations, 51 with which your enemies mock, O LORD, with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.

R EJECTION OF D AVID The psalmist pours out his heart to God in painful candor. Even though he extols God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, his experience strongly suggests God has changed His mind and rejected David. Where is the God of steadfast love and faithfulness?

W HAT N OW ? We experience God’s apparent absence with regard to the second Advent of Christ. We also experience God’s apparent absence with regard to His promises to us of: Power Presence Protection

W HAT N OW ? PSALM 89 concludes with a brief doxology: 52 Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.

W HAT N OW ? PSALM 90 begins Book IV, and returns to the time of Moses for hope. PSALM 90 A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

W HAT N OW ? 1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

W HAT N OW ? The faithful in Israel also looked forward, confident God would eventually fulfill his covenant. The New Testament writers affirm that Jesus Christ is God’s answer to PSALM 89.

W HAT N OW ? JOHN 1 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. grace = hesed truth = ) emunah 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

W HAT N OW ? In sending Jesus Christ, God has established once for all His steadfast love and faithfulness. God always keeps His promises. Jesus will return to help the weak and punish the oppressor. God in Christ does give us power, presence, and protection.

W HAT N OW ? The bottom line of our response to and relationship with God is faith and hope. We look back to Jesus’ first advent as a witness to his second coming. We look back to God’s faithfulness to those who preceded us for hope for our future.

W HAT N OW ? HEBREWS 11 ( The Message) 1-2 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

P RAYER OF C ONFESSION Most merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone.

I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbor as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.