November 22nd

Psalm 89

To Strive with God

It is an unforgettable scene: Jesse’s sons lined up before the prophet Samuel, each of them assuming he will be named as the next king of Israel.  But no, it is the last and the least – David – not even deemed worthy to be present, a young shepherd boy out looking after the sheep, who is chosen. 

David does become king – after much hardship and testing – but he is seen as specially chosen.  Our psalm reaffirms God’s commitment to Israel through David’s dynasty.  Just listen to these affirmations:

• ‘steadfast love, and faithfulness’ repeated throughout the psalm. Here they are linked to the Davidic dynasty.  Both God’s love and David’s throne are ‘forever.’   Verses 36-37 reinforce the idea of limitless commitment by the double use of ‘forever.’  This is an astonishing theological statement of God’s limitless graciousness.
• the Davidic throne will be like the ‘sun and the moon’ (v.37) – i.e. a visible, enduring sign of God’s covenant faithfulness.
• the text reiterates the promises made to David. There may be judgment but never the removal of God’s steadfast love.  

³⁰ But if his children ever abandon my Instruction,
    stop following my rules—
³¹         if they treat my statutes like dirt,
        stop keeping my commandments—
³²     then I will punish their sin….
³³ But even then I won’t withdraw my loyal love from him.
    I won’t betray my faithfulness.
³⁴     I won’t break my covenant.
    I won’t renege on what crossed my lips.

‘But now’  (v.38) signals a dramatic reversal in perspective.  Here experience flies in the face of faith.  Israel, in exile in Babylon, feels abandoned, insignificant, forgotten by YHWH the great covenant maker.  These verses are full of pain, deep trauma, and a sense that God’s promises no longer apply.

Why did Israel retain the royal psalms in the Psalter (which was not completed until years after the exile), in spite of the fact that after 587 Davidic kings never again ruled over Judah? Because these psalms were interpreted as containing the promise that one day God would send the ideal Davidic king to rule–a king who later came to be referred to as The Messiah.   

Next week (December 3, 2023) is the beginning of Advent.  Advent is a time of joy, of longing, of hope for God’s vision of shalom for the world to be fully realized.  And in Advent we remember God’s promises that are fulfilled by the birth of a baby in backwater Judea far from the limelight.  Advent is a might reversal – this baby will shake the very foundations of Rome, and every empire to follow, for in this baby lies the seed of God’s new kingdom.  On Advent 4 we read with joy the gospel text from Luke (1.49-55) often called the Magnificat which is paired with this psalm.  This is Mary’s great hymn of praise to God who has overturned expectations by exalting that which is lowly

         He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,  according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." (v.54-55).

The very word ‘Israel’ means to ‘strive with God’ and Israel does struggle and fight and scream when its world collapses.  Here is a powerful faith strong enough to demand that God hear out our pain and our cries.  We can even accuse God of not keeping God’s promises when that is the way we truly feel!  Advent is a time of joy and hope, but it is also a bleak season for many who feel lonely, depressed, perhaps even abandoned by God.

As we sit in our disappointment and despair, Psalm 89 reminds us that it may take God longer than we think is loving. But when God finally comes to our aid, it will boggle our minds.  To Mary’s amazed, “How can this be?” the angel responded, “nothing is impossible with God.”

God Moves in a Mysterious Way (live)- Crossroads Music

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