Psalms 89:33-52: a reflection

33But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail. 34I will not break my covenant, nor alter what my lips have uttered. 35Once I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David. 36His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me. 37It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah. 38But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed. 39You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust. 40You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin. 41All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors. 42You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice. 43Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven’t supported him in battle. 44You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne down to the ground. 45You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah. 46How long, LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire? 47Remember how short my time is, for what vanity you have created all the children of men! 48What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah. 49Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness? 50Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples, 51With which your enemies have mocked, LORD, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one. 52Blessed be the LORD forever more. Amen, and Amen.

This psalm holds together two things that seem to clash. First, God's sworn covenant faithfulness to David: I will not remove my steadfast love from him, or be false to my faithfulness; I will not violate my covenant. And then, the present distress, in which the covenant seems broken: you have renounced the covenant, cast the crown in the dust, brought his splendor to ruin. The psalmist wrestles between God's sworn promise and the circumstances that seem to contradict it, crying out, how long?, yet ending, blessed be the LORD forever.

Notice the wrestling in this psalm, between God's promise and the appearances that seem to deny it. God had sworn faithfulness to David; and yet the circumstances looked like the covenant was broken, ruined, cast down. The psalmist does not deny either; he holds God's sworn promise and the painful appearances together, wrestling with the tension, crying out honestly, and yet not letting go of God, ending with a blessing. He would not abandon God's sworn faithfulness even when circumstances seemed to contradict it.

That wrestling is one we know when God's promises seem contradicted by our circumstances. God has made promises; and yet our circumstances can seem to deny them, to say that God has forgotten, that his faithfulness has failed. In such times, we can be tempted to let go of God's promise, trusting the appearances instead. But the psalmist held onto God's sworn faithfulness even while wrestling honestly with the painful appearances. When God's promises seem contradicted by your circumstances, do not let go of his sworn faithfulness for the sake of the appearances. Wrestle honestly, cry out your how long?, but hold onto God's promise, which is surer than the circumstances that seem to deny it. God's sworn faithfulness does not fail, even when appearances suggest it has; hold onto his promise through the wrestling, and, like the psalmist, end in blessing him, trusting his faithfulness above the appearances.

Lord, this psalm holds together your sworn covenant faithfulness to David, I will not remove my steadfast love from him, and the present distress in which the covenant seemed broken, the crown cast in the dust; the psalmist wrestled honestly, crying how long, yet ended, blessed be the LORD forever. Help me in that wrestling, which I know when your promises seem contradicted by my circumstances. You have made promises; and yet my circumstances can seem to deny them, to say that you have forgotten, that your faithfulness has failed. In such times, I can be tempted to let go of your promise, trusting the appearances instead. But the psalmist held onto your sworn faithfulness even while wrestling honestly with the painful appearances. When your promises seem contradicted by my circumstances, keep me from letting go of your sworn faithfulness for the sake of the appearances. Help me wrestle honestly, cry out my how long, but hold onto your promise, which is surer than the circumstances that seem to deny it. Your sworn faithfulness does not fail, even when appearances suggest it has; help me hold onto your promise through the wrestling, and, like the psalmist, end in blessing you, trusting your faithfulness above the appearances. I hold onto your promise, Lord, above what I see.