Psalms 89:1-16: a reflection

1I will sing of the loving kindness of the LORD forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 2I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.” 3“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 up your throne to all generations.’” Selah. 5The heavens will praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. 6For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like the LORD, 7a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him? 8LORD, God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you? LORD, your faithfulness is around you. 9You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them. 10You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. 11The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours, the world and its fullness. You have founded them. 12You have created the north and the south. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name. 13You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted. 14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face. 15Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, LORD. 16In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted.

Psalm 89 opens with a resolve to praise God for two qualities above all: I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. Steadfast love and faithfulness, the psalmist declares, are established forever, built into the very heavens. He goes on to marvel at God's incomparable greatness, none in the skies can be compared to the LORD, and to name the foundations of his throne: righteousness and justice, with steadfast love and faithfulness going before him.

Notice what the psalmist chooses to sing about: God's steadfast love and faithfulness. Of all he could praise, he fixes on these, the reliable, covenant love of God and his unwavering faithfulness, and declares them established forever, firm as the heavens. And he sees them as foundational to God's very throne: righteousness and justice are its foundation, and love and faithfulness go before God's face. These are not incidental to who God is; they are central, the very ground of his rule.

That gives us solid ground for praise and trust. In a world of shifting loyalties and broken promises, God's steadfast love and faithfulness are firm, established forever, the reliable foundation on which we can build. Whatever changes around us, God's love does not waver and his faithfulness does not fail. Fix your praise, as the psalmist did, on the steadfast love and faithfulness of God, and rest your trust on them. They are established forever, firm as the heavens; whatever else shifts, God's love and faithfulness remain. Sing of them, and build your life on the God whose steadfast love and faithfulness never fail.

Lord, the psalmist resolved to sing of your steadfast love forever and to make known your faithfulness to all generations, declaring them established forever, firm as the heavens, and foundational to your very throne. Give me that same focus for my praise and trust. In a world of shifting loyalties and broken promises, your steadfast love and faithfulness are firm, established forever, the reliable foundation on which I can build. Whatever changes around me, your love does not waver and your faithfulness does not fail. Help me fix my praise, as the psalmist did, on your steadfast love and faithfulness, and to rest my trust on them. Whatever else shifts, they remain. Let me sing of them, and build my life on the God whose love and faithfulness never fail.