Bible Study - Stand (1) - GOD'S Promise of Faithfulness - Psalm 89:1-2, 5-8, 15-18 - September 6, 2015

Bible Study – Stand (1) – GOD’S Promise of Faithfulness – September 6, 2015

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled “Stand Strong: Building Your Life on GOD’S Promises.”

Our focus scripture is Psalm 89:1-2, 5-8, 15-18.

GOD is faithful in every circumstance.

For the next six (6) lessons we will study various scriptures to help us focus on building our lives on GOD’S promises. It is not us hanging onto GOD but GOD hanging onto and revealing Himself to us. There will be times of questioning GOD but in those times GOD reveals more of Himself to us and we become stronger in our relationship with HIM.

The overarching message in this series of study is captured in the “Herschel Hobbs Commentary, fall 2015 edition, published by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175, page7:”

“Faith in GOD is not based on blind hope or what we think GOD is like. Through Scripture, GOD clearly has revealed Himself and how HE desires to work in our lives and through our lives. Our hope, then, is grounded in who GOD is and the specific promises HE makes to us. We can live confidently because of HIS promises to us.”

I know in my early days of seeking the LORD, I thought of ways GOD could prove Himself to me. Yet with each way I considered, there was always the probability of chance stepping in, rather than being an act of GOD, it would be a chance happening. I had to take the step of faith that GOD was real and that CHRIST was HIS Son. When I did, the indwelling Holy Spirit confirmed the reality of GOD and CHRIST in my life. Although I made a profession of faith when I was about 10 years old, I committed my live to CHRIST in 1971 when I was 34 years old. It has been a learning, growing and maturing experience ever since. There have been many ups and downs but one thing has been certain, I knew, I was eternally GOD’S child through faith in CHRIST.

Psalm 89 is a Maskil, which carries the idea of wisdom with understanding. When you are in relationship with GOD, you learn from HIM and trust in HIM. You build a knowledge base through relationship. HE becomes your loving Father thus the relationship produces wisdom.

In regards to Psalm 89, the psalm writer was reflecting his experience with GOD. It was written by Ethan the Ezrahite. This is the only psalm written by him. It seems that this “Ethan of Ezrahite” lived after the period of time when King David no longer had a descendent on the throne of Israel. The psalmist had taken literally GOD’S promise to King David as recorded in 2 Samuel 7:12-17 which was spoken to him through the Prophet Nathan:

12 When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He will build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a human rod and with blows from others.

15 But My faithful love will never leave him as I removed it from Saul; I removed him from your way.

16 Your house and kingdom will endure before Me forever, and your throne will be established forever.' "

17 Nathan spoke all these words and this entire vision to David.

“Ethan of Ezrahite” apparently lived in a time when there was no descendent on the throne of David and he was perplexed but yet confident in GOD and HIS promises.

As Dr. Vance Havner said “You must practice in the dark what you learn in the light.” That is why scripture memory is so important. One day we may not have the Bible to which we can refer but if we have GOD’S Word in our hearts, it will never be taken away from us.

It seems that this psalm could have been written after the fall of Judah to Babylon. Certainly, such an event would have meant that the eternal physical nature of GOD’S promise to King David would not have been true. The psalmist was dealing with that reality but trusting in the promises of GOD.

As we look back, we have a more complete understanding of GOD’S promise to King David. The promised Messiah would come through the ancestral line of King David. JESUS is the eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s to rule in the hearts and lives of all who will place their faith in HIM. JESUS established GOD’S Eternal Kingdom.

In “Advanced Bible Study Commentary, Fall 2015, page 11, LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175 written by Curtis Honts,” he wrote: “in Hebrew the verb comes at the end of the first line or the phrase of the poem.” To me, this original word order in Hebrew revealed the heart of the psalmist and changed the thrust of the psalmist’s message. It moved it from the palmist hanging onto GOD in a desperate effort to maintain confidence in GOD to embracing the person of GOD. GOD nurtured and comforted the psalmist’s because of their intimate, personal relationship. This intimate relationship resulted in unwavering confidence in GOD and HIS promises.

Let’s read Psalm 89:1-2:

Perplexity of Ethan the Ezrahiteplexity about God's Promises

A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite

1 I will sing about the Lord's faithful love forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations.

2 For I will declare, "Faithful love is built up forever; You establish Your faithfulness in the heavens."

Notice the difference of placing the verb at the end of the line:

1 The Lord's faithful love forever, I will sing;  Your faithfulness to all generations, with my mouth I will proclaim.

2 "Faithful love is built up forever; You establish Your faithfulness in the heavens", I will declare.

To me, there is a shift of confidence when the verb is placed last. In the English translation, verb first, it seems that the writer is hoping that if he believes his words enough then he will arrive at this conclusion. However, when the verb is last it seems to me that the writer has already discovered what he writes about GOD. His words come from knowing and not from hoping to know one day. He was expressing what he had discovered as the result of experiencing GOD in his life. GOD is real to him and 

trustworthy and he will let everyone around him know that reality by not remaining silent. He was so enthralled with the reality of GOD that he would make it known to others.

I recall a young man who received CHRIST as his Savior, about two years ago, shouted as he left the building, “I have been saved!”Coupled with that exclamation was a countenance of unspeakable joy. CHRIST became real to him that day and it was overwhelming. Not all people have this same experience but if anyone asks CHRIST to forgive him or her for their sins and for HIM to come into their lives, HE does. Doing so results in the miracle of rebirth into GOD’S family. The person is born-again as GOD’S Son or Daughter into GOD’S kingdom with all the rights and privileges that go with being born into the Royal Family of GOD. His or Her citizenship is now in heaven, never to be taken away. Now that is something to get excited about!

The promise GOD made to King David appeared to have been terminated because there was no physical heir on his throne. Yet, the psalm writer had the utmost confidence in GOD and HIS promise to David.

The heavens were considered the immutable display for GOD’S eternal sovereignty and the psalm writer’s trust was in GOD and not what appeared to be a contradiction of HIS Word.

We know, in time, GOD’S promise to King David was fulfilled in the birth of the LORD JESUS. The psalmist trusted in GOD’S promise even though he did not physically see it. 

Do we have such a relationship with GOD? Do we doubt HIM when things do not go as we think they should? We must practice in the dark what we learn in the light.

The psalmist continued.

Let’s read Psalm 89:5-8:

5 Lord, the heavens praise Your wonders- Your faithfulness also- in the assembly of the holy ones.

6 For who in the skies can compare with the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord?

7 God is greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, more awe-inspiring than all who surround Him.

8 Lord God of Hosts, who is strong like You, Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds You.

Again, the psalmist referred to the consistency, order and awesomeness of the heavens and the angels, holy ones, who reflect and know of GOD’S presence and power.

When you view all of nature which surrounds us, is your heart drawn to the reality of GOD’S awesome handiwork and HIS love for the human race that HE created such a magnificent place for us to live until we escape human existence? One day every human will exit their earth suit, human body, and go into eternity. Those who accept CHRIST as their Savior will enter heaven to be eternally with GOD and CHRIST. Those who reject CHRIST will exit their earth suits and enter into eternity without GOD.

Oh, some may say, “So what if I go into eternity not believing there is a loving GOD!” When you exit your earth suit, you will know without question the reality of the One True GOD and Father of our Lord JESUS and that you rejected HIM. Please accept CHRIST as your Savior while there is still time.

The psalmist asked three questions regarding GOD:

-         For who in the skies can compare with the Lord?

-         Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord?

-         Lord God of Hosts, who is strong like You, Lord? 

The answers to the three questions are “No One!” These questions and the answers reflect the heart of the psalmist, his relationship and confidence in GOD through relationship. Such experiential knowledge of GOD results in peace and overwhelming joy, which we see in our next scripture.

Let’s read Psalm 89:15-18:

15 Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; Lord, they walk in the light of Your presence.

16 They rejoice in Your name all day long, and they are exalted by Your righteousness.

17 For You are their magnificent strength; by Your favor our horn is exalted.

18 Surely our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

The psalmist relates having an intimate, knowing, personal relationship with GOD to overflowing joy and happiness. Those who know the LORD GOD of the universe walk in the light of HIS existence. Light dispels darkness. Those who have this intimate relationship cannot keep quiet but want to shout to others so they may know the truth of GOD’S reality and to express HIS unfathomable love for them.

The word “horn” means power.

The psalmist considered whatever a person, including the king, had achieved was the result of GOD’S power and protection as expressed in the words “horn” and “shield.”

Psalm 46:1:

1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

GOD is faithful in every circumstance. 

Do you have such a relationship with GOD through CHRIST? If not, ask CHRIST to forgive you for your sins and to come into your life now. For today is the day of salvation! Blessings!!!