“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1).
Dear Praying Friends:
We all know how easy it is to trust God on a bright and sunny day when everything is going well.
But when the skies turn dark, the night is long, and our world seems to be collapsing around us – where is our faith?
Ethan the Ezrahite, the author of this psalm, was a very wise man who knew of God’s irrevocable promise to David. He fully believed that the LORD would keep his covenant to establish David’s line forever (1 Kings 4:31; Psalm 89:2-37).
But now God seems to have forgotten his oath to David and his dynasty. Enemies have defeated God’s people and overthrown the kingdom. The LORD has hidden himself and his anger burns like a devouring fire, and no one knows, “How long?” (Psalm 89:38-51).
We have all probably been in such a place. Maybe you are today.
At precisely this low point, out of the depths of discouragement, Ethan begins what will become his lament with a powerful declaration of unfailing trust in God’s everlasting mercies and love.
Unlike Ethan, we know that this psalm, like all the others, speaks to us of Christ, David’s greater Son, who suffered unspeakable torments because of God’s wrath, which he bore on our behalf, and who was then raised from the dust of death and exalted to God’s right hand as King over all (Ephesians 1:20-22; 1 Peter 3:22).
Now, in Christ, we experience “grace, mercy and peace” forever (1 Timothy 1:2).
So, let us proclaim boldly with our ancient forerunner in the faith, “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever.”
Yours in his endless mercies,
Wright