A MASKIL OF ETHAN THE EZRAHITE. – apparently a maskil (13 times at the head of Psalms) is meant to be contemplative and instructive! So let us contemplate and be instructed!
1 I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “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 your throne for all generations.’” Selah – Pronouns are important! The ‘I’ refers here initially in verses 1-2 to the author but is also meant to be applicable for every reader or singer of the Psalm! In v3&4 it is referring to God who has made the promises to David! The ‘you’ in v 1-3 refers to God whereas the ‘your’ in v4 refers to David! In every line I have underlined very positive words!
5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?
Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,
7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
and awesome above all who are around him? – God is not earth bound or limited to our understanding of time! Every single person who believes in God automatically believes in a world which we cannot see – for who has seen God? Was/Is Jesus God? We have this great ‘proof’ that God is and can be a part of our world! These three verses however underline the fact that our God is Ruler of the Universe! The words ‘Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,’ reaches beyond our understanding. Are there other inhabited systems other than our earth? Or does it only refer to the world of angels and demons? Certainly it proclaims God as GOD!
8 O LORD God of hosts,
who is mighty as you are, O LORD,
with your faithfulness all around you?
9 You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. – In verse 8 the question demands an answer! In verse 9 remember that in Jewish thought Gentiles are seen as the sea and in v 10 ‘Rahab’ is often used for the powerful Egypt. Our thoughts, or at least mine, go to the victory which God wrought to free Israel from slavery! There are 40+ more verses in this Psalm to give us cause to be contemplative!
Psalm 89: 52 – Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.
Prayer: You cause me to increasingly be standing in awe of Your Steadfast Love, my God.