Today's Advent meditation is from Psalm 89:1-4, sometimes called the Covenant Psalm.
(This is from a version called "The Voice".)
I will sing of Your unfailing love, Eternal One, forever.
I will speak of Your faithfulness to all generations.
2
I will tell how Your unfailing love will always stand strong;
and how Your faithfulness is established in the heavens above.
3
You said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one.
I made My servant, David, this promise:
4
‘I will establish your dynasty
so that you and your descendants will always be secure.
Your rule will continue for generations to come.’”
You may be aware that most of the 150 psalms in the Book of Psalms were written by either King David, or his son, King Solomon. A few were written by Asaph, and then this one was written by someone called Ethan, the Ezrahite. According to biblical scholars, it is not entirely certain who this character was; but, it appears he was a wise man in David's day, who lived also to be an old man in Solomon's reign. It is believed he wrote this psalm in his old age, as he saw the kingdom headed toward ruin, or as we say in the South "going to heck in a handbasket".
This psalm is referred to as the covenant psalm because it reaffirms the covenant that God the Father made between Himself and the house of David. In older versions of the English Bible, the first verse says, "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever." Ethan begins by affirming the unfailing love and mercies of the Lord God, the Eternal One, who sees the end from the beginning. This is an expression of trust and resolve to hold fast to the promises of God. Ethan had faith that God would establish the house of David forever, as promised in 2 Samuel 7:8-16.
The Davidic Covenant, as it is often called is one of several major covenants that God has made with mankind. The first was the Adamic Covenant, which we looked at earlier this week in Genesis. Others include the Noahic Covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, and the New Covenant. Now, before I lose you entirely in this miasma of covenants, let me just get back to the Davidic Covenant, which is highlighted here in this psalm.
What does it mean when God promised He would establish David's dynasty so that he and his descendants would "always be secure" or that, as the NIV puts it, that his "line" would be "established forever"?
There were several descendants of David who ruled the people of God, many of them awful. It looks like, in retrospect, a train wreck of descendants. But, God's plan has always been at work. When we trace the ancestry of Jesus Christ in Matthew and Luke, we find that both his biological mother, Mary, and his earthly "non-biological father", Joseph, were descendants of David. The Jews have always been fanatical about tracing their ancestry. I don't know that a Jew invented ancestry.com, but it is a distinct possibility! (In fact, if you study the history of the Bible's formation/creation, you will be dazzled by the lengths Jewish scribes went to, in order to preserve their holy writings.)
Jesus Christ, whose coming in His first advent we celebrate in these days leading up to Christmas, was the last descendant of David to rule and reign on David's throne. The title, "Son of David", was a common Jewish title for the Messiah. We see an everyday, blind, Jewish beggar use this title in Luke 18:38, when he is begging Jesus to give him his eyesight: "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
But, He did not rule and reign, you say. You are right, to a point. Jesus came, in His first advent, to establish His spiritual kingdom, in the hearts of men and women, boys and girls. Today, He rules and reigns in hearts. After Jesus' finished work, there is a pause for what is called The Church Age, when the whole world will eventually hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. After that age is over, Jesus will return to earth, and establish His reign on this planet for 1000 years. At that time, He will re-establish the throne of His earthly ancestor, David, completely fulfilling the Davidic Covenant.
What I want to know from you, as we all watch and wait for Christmas, is this: do you have the faith of Ethan? That's what I ask myself. This morning, I was praying for some of my loved ones who are far, far, far away from God. It looks like things are "going to heck in a handbasket"! Truly. Maybe you are there with me. (Dear Reader, if you tire of this theme, remember that this is a personal, devotional blog. :)
But, the mercies of the Lord, His lovingkindness - - - they. never. fail. His "faithfulness is established in the heavens above"! (vs. 2) He cannot abrogate (abolish, annul, repeal) His Word! He fulfilled His promise to David, and He will not forget His promises to you and me. The resplendent walk is a faith walk, friends!
Hello, Lord, You know where each and every one of Your children "is" right now, in his or her walk with You. Regardless of that place, please remind each of us of Your precious promises. Give us faith (because it IS a gift!) to trust Your heart, when we cannot see Your hand. I love you, but my love is paltry in comparison to Yours, which is perfect and eternal. "Thanks be to God, for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15) In Jesus' name, amen.
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