SEREMON OUTLINE:
3 Key words:
•Faithfulness.
•Forever.
•Covenant.
(1). The mercies of the Lord (vs 1-4).
(2). The faithfulness of the Lord (vs 5-52).
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
Peanut’s cartoon:
• Lucy and Linus were sitting in front of the television set when Lucy said to Linus,
• "Go get me a glass of water."
• Linus looked surprised,
• "Why should I do anything for you? You never do anything for me."
• Lucy promised,
• "On your 75th birthday, I’ll bake you a cake."
• Linus got up, headed to the kitchen and said,
• "Life is more pleasant when you have something to look forward to."
Ill:
The great missionary Hudson Taylor the founder of China Inland Mission;
• Used to hang in his home a plaque with two Hebrew Words on it:
• EBENEZER & JEHOVAH JIREH.
• The first word means ‘Hitherto hath the Lord helped us’
• And the second, ‘The Lord will see to it or provide.’
• One looked back while the other looked forward.
• One reminded him of God’s faithfulness and the other of God’s assurances.
This psalm is based on two of God’s great attributes:
• His faithfulness and his loving-kindness.
• His faithfulness looks primarily to the past;
• And his loving-kindness primarily looks to the future.
Note:
• I want you to note three key words;
• Which dominate the psalm and help us understand its theme.
Key word #1: Faithfulness.
• Scan the psalm and you will see that word mentioned again and again.
• In fact you will read it 7 times - verse 1, verse 2, verse 5, verse 8, verse 14, verse 24, verse 33
• Let’s read them:
Quote: Verse 1:
“I will sing of the LORD’s great love for ever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations”.
Quote: Verse 2:
“I will declare that your love stands firm for ever,
that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself”.
Quote: Verse 5:
“The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness too,
in the assembly of the holy ones”.
Quote: Verse 8:
“O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?
You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you”.
Quote: Verse 14:
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you”.
Quote: Verse 24:
“My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted”.
Quote: Verse 33:
“But I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness”.
Key word #2: Forever.
Ill:
There are three huge gates that lead into the Cathedral of Milan.
• Over one gate there is an inscription in marble under a beautiful flower bouquet that says,
• "The things that please are temporary."
• Over the second gate, there is a cross with this inscription:
• "The things that disturb us are temporary."
• However, over the central gate, there is a big inscription saying,
• "Eternal are the important ones."
• God love is eternal, unending, perpetual, timeless,
• That truth is reflected throughout this psalm.
• And his word, his promise, his covenant is forever.
• Forever – is the second key word is repeated 8 times:
• Verse 1, verse 2, verse 4, verse 28, verse 29, verse 36, verse 37, verse 46.
• Let’s read them:
Quote: Verse 1:
“I will sing of the LORD’s great love for ever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations”.
Quote: Verse 2:
“I will declare that your love stands firm for ever,
that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself”.
Quote: Verse 4:
“I will establish your line for ever and make your throne firm through all generations”
Quote: Verse 28:
“I will maintain my love to him for ever, and my covenant with him will never fail”.
Quote: Verse 29:
“I will establish his line for ever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.”
Quote: Verse 36:
“that his line will continue for ever and his throne endure before me like the sun;”
Quote: Verse 37:
“it will be established for ever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky”.
Quote: Verse 46:
“How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself for ever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?”
Key word #3: Covenant.
The Hebrew people were in a covenant relationship with God.
• Psalm 147 verse 20:
• “He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD”
Ill:
• In modern times we define a host of relations by contracts.
• These are usually for goods or services and for hard cash.
• The contract, formal or informal,
• Helps to specify failure in these relationships.
• Note: The Lord did not establish a contract with Israel or with the church.
• He created a covenant.
• There is a big difference.
• Contacts are broken when one of the parties fails to keep his promise.
Ill:
Just say, a patient fails to keep an appointment with a dentist,
• The dentist is not obligated to call the house and inquire,
• “Where were you? Why didn’t you show up for your appointment?”
• The dentist simply goes on to the next patient;
• And has his appointment secretary take note of the patient;
• Who may receive a bill for failure to turn up.
• Because the patient broke an informal contract.
Ill:
• The Bible indicates that a covenant:
• Is more like the ties of a parent to her child than it is a dentist’s appointment.
• If a child fails to show up for dinner,
• The parent’s obligation, unlike the dentist’s, isn’t cancelled.
• The parent finds out where the child is and makes sure he’s cared for.
• One member’s failure does not destroy the relationship.
• A covenant puts no conditions on faithfulness.
• It is the unconditional commitment to love and serve.
The third key word to note in this psalm is the word ‘Covenant’;
• This word is repeated 3 times in verses 3, 28 & 34.
• Let’s read them:
Quote: Verse 3:
“You said, I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,”
Quote: Verse 28:
“I will maintain my love to him for ever, and my covenant with him will never fail.”
Quote: Verse 34:
“I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.”
Remember those three words for later:
• “Forever”.
• “Faithfulness”
• “Covenant”
Notice: This psalm has an inscription:
Ill:
Talking about inscriptions:
• The Washington Biological Survey in the U.S.A.
• Always put an abbreviated version on the rings that they used to tagged birds.
• The abbreviated’ it to:
• ‘Washington’ to ‘Wash’
• ‘Biological’ to ‘Boil’.
• ‘Survey’ to ‘Surv’
• The decided to change the inscription when they received this letter from a camper:
• "Dear Sirs: While camping last week I shot one of your birds.
• I think it was a crow.
• I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag ‘Wash, Boil, Serv’.
• And I want to tell you it was horrible."
This psalm has an inscription:
(a).
• ‘A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite’.
• The word ‘maskil’ means ‘teaching’ or ‘instruction’.
(b). The heading at the top of the psalm also tells us that it was written by Ethan the Ezrahite,
• We read in the Old Testament (2 Chronicles chapters 15-16);
• That when the Ark of God was carried to the Tabernacle in Jerusalem;
• Three men were given the honour of directing the choir for the festivities;
• Asaph who wrote a number of psalms.
• Heman who wrote psalm 88;
• And Ethan who wrote this psalm (89).
• Later on Ethan the Ezrahite changed his name;
• Ethan means ‘steady, rock solid’.
• Is name was changed to ‘Jeduthun’ which means ‘the Lord is steady’.
• Those two names can of illustrate this psalm;
• You can be ‘Ethan’ i.e. handle life in your own strength & understanding.
• Or you can be ‘Jeduthun’ i.e. handle life leaning on God’s strength.
Ill:
• Question: Three frogs sat on a lily-pad. One decided to jump off.
• How many were left?
• Answer: Three.
• Because he only decided to jump off, but never took the leap.
• It’s not enough to make a intellectually make a decision.
• You’ve got to let your actions match your thoughts!
• You can be ‘Ethan’ i.e. handle life in your own strength & understanding.
• Agree with the theology you here.
• Or you can be ‘Jeduthun’ i.e. handle life leaning on God’s strength.
• Put your theology into practice.
Now Ethan the Ezrahite. has a problem in this psalm;
• It seems to him that his faithful God;
• Seems to have broken his promise, his covenant.
Question: What promise does Ethan think God has broken?
Answer: The promise we call the Davidic covenant.
• In the Old Testament (2 Samuel chapter 7);
• God told David through Nathan the prophet;
• That he would always have a descendent on the throne,
• And that the Davidic line would rule forever.
• In fact verses 3-4 of Psalm 87:
• Are a quotation from 2 Samuel chapter 7 verses 3-4:
3”You said, I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,
4 ’I will establish your line for ever and make your throne firm through all generations.’”
• So in verses 3-4 this promise is mentioned concisely;
• Then in verses 19-37 this promise is lengthened and explained.
The problem arises for Ethan when one of the Davidic kings;
• Is defeated in war and his throne is taken from him.
• He mentions this in verses 38-45:
38But you have rejected, you have spurned, you have been very angry with your anointed one.
39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant and have defiled his crown in the dust.
40 You have broken through all his walls and reduced his strongholds to ruins.
41 All who pass by have plundered him; he has become the scorn of his neighbours.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You have turned back the edge of his sword and have not supported him in battle.
44 You have put an end to his splendour and cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short the days of his youth; you have covered him with a mantle of shame.
This psalm is Ethan’s attempt to reconcile what seems to be a contradiction:
• Between his theology (i.e. God is faithful and keeps his word);
• And the nations situation (i.e. David’s family are no-longer on the throne).
• Someone other than the Davidic line is now on the throne;
• So Ethan is trying to reconcile the problem, the apparent contradiction:
• That God is faithful and keeps his covenant;
• And his circumstances that seem to contradict that truth!
Question: Was Ethan right? Had the faithful God broken his promise?
Answer: We know with hindsight that God kept his word!
• Ethan’s problem was caused by his spiritual short-sightedness;
• He had miss-understood what that promise meant;
• In his short-sightedness;
• He did not realise that the ultimate fulfilment of that promise is in Jesus Christ!
• i.e. Jesus – He is the Son of David (Matthew chapter 1 verse 1);
• i.e. Jesus – He will reign forever (Luke chapter 1 verse 26-33);
• Therefore God has kept his word and fulfilled his promise!
Quote: Warren Wiersbe:
“Never judge God’s faithfulness on the basis of what you see or how you feel.
His promises do not fail”.
There are four words that every Christian should never forget:
• ’God keeps his word’.
• He will not tell us one thing and do another!
• He will never use the expression that we often use;
• "Oh well, promises are meant to be broken".
• God traffics in truth!
• God keeps his word, always!!!
Note:
• Because the psalm is long (52 verses) and our time is short;
• I am just going to highlight a few key verses to illustrate the psalms theme.
(1). The mercies of the Lord (vs 1-4).
• The theme of the Psalm is mentioned in this first section.
• Remember those three key words from earlier on?
• They were: “Forever”. “Faithfulness” “Covenant”
• “Forever” is mentioned 3 times in these first 4 verses;
• “Faithfulness” is mentioned twice.
• “Covenant” is mentioned once.
Note:
• In verse 1: The N.I.V. Bible uses the expression ‘Great love’;
• But that is not the best translation of the Hebrew text.
• The expression ‘Great love’;
• Suggests a favourable attitude, positive feelings towards us.
Some translations use the term ‘Mercies’ which I think is much better.
• I would suggest that ‘Mercies’ suggests two things that ‘Great love’ does not:
• FIRST: ‘Mercies’ suggest specific tangible blessings;
• Not just a favourable attitude.
Ill:
• A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son.
• The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice;
• And justice demanded death.
• "But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.”
• "But your son does not deserve mercy,” Napoleon replied.
• The woman cried,
• "Sir, it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for”.
• The emperor said, "Well then, I will have mercy”.
• And he spared the woman’s son.
Quote: F.B. Meyer.
“Mercy is a structure never done,
Laver on layer, story on story, tier on tier.
God’s faithfulness is sure as the heavens”.
• SECOND: It emphasises that there are many of these mercies.
• Notice ‘Mercies’ is a plural term.
• Quote: Hymn: Great is thy faithfulness:
"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided -
"Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!”
(2). The faithfulness of the Lord (vs 5-52).
• Having introduced the theme of the psalm in verses 1-4:
• The psalmist will now expand and explain that theme throughout the rest of the psalm.
• He draws our attention to God in heaven;
• Where in verse 5 ‘the holy ones’ that is holy angels are assembled with one purpose;
• To declare the faithfulness of God.
• And to declare God’s wonders!
Notice: As the angels scan heaven they come to this conclusion:
• God is un-comparable! He has no equivalent. He stands alone as one unique.
• Verse 6: “For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD?”
• Verse 6: “Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?”
• Verse 8: “O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?”
• The answer is there is no-one else!
• These is no-one as ‘mighty’ – no-one who can compare with the Lord!
• And so throughout the rest of the psalm he develops that theme:
• An outline of the rest of the psalm could be:
Ill:
Simple outline:
• God is faithful in his character (vs 5-18).
• God is faithful in his covenant (vs 19-29).
• God is faithful in his chastening (vs 39-45).
• God’s faithfulness will never cease (vs 46-52).
Note:
• Psalm 89 has the distinction of being one of the great passages of the Bible;
• That deals with the faithfulness of God:
• But it deals with God’s faithfulness in two contrasting ways.
• Let me illustrate it by way of that great hymn: ‘Great is thy faithfulness’.
Ill:
• We had that hymn ‘Great is thy faithfulness’ at our wedding.
• We have been married for 15 years this may.
• Joke: I have had 15 years of very happy marriage;
• Not sure my wife Penny has – but I have had…
This psalm deals with God’s faithfulness in two contrasting ways.
• Let me illustrate it by way of that great hymn:
• ‘Great is thy faithfulness’.
Ill:
• (a). The first part of Psalm 89 would be summarised by the words:
• "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee”
• (b). The second part of Psalm 89 would be summarised by the words:
• "Where is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no proof in your dealings with me”
• (a). In the first part of the psalm Ethan rehearses what he knows to be theologically accurate;
• i.e. God has sovereignty chosen Israel as his nation.
• i.e. God has chosen David’s decedents to be the monarchy that rules.
• (b). In the second part of the psalm;
• Ethan records his disappointment and dismay;
• That the nation has been ravaged;
• And the David monarchy has come to an apparently disgraceful end.
We also know with hindsight that God kept his word!
• Ethan had spiritual short-sightedness;
• He had miss-understood what that promise meant;
Ill:
Misunderstanding.
• A woman spent some months living and serving God in Kenya.
• On her final trip to a remote township, she attended a medical clinic.
• She found herself deeply moved by the singing of the African women.
• She turned to her friend and asked:
• “Please can you tell me the translation of this beautiful song?”
• Her friend replied:
• “If you don’t boil the water you will get dysentery”.
• In his short-sightedness;
• Ethan did not realise that the ultimate fulfilment of that promise is in Jesus Christ!
• i.e. Seventeen verses in the New Testament describe Jesus as the "son of David”.
• This statement means two things: first that Jesus was of David’s lineage;
• That is supported by the genealogies in Matthew & Luke’s gospels.
• And second that he had legal rights over David’s throne
• i.e. "Son of David” is a Messianic title – significance he is the legal successor of King David.
Quote C.H. Spurgeon.
“David’s line in the person of Jesus is an endless one, and the race of Jesus shows no sign of failure. No power, human or satanic, can break the Christian succession…
A seed and a throne are the two great promises of the covenant.
We are the seed who must endure forever, and we are protected and ennobled by that king whose royalty will last forever”.
• i.e. Jesus – he is the Son of David (Matthew chapter 1 verse 1);
• i.e. Jesus – he will reign forever (Luke chapter 1 verse 26-33);
• Therefore God has kept his word and fulfilled his promise!
