Psalm 89 Scriptures: Isaiah 49, Jeremiah 25, 33
Where is the light that’s supposed to be at the end of the tunnel?
A couple of months ago Louisiana and the city of New Orleans was hit by an incredibly powerful hurricane named Katrina. As you may remember the city, which sits below sea level was flooded. Hundreds of people died, thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed. Tens of thousands of jobs were lost. For a time disorder and thuggery ruled the streets. People ended up in shelters, and some are still there. Many a person’s beloved pets were killed. Presently the city and region are still in disarray. In short, it is a disaster zone.
While some may conclude that the city of New Orleans got what it deserved (for it is a city steeped in witchcraft, the occult, and sexual immorality), there are many who call New Orleans home who are the followers of Jesus Christ.
These ones, who are the followers of Jesus who live in New Orleans, who have lost all their possessions (and in some cases, loved ones), are righteous sufferers. They are righteous sufferers because it was not their personal sins against the Lord that led to New Orleans destruction.
How do you think these brothers and sisters of ours in Christ, feel?
I’m sure some of them are confused and hurting. I’m sure some are struggling with despair and a sense of abandonment by God. I’m sure that they are hoping that their restoration comes quickly and that they will be able to put their lives back together soon.
Over the centuries there have been many who have been the followers of God who have been righteous sufferers.
To be a righteous sufferer is not an easy thing. Staying true under such circumstances is certain to be a challenge.
One of the biggest things that righteous sufferers need is encouragement and a reminder that there is a light at the end of the tunnel of their suffering.
The reason I have begun as I have this morning is because today we are going to do a study of Psalm 89.
Psalm 89 records the prayer of a righteous sufferer who is overwhelmed by his situation.
Historical background to Psalm 89
It is the time of the Babylonian exile.
Last week we studied Psalm 80 together. Psalm 80, as I hope you remember, is a prayer for restoration, salvation, and blessing, that dates to the days following the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C.
In Psalm 89, Judah, the Southern Kingdom, was the one that has been destroyed for very much the same reasons as its sister city (Israel) was. Instead, the time of the destruction of Judah was 586 B.C. Judah was able to keep going for longer because their kings and people were much more faithful to God than their northern cousins. Thus, they enjoyed God’s favor and blessing longer.
The difference between the Two kingdoms’experiences: The Northern Kingdom disappeared. The Southern kingdom experienced a predetermined 70 years in exile. After the 70 years were over, God restored them to their homeland.
Psalm 89 fits somewhere into the beginning of the time of the 70 year exile.
The structure of the text
In v.1-37 the tone is upbeat and worshipful as the praiseworthiness, holiness, righteousness, faithfulness, and goodness of God is expounded.
Starting with v.38 and continuing through to verse 51 our text does a 180 degree turn.
After repeatedly praising God for his goodness, love and faithfulness, our author all of a sudden breaks down; and from his sobbing lips comes question after question pertaining to where God’s love and promises for deliverance has gone.
The tone of despair, desperation, pain, confusion, and a sense of being abandoned by God, is unmistakable.
READ TEXT
Why the person who wrote Psalm 89 is a righteous sufferer.
Note the author’s:
1. Commitment to the praise and worship of God v.1-37
In verses 1-2 our author says “I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
Note also how the author lays out for us a number of reasons for why God is praiseworthy. Verses 5ff
-the wonders of His creation
-His power and might
-His victories over His enemies
-His mastery over the seas and the world
-His justice, holiness, righteousness, goodness, and faithfulness to His promises
-His favor lavished on David and the eternal kingship He promised to him
2. Knowledge of God and of the Scriptures
The one who wrote Psalm 89 was not ignorant of the Word of God. His in depth knowledge of the covenant God made with David and his meditation on the holiness, righteousness, and faithfulness of God indicate this.
3. Resolve to stay faithful to God even though totally overwhelmed and confused as to what God was doing. Verse 1-37, 52.
As Job stayed faithful to God during his time of trial and testing, there is no indication in the text that the author is going to abandon God. Rather, it’s pretty clear that he’s going to stay faithful, regardless of the amount of pain in which he finds himself.
Lessons of the text
1. You and I will (and perhaps already have been) called upon to be righteous sufferers.
Jesus has repeatedly told us to expect sufferings in this life; and in particular, sufferings for righteousness sake. We ought not be surprised.
The ultimate righteous sufferer was Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 53:3 it says of Jesus, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.”
You and I need to prepare ourselves in heart and mind and realize that a “New Orleans” type situation could happen to us. Additionally, as the Bible says, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted.”
To be a righteous sufferer is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s a mark of our identification with Jesus.
2. As the followers of God it’s ok to express our doubts about God and what He’s doing.
Keys:
a. As long as we continue to be respectful of God.
b. As long as we do not bring guilt on our heads by charging Him with wrongdoing.
c. As long as we do not damage the faith of others in the process.
3. No matter how bad things may get for us we need to stay committed to God and the praise and worship of Him.
God is always worthy of our praises. In Revelation 4:11 it says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
Hebrews 10:36-37 says, “you need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, ’He who is coming will come and will not delay…”
4. Contrary to what our senses will sometimes tell us, God is faithful to his promises. He always keeps His word.
Note: The author of Psalm 89 struggled with this.
The Bible itself is a record of God’s faithfulness to His Word. Trace your way through the Scriptures and across the passage of time and what will your conclusion be? God is faithful, He is true to His Word down to the smallest of points of detail.
In Psalm 145:3 it says, “The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.”
2Corinthians 1:20 has a special relation to Psalm 89. In 2Corinthians 1:20 it says, “for no matter how many promises God has made, they are ’Yes’ in Christ.
At the heart of Psalm 89 is the discussion of God’s special promise to David, that he would have a throne that would last forever and that a king of the line of David would reign eternally. While the author’s perspective is that God’s promise looks to be in danger of failing, the reality is that King Jesus is that ultimate fulfillment of God promise.
5. Contrary to what we might sometimes think, God will never abandon us.
Note: The author of Psalm 89 felt that this had happened.
In Isaiah 49:14-16, directly relating to this point (and the Babylonian captivity), God says, “but Zion said, ’The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.’ Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”
In Hebrews 13:5-6 God says to us, "never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
6. The number one thing our friend in Psalm 89 needed (and what we need too), is encouragement.
Sometimes we are going to think to ourselves, ’where is that promised light that is supposed to be at the end of the tunnel?’ This is what the author of Psalm 89 was thinking.
The “light” is there, but sometimes what we need is someone by our side to help us see it.
This is why Christian fellowship is so important. How else can we encourage each other in our Christian walks unless we spend time together, eating, talking, fellowshipping, working side by side?
Are you doing your part as it pertains to being an encourager?
Encouragers set good examples. Christian encouragers try to help others live a life that is faithful to Jesus. Christian encouragers come alongside others and give them their hands and shoulders with the purpose of strengthening the other.
CONCLUSION
One day, and maybe it’s already happened, you may be called upon by God to be a righteous sufferer. While sometimes bad situations seem like they are going to last forever, they won’t.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Ultimately it’s found in Jesus and in our Heavenly home.
In the mean time, we need to encourage each other.
