[Side note: Have you heard the funny story of Tim Hawkins writing down his “favorite” Bible verse at a signing without being confident that it was right? Watch this , but know that mine wasn’t that bad!  –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZBw2-WJN5U]

Suffice it to say, Psalm 88 was deemed a tad too dark for a bright July Sunday morning, so we swapped it out for a slightly lighter passage. We stuck with Psalm 89 though … all 52 verses! #countem! Though I couldn’t imagine it when we chose it, God has used this Psalm to minister to my heart repeatedly in the past few weeks, so I’m sharing it with you today.

I bet you know verse 1 – sing it out loud (I did!):

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,

I will sing; I will sing.

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.

With my mouth will I make known

Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness.

With my mouth will I make known

Thy faithfulness to all generations.

You have to love an arm-swingin’, up-beat rendition of a Psalm, don’t you? However, have you ever READ all of Psalm 89? Take my word that verses 1 and 2 are not representative of the rest of the Psalm! Ethan the Ezrahite (who wrote this baby) was struggling to align what he saw going on in his corner of the world with what he read in God’s Word.

Wait, rewind … He was struggling to align what he saw going on in his corner of the world with what he read in God’s Word.

Been there. Done that.

Oh, who am I kidding? There now. Doing that (present tense).

Can you relate?

Allow me to recap what Ethan says here. (Please read your favorite translation on your own. Right now you’re going to get my significantly abbreviated summation.)

I am committed to my faithful Lord forever, and I will declare it to all generations. (v.1-2)

Might I remind you, Lord, that “you said” … You gave us a promise about King David. (v.3-4)

EVERYONE in heaven knows God is faithful. (v. 5-8)

For that matter, EVERYONE and EVERYTHING on Earth knows it too. God is able to do whatever He wants to do. He rules. (v. 9-13)

God is known for His faithfulness and those who “get” that and declare it are blessed. (v.14-18)

Here’s exactly what you said about the lineage of David, Lord. (v1.9-29)

You cautioned us that sinning would result in the consequence of your judgment.

(You weren’t a-kiddin’! We’re up to our eyeballs in judgment, so we know you meant it.) (v.30-32)

Nevertheless, (and don’t mind me for saying so, BUT) we have you on record, Lord, saying you would preserve the line of David. (v. 33-37)

In case you hadn’t noticed … we are falling apart here! So far these kings aren’t cutting it! We need a GODLY king, Lord. (Just sayin’) (v. 38-45)

I’m not getting any younger here and I’m just curious, HOW MUCH LONGER WILL THIS GO ON? (v. 46-48)

(Oh, and might I say one more time, just to be clear on my commitment … ) Blessed be the Lord forever!

Amen and Amen (v. 52)

I don’t know about you, but I’m in a season of wondering what God’s up to. I don’t know what He’s going to do. I certainly don’t know WHEN He’s going to do it, yet here are 5 things I know for sure:

1. God does not lie. He cannot lie. He is faithful to do what He says.
2. A believer in Christ can/must/will testify to God’s Word even while he/she waits for not-yet-answered prayers to be fulfilled and when circumstances are less than stelar.
3. Bible study is imperative to knowing God’s promise and plans for His people. Open THE Book, for crying out loud, and do not believe that your need to know is satisfied sufficiently by what you hear from the pulpit on Sunday morning or on the radio from your favorite pastors/speakers. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:8).
4. Pray, plead, beg, and gripe to God … He can take it. He wants to hear everything from you, but here’s some sound advice, don’t try to play the “you said” card unless you have spent time reading exactly what He did say … in context … in a translation you understand.
5. Remember that NOW IS NOT FOREVER. This counsel fits many (if not all) of life’s circumstances. Ethan didn’t live long enough to see first hand that God kept His word and sent His own Son to sit on the throne of David where He reigns now and forevermore, but I’m pretty confident that he’s well aware now! Friends, every single prayer will be answered when Jesus Christ comes again if not before.

Wait for it … because now is not forever.