Psalm 89 - Who is like you?

Read: Psalm 89 vs 1-18

Yesterday we were listening to the words of ‘Heman the Ezrahite’, today we come to words written by ‘Ethan the Ezrahite’. We meet Ethan back in 1 Chronicles 15:19 where he is mentioned alongside Heman, and their fellow Psalm writer Asaph as being musicians appointed by David to make a joyful sound in leading the people in praise. Ethan was also apparently a very wise man. In 1 Kings 4:31 when the writer of that book is trying to describe how wise Solomon was, he says he was ‘Wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite’. To come runner up to Solomon in the wisdom stakes is high praise!

Psalm 89 is a Psalm for all seasons, beginning with its call to sing of the LORD’s great love forever. This is a Psalm about God’s faithfulness (vs 1,2,5,8,14). God’s faithfulness is to be made known through all generations (vs 1), it is a faithfulness rooted into the very fabric of creation (vs 2, 5), it is a word that goes to the very core of summing up who God is (vs 8), and it goes before God ; before we go anywhere or enter a new day God’s faithfulness is already there to meet us (vs 14). 

The God of the Bible is a covenant making God. In 2 Samuel 7 God made a covenant with King David, a promise that from him would come a house, a kingdom and a throne that would be ‘established forever’ (2 Samuel 7:16). Remembering this covenant (Psalm 89:3) gives Ethan hope and confidence in his current situation. Whether he (vs 12) is within the borders of Israel (Mount Tabor) or beyond the borders in dangerous and enemy territory (Mount Hermon) he knows that even there God is faithful and God’s promises stand firm. 

Wise Ethan encourages others to set their hearts on learning this path that he is on, walking in the light of God’s promise (vs 15), finding daily strength in God (vs 17), and knowing Him as his ever present shield (vs 18).

Prayer: Father thank you for Your faithfulness. May have an enormous sense of your faithfulness going ahead of me today and into this week. Thank You, my shield, my strength and my King. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.