Seems to me a man has trouble enough in this world without borrowing more with careless words.”
–Louis L’Amour (Mojave Crossing)
“Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.”
“Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.”
–Psalm 100:1-2 (NKJV)
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Here’s something that’ll tickle you going into 2023–“Life’s a mess and then you die.” That’s from Psalm 88, but Psalm 89 has a totally different perspective. The nation may be falling apart, stupidity may reign, but God is good and is faithful and bigger than our problems. Look this morning at the first seven verses, oh, and it’s all right if you sing the chorus while you read.
1 — I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
2 — For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.”
3 — I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David:
4 — “Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.” Selah
5 — And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
6 — For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?
7 — God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him. (NKJV)
How wonderful it is to know that we can always count upon the mercies and faithfulness of God. He keeps His word at all times. “God always stands committed to do what He says He will do. He never forgets His word, never forfeits His promises, never violates His covenant. Never does He pledge something and then fail to bring it to pass.” (Steve Lawson)
If you read the complete Psalm you will see the emphasis on the term “forever.” God’s is faithful–forever. God’s mercies last–forever. F.B. Meyer states, “Mercy is a structure never done, layer on layer, story on story, tier on tier. God’s faithfulness is sure as the heavens.” God loves lasts–forever. Because of the Lord’s mercy and faithfulness “we can live with solid confidence.” (Lawson)
It is right that we should sing of God’s faithfulness. I like what George O. Wood says, “Faith shines best when you declare God’s truth even though it contradicts how you feel. God’s love stands firm forever, and His faithfulness is established in heaven itself.” That’s one reason why God is greatly feared. His faithfulness surrounds Him, what He said He would do, He will do. He did it before and He’ll do it again. His faithfulness to us is sound and sure. Wood goes on to say, “The presence of faithfulness means God can be utterly relied upon. The laws of mathematics, physics, genetics, gravity, and space all owe their existence to the predictability and dependability of God. Indeed, faithfulness does surround Him.” He is not going to take a vacation; He neither slumbers or sleeps.
Throughout the new year make this a song from your heart. “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing, I will sing…”. Joy rather than despair, victory instead of defeat, peace instead of gloom. God is faithful!
“Be still, my soul! thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.”
–Katharina von Schlegel
————————————–
Here’s something that’ll tickle you going into 2023–“Life’s a mess and then you die.” That’s from Psalm 88, but Psalm 89 has a totally different perspective. The nation may be falling apart, stupidity may reign, but God is good and is faithful and bigger than our problems. Look this morning at the first seven verses, oh, and it’s all right if you sing the chorus while you read.
1 — I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
2 — For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.”
3 — I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David:
4 — “Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.” Selah
5 — And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
6 — For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?
7 — God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him. (NKJV)
How wonderful it is to know that we can always count upon the mercies and faithfulness of God. He keeps His word at all times. “God always stands committed to do what He says He will do. He never forgets His word, never forfeits His promises, never violates His covenant. Never does He pledge something and then fail to bring it to pass.” (Steve Lawson)
If you read the complete Psalm you will see the emphasis on the term “forever.” God’s is faithful–forever. God’s mercies last–forever. F.B. Meyer states, “Mercy is a structure never done, layer on layer, story on story, tier on tier. God’s faithfulness is sure as the heavens.” God loves lasts–forever. Because of the Lord’s mercy and faithfulness “we can live with solid confidence.” (Lawson)
It is right that we should sing of God’s faithfulness. I like what George O. Wood says, “Faith shines best when you declare God’s truth even though it contradicts how you feel. God’s love stands firm forever, and His faithfulness is established in heaven itself.” That’s one reason why God is greatly feared. His faithfulness surrounds Him, what He said He would do, He will do. He did it before and He’ll do it again. His faithfulness to us is sound and sure. Wood goes on to say, “The presence of faithfulness means God can be utterly relied upon. The laws of mathematics, physics, genetics, gravity, and space all owe their existence to the predictability and dependability of God. Indeed, faithfulness does surround Him.” He is not going to take a vacation; He neither slumbers or sleeps.
Throughout the new year make this a song from your heart. “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing, I will sing…”. Joy rather than despair, victory instead of defeat, peace instead of gloom. God is faithful!
“Be still, my soul! thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.”
–Katharina von Schlegel