Love and Faithfulness

 Love and Faithfulness: Meditations on Psalm 89

 ¹ I will sing of the LORD's great love forever;
       with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

 ² I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
       that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
The Psalms teach us to worship, and the Psalmist sings of God’s great love and God’s faithfulness. Love and faithfulness always come together in the ways of God. For the world, love is often fleeting and passes. Husband and wives divorce because they say, they don’t feel love for each other anymore. However, true love goes beyond feeling. True love is faithful even when the other party is unfaithful. Even though the Israelites turned away time and again, going after other gods, the Lord did not destroy them totally but always kept a remnant. God was always faithful even when His people were faithless. And this same God who is our God will continue to be faithful to us, staying true to His promise that He will receive us if we repent and come back to Him. Let us remember Love and Faithfulness throughout each day, and we will remember God and learn to love others like He loves us.
 ⁵ The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
       your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
 ⁶ For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD ?
       Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?
 ⁷ In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
       he is more awesome than all who surround him.
 ⁸ O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?
       You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
 ⁹ You rule over the surging sea;
       when its waves mount up, you still them
The Psalms speak of the greatness of God, the wonders of the heavens He has made, the surging seas, the mighty mountains, great creatures and little lambs. The appreciation of God’s handiwork in nature is seen throughout the Psalms, and we too should learn to appreciate God’s work like that. Even staring at evening skies, or lush, green trees, one can really feel the presence of God if we still ourselves.
 ¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
       love and faithfulness go before you.
 ¹⁵ Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
       who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
 ¹⁶ They rejoice in your name all day long;
       they exult in your righteousness.
 ¹⁷ For you are their glory and strength,
       and by your favor you exalt our horn.
 ¹⁸ Indeed, our shield belongs to the LORD,
       our king to the Holy One of Israel.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim God, and walk in the light of God’s presence. Is God’s name always on our lips, thanking God for the good things He has done for us? Walking in the light of God’s presence is living life under a spotlight – God’s spotlight. Whatever we do is open to Him, and thus, we are careful to do what pleases Him. In contrast, if walk in darkness, we hide and do things hoping others do not see, but God sees everything. The righteous see God as their great Shield. In times of trouble, they run to God for protection.
 ⁴⁶ How long, O LORD ? Will you hide yourself forever?
       How long will your wrath burn like fire?
 ⁴⁷ Remember how fleeting is my life.
       For what futility you have created all men!
 ⁴⁸ What man can live and not see death,
       or save himself from the power of the grave ?
       Selah
 49 O Lord, where is your former great love,
       which in your faithfulness you swore to David?

The Psalmist begins by praising God but then goes into a solemn cry to God for help. In a time of trouble, we are reminded of the shortness of our lives, the futility of it all for all must end in death. But God Himself provided a way for us to be saved from the power of the grave. It is the cross, on which Christ Jesus died, by which all people may receive eternal life if they only believe in Him. In times of trouble, cry out for God’s faithfulness, for His mercy. He will deliver us.