July 21, 2023 – Psalm 89

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to my servant David: ‘I will establish your descendants forever and build your throne for all generations.’” Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, a God feared in the council of the holy ones, great and awesome above all who are around him?” Psalm 89:1-7

The opening four verses of Psalm 89 contain a trove of theological catch-words from the Old Testament. Verses 1 and 2 are parallel in the proclamation of God’s “steadfast love” in their first lines and “faithfulness” in their second. These two traits are central in defining G-d’s character and relationship with G-d’s people. The single Hebrew word translated by the NRSV’s “steadfast love” is khesed. The Hebrew meaning is difficult to convey with any single English expression, and thus we see different English Bibles using a variety of translations in different contexts: steadfast love, lovingkindness, love, kindness, mercy, loyalty, favor, devotion, goodness, and still others.

The range of translations gives a sense of the broad meaning of the word–more than any other expression, khesed defines G-d’s fundamental relationship with G-d’s people. In both verses God’s khesed is said to last “forever.”

We all know of someone who has stated that they would be our “forever” friends, but over time we have lost contact or they have decided to move onto other “forever” friends. It happens to us all. It is the height of human narcissism that we find it hard to be “hesed” in all of our relationships. But not G-d. G-d is faithful to G-d’s people forever. There is not other way to say it. G-d will not forsake us nor will G-d forget us.

Prayer

Mighty God, in fulfillment of the promise made to David’s descendants you established a lasing covenant through your firstborn Son. You anointed your servant Jesus with holy oil and raised him higher than all kings on earth. Remember your covenant, so that we who are signed with the blood of your Son may sing of your mercies forever; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

July 20, 2023 — Psalm 88 

“O Lord, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence, let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I am like those who have no help, like those forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call on you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise you? Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, cry out to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O Lord, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me? Wretched and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am desperate. Your wrath has swept over me; your dread assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; from all sides they close in on me. You have caused friend and neighbor to shun me; my companions are in darkness.” Psalm 88 

In the Book of Psalms, the 88^th is the saddest psalm. It is a lament of an individual who is suffering deeply — someone who has suffered like Job. But unlike Job, this psalm does not end in reward or comfort. Perhaps this psalm is included to show that there are some believers whom G-d permits to experience more than their share of suffering, and that is difficult for any of us to hear. The psalmist has certainly experienced extended periods of suffering without being shown any comfort or encouragement from G-d or his friends, and we have to wonder why? His condition was so bad that he, together with his companions, thought that he would die soon — in fact the psalmist talked about death and the grave in nine out of eighteen verses. 

This psalm is like a stationary picture of a man that suffered for a very long period of time. But this Psalm is just one of the psalms in the Bible. And I believe we could all come up with someone who has suffered for most of their life. But, life is not a stationary picture, but a motion picture. Life flows from one experience to the next — one opportunity to the next. Everyone experiences ups and downs that will make us, break us and remake us again. The scenes change — the cycle of life, and death will go on.  

As such, we must learn to trust our G-d, who is good, who is faithful and true, and with whom we have a covenantal relationship. One week we may pass through the land of the shadow of death — one day we may be lounging along the still waters and green pastures. No matter the course our life takes, we trust that we will one day enjoy dwelling with G-d forever.        

Prayer 

God our Savior, for us our Lord Jesus descended to the dead and broke the grip of death. Hear us when we cry to you day and night, when we are stripped of hope and life, that we may again know your presence and see your face; for you alone are God, and all our help comes from you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 

Amen.