Psalm 89

Where Are You God?

Have you felt abandoned by God? How have such dark times shaken your faith?

Pride comes before the fall? The psalmist must have had this thought in mind for this royal hymn. The nation’s faith in YHWH were closely tied to the fortunes of Judea’s monarch, because of the covenant with David. If the king fell, the reputation of God was in jeopardy. So, the psalmist praised the Lord, but bluntly asked, “Why did you abandon the king?”

The psalm can be divided into three sections: praise for YHWH (89:2-19), a reminder of the Davidic covenant (89:20-38), and lament for a defeat of the king (89:39-52). The beauty of the first section made a striking contrast with the last section. How could such a great God allow such a loss to his chosen? Were is his promises for not?

Praises for the Almighty overflowed in 89:2-19. The introduction to the psalm (89:2-5) reminded God of his steadfast love and promise to David and his descendants. The next scene (89:6-8) described an assembly of spirits where God reigned with such power that it inspired awe. From the royal court of heaven, God’s power shown forth in creation: control over the waters (and the defeat of the sea monster/spirit, Rahab), the creation of the land and the great mountains (Zaphon and Amanus in Syria; Tabor, and Hermon in Lebanon). Such power meant justice for the nation beacuse of YHWH’s steadfast love and loyalty. Such power meant victory for the king and the people. Such power justified the praise given to God.

In response, God spoke in a revelation in 89:20-38. Speaking in a dream (a typical symbol for revelation), God set David as a a leader for a nation of warriors, a king of victorious armies (89:20-27). David had an intimate relationship with God, like a firstborn son has with his father (89:28). God’s steadfast love and his covenant would stand forever, even if David’s descendants slid into idolatry and sin. Despite the action of men, God’s promise to David would stand forever, like the rising of the sun or the firm appearance of the moon. (Notice how the psalmist equated God’s covenant to David with his creative power; the dynasty had a status on par with the light of the day and the night!)

Yet, God has turned his back on the warrior king of Judea (89:39-46). Defeat has led to destruction within Jerusalem. Enemies have plundered the riches of the city and have threatened the monarch with murder. At this point (89:47-52), the psalm became personal; the king himself cried out: Why, O Lord, why are you angry? Death seemed to be everywhere and inevitable. Instead of proud and victorious, the king was weak and scorned by his foreign enemies. And if he were scorned, so was his God.

The royal psalm began with praise and triumph, but ended in utter despair. (The praise verse in 89:53 was not the end of psalm but the end of the section with in the book of Psalms; hence, it was not original to the psalm.) A boastful psalmist was humbled, like the nation. From the time of the Babylonian exile onward, the nation could sing this psalm and ask the question: did our pride blind us before our fall? As the king goes, so do we, the nation?

This psalm was appropriate for the early Christian understanding of the Messiah. Jesus of Nazareth fit the model of fulfillment. Through despair and death, God kept his promise. Through defeat, God created victory; through death came life!

Our expectations can be turned upside down, and, in doing so, our faith can be shaken. But, aren’t these faith crises our problem? Doesn’t God work on his own time table and in his own ways?

Reflect on your own crises of faith. How has God helped you to survive and grow closer to him?