God Has Not Forgotten

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 89:30-52

 

Psalm 89:52

Blessed be the Lord forevermore!
Amen and Amen.

(NKJV)

 

In times of struggle, when we are waiting on the Lord to meet our need, it can seem that God has forgotten us. It is at these times we must turn to the Word of God and have faith in his promises to his people, knowing He has not forgotten us. In this psalm, the psalmist Ethan laments the appearance that God has forgotten his covenant with David but concludes by praising the Lord forevermore (Psalm 89:52).

 

The Lord will punish the sons of David if they forsake God’s law, do not walk in His judgments, break His statutes, or do not keep His commandments (Psalm 89:30-32). However, God will not take His lovingkindness from him or allow his faithfulness to fail (Psalm 89:33). The Lord will not break His covenant or alter His Word nor lie to David since he has sworn to him in His holiness (Psalm 89:34-35). David’s seed shall endure forever along with his throne, just like the sun with it established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky that reflects the sun (Psalm 89:36-37).

 

However, the Lord has been furious with His anointed, abhorring and casting him off (Psalm 89:38). He has renounced the covenant of His servant and profaned his crown by casting it to the ground (Psalm 89:39). The Lord has broken down all his hedges and brought his strongholds to ruin so that all who pass by plunder him, and he has become a reproach to his neighbors (Psalm 89:40-41). The right hand of his adversaries has been exalted, causing his enemies to rejoice (Psalm 89:42). The Lord has also turned back his sword and no longer sustains him in battle (Psalm 89:43). The Lord has made his glory cease, casting his throne down to the ground, with the days of his youth shortened, covering him with shame (Psalm 89:44-45).

 

Ethan then wonders if the Lord will hide Himself forever, and if His wrath will burn like fire (Psalm 89:46). He then asks the Lord to remember how short his time is, and for what futility he created the children of men (Psalm 89:47). He continues by asking what man can live without seeing death and if a man can deliver himself from the power of death (Psalm 89:48).

 

Ethan concludes his lament by asking the Lord where his former lovingkindness is that he swore to David in His truth (Psalm 89:49). He then asks the Lord to remember the reproach of His servants, and how he bears the reproach of all the people (Psalm 89:50). He then reminds the Lord that David’s enemies are guilty of the same reproach and have reproached the footsteps of His anointed (Psalm 89:51). However, Ethan concludes on a positive note, declaring that the Lord be blessed forevermore (Psalm 89:52).

 

After remembering the covenant of God with David (Psalm 89:1-29), Ethan has sorrow for lost blessings (Psalm 89:30-52). While he laments these lost blessings, he gives no context for what may have led to their loss. In Isaiah 40:31, the prophet Isaiah tells us that those who wait on the Lord shall have renewed strength, wings like eagles, and walk without fainting. This verse reminds us to be patient with the Lord, knowing he has heard us and will answer our prayer in His time and according to His will. During this waiting period, it may seem to us that God has forgotten us, but he has promised never to forsake or leave us (Psalm 23:4). Isaiah also reminds us to fear not, reminding us that God will strengthen us and uphold us with his righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10).

 

As the bride of Christ, the Church has a covenant with God through the blood of Jesus Christ, but that does not mean life will be free from trouble. However, God cannot break His covenant or alter His Word (Psalm 89:34). The Word of God is the solid foundation upon which to build one’s faith and not the shaky sand of the world (Matthew 7:24-27). The world is working overtime trying to separate the Bride of Christ from her bridegroom Jesus Christ. The mission of the church is not to entertain people or make them feel good by behaving in a certain manner, it is to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). A disciple of Christ is one genuinely saved through making Jesus their Lord, one who is growing in his or her relationship with Christ through study of His Word. They are giving people, giving of their time and money to serve God, people not hesitating to go wherever the Lord leads. And most importantly, they do all this for the glory of God.

 

The first step to becoming a disciple of Christ is to make Him the Lord of your life, done by confessing a heartfelt belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10). If you are reading this and have never taken this important first step to becoming a disciple of Christ, I invite you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9). I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

If you meant what you just prayed, know that God has forgiven all your sins and that you now have a relationship with God and are a child of God (Romans 8:16). Like any relationship, it grows as we get to know each other. While God already knows all about us, we must study the Bible, the Word of God, to learn more about Him. If you just prayed, I encourage you to find a Church that teaches the truth of the Bible so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.