Good morning. Today, we turn our hearts to Psalms 89-94. There’s a lazy part of me that would love to talk about Psalm 93, a mere five verses, making it an easy message to keep within my word limit. But I couldn’t get past Psalm 89. It resonates with experiences of disappointment, a feeling many of us can recall from childhood.
Childhood Expectations and Harsh Realities
One of the most watched Christmas movies, the 1983 classic A Christmas Story, captures this perfectly. Most of us have seen it during one of the “24 Hours of A Christmas Story“ marathons on television, unaware that it wasn’t successful in theaters upon its initial release. The film’s most memorable storyline, for many, involves young Ralphie and his Ovaltine Decoder Ring. He had saved his Ovaltine labels and sent them away, brimming with excitement for “Little Orphan Annie” to come on the radio so he could decode her secret message. His disappointment at discovering a “crummy commercial” was crushing; this scene resonates with anyone ever disappointed by an expected prize.
While I wasn’t an Ovaltine drinker—Nestlé Quick was more my generation’s preference—I remember my version of Ralphie’s letdown. I saved Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes box tops to get a Tony the Tiger “action figure.” To be honest, I didn’t even like Frosted Flakes; Captain Crunch or Apple Jacks were my cereals of choice. But I wanted that doll—excuse me, action figure. I was a boy; I didn’t play with dolls. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!
The day it arrived, I saw the box protruding from our small duplex mailbox as I rode my bicycle home. My heart pounded, my legs pedaled harder. What could it be? Tearing the box open with feverish eagerness, I held it in my trembling hands. Then a wave of disappointment washed over me. “This is just a stupid doll,” I thought. The reality fell far short of the anticipation.
A Psalmist’s Lament in Exile
This feeling of profound disappointment finds a spiritual parallel in Psalm 89. Written by Ethan the Ezrahite, likely during the dark period of the Babylonian exile, this psalm grapples with a crisis of faith. God had made an eternal promise to David that his kingdom would be without end (the Davidic Covenant), but now the people of Israel were in captivity, and Jerusalem lay in ruins.
The Levites, like Ethan, bore the weighty responsibility of inspiring the people to praise God. It was their sacred duty, fueled by a passionate commitment. Indeed, if anyone in ministry doesn’t prioritize this, one might question their vocation. But it’s difficult to maintain enthusiasm, especially when circumstances are against you. It’s only natural to feel like giving up.
Yet, in the opening verse, Ethan writes with unwavering resolve: “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations” (Ps. 89:1, NIV). There’s no doubt about his sincerity, and we must admire his fortitude during such troubling times. More than admiring it, we must emulate it!
Charles Spurgeon, commenting on this psalm, states, “A devout resolve, and very commendable when a man is exercised with great trouble on account of an apparent departure of the Lord from his covenant and promise,” (Spurgeon Vol 2, Page 23., The Treasury of David).
God’s Unwavering Presence
When promises seem broken or God feels distant, we remember God has not moved. Something—often sin—has come between God and His people. God did not put that barrier there; He is faithful and always keeps His promises. If we find ourselves in a period where we cannot sense His presence, we must ask ourselves: “Where are we? Where have we wandered off to?”
Spurgeon further emphasizes this point: “Whether others sing or not, believers must never give over; in them should be constancy of praise, since God’s love to them cannot by any possibility have changed,” (Spurgeon Vol 2, Page 23., The Treasury of David).
This remains a strong need today. So many people are quick to complain, and the last thing they want to hear is a Christian speaking about righteousness. Their preoccupation with sin prevents them from recognizing God’s good works. They prefer we remain silent about our God.
But we cannot, and must not, remain silent. This is the time we must “sing of the Lord’s great love”!
The Unspoken and Spoken Gospel
Some might quote the saying, “Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.” This phrase is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. There is no historical record of him ever saying or writing it. More importantly, it misrepresents biblical theology.
The very verse we began with tells us to use our mouths to make His faithfulness known to all generations—even a sinful and lost generation that may not want to hear it. Yes, we must guard against hypocrisy by living out those values, ensuring our actions align with our words. However, the Bible is clear: we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord (Rom. 10:9). The Gospel message requires proclamation and needs to be heard.
Ethan, in Psalm 89, was dealing with a doubting generation whose prevalent sin had led to calamity. They were asking, “Where is God? How long will He be angry with us?” They weren’t asking the right question. The correct question was, and still is: “What are we doing that God feels so distant from us?”
The Path Back to Fellowship
This is the question we need to ask about our world today. God is still right where He has always been. He never moved, and He never changed the rules. Therefore, we must read His Word daily—to remind ourselves so that we can tell others.
If we feel disappointed in how God is “delivering” us in these days of chaos, we must realize it isn’t because God doesn’t want to. He longs for us to return to Him, to repent. We can only restore fellowship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ, denying ourselves, and taking up our crosses daily (Luke 9:23).
What are we waiting for?
