The Promise Keeping King
Notes
Transcript
Intro - For 16 seasons the TV show “What would you do?” has created scenarios asking the exact same question, If you were faced with this how would you react? or What would you do?
We see some people ignore the situation and others act. Then the host appears to discuss why the people responded the way they did. It is a show that the viewer at home gets to armchair QB to death. I would do this and I would do that.
The person in the show was facing a reality, the people at home are facing a hypothetical situation. When the hypothetical becomes the reality we see truth of conviction in action.
Today we are looking at Psalm 89, a Psalm that is taking place not in a hypothetical scenario but in real life. In this Psalm we see how the Psalmist trusts in God’s promises and it challenges us with the question,
Do I trust in God’s promises in all circumstances or are they just hypothetical promises to me in the moment?
Psalm 89:1–4 (ESV)
1 I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.” 3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’ ” Selah
This Psalm has 52 verses and the first four that we just read give us a synopsis of the the first 37. From 38-51 we see the Psalmist talk about,
1. The Troubles of Life. (vs. 38-51)
Context:
Reign of Rehoboam
Beginning of Exile
We don’t know exactly when but we do know the feelings of the people in this moment.
People are depressed
Country is ridiculed by the other nations
Edge of Death
Abandoned by God
Circumstances cause questions.
Question #20 of the Baptist Catechism says,
Q. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery (Rom. 5:12).
When we see the conditions of this Psalm, we see the conditions of misery and sin, and we relate to them greatly is because our world has misery because of sin. This is why when we read verses like these they strike a cord with us. We know and feel the brokenness of the world that they speak of, but we as Christians must be careful to not think the solution to sin and misery is found in more “good things”.
No amount of education, social programs, love/tolerance, etc will heal our world. You cannot fix a sin problem with good works or emotional expressions. That might temporarily deal with a consequence of sin or make people feel better about what they are seeing but, the Bible says there is only one answer, Redemption.
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
GOSPEL - Sting of death now and the redemption of all later.
If this truly is our current state until the Final Restoration takes place, how should we live today? We do what the Psalmist did, we,
2. Stand on God’s Promises. (vs. 1-37)
Promises of God’s Character. (1-18)
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, 7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? 8 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?
11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
Why is it important to trust in the promises of God’s Character?
10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
The author of Hebrews is quoting Psalm 102 to expose Christ as God the Son possessing all the attributes of God in the OT and one is that God’s Character does not change. In his book, Knowing God, JI Packer says,
Knowing God 7 God Unchanging
Strain, or shock, or a lobotomy, can alter the character of a person, but nothing can alter the character of God. In the course of a human life, tastes and outlook and temper may change radically: a kind, equable person may turn bitter and crotchety; a person of good will may grow cynical and callous. But nothing of this sort happens to the Creator. He never becomes less truthful, or merciful, or just, or good than he used to be. The character of God is today, and always will be, exactly what it was in Bible times.
The promise that God does not change allows us to trust in His Character when our circumstances change and overwhelm us.
Promises of God’s Rule (19-37)
26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’ 27 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. 28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him. 29 I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.
The Psalmist is writing of the promise of the Covenant and that the line of David will not be snuffed out or the Covenantal promise broken.
This king is in the line of David from 2 Sam. 7 and we know that this is speaking of Jesus.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Now we see that the Psalmist is not saying these things and changing his mind but establishing his foundation before he exposes his circumstances. We must see this pattern and take it to heart.
Our Circumstances can cause us to wander away from God’s promises or walk toward God’s promises.
What our feet are standing on will determine which way we go.
We will either believe in the Character and Rule of Christ and take His promises as reality or we will take His promises as hypothetical because we believe in the authority of our circumstances more than Character and Rule of Christ.
Q - What has your past pattern looked like?
Q - What needs to Change?
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
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