Does God sometimes seem “deaf or blind or absent or afar,” so that you doubt His faithfulness? Circumstances can wear us down; they did some of the writers of the psalms, and God included their musings in His word to warn us and encourage us. Today’s psalms are wonderful reminders of God’s faithfulness.
Do you see Jesus in Psalm 89? “What man can live forever and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?” The only possible answer is “No one.” But Jesus! He changes everything! So where is God’s steadfast love of old which by His faithfulness He swore to David? The psalmist didn’t see it happening at that moment in his life, but can you see how senseless it is for him to imply that God is not faithful because of the present circumstances in which he finds himself? Our present circumstances are not the end of the story any more than his circumstances were. God’s faithfulness to fulfill the promises of which this writer spoke, was demonstrated in ancient history; does that give you hope in His faithfulness to fulfill His good promises to you?
When the writer of Psalm 96 tells the reader to sing a new song to the Lord, what does that imply? I encourage you to think about it. Is God doing new things in your life and heart on a regular basis? The psalmist gives us many reasons to praise God: new works He’s doing, His day-to-day salvation, His glory, His marvelous works among men, His splendor and majesty and strength, and (one of my favorite reasons to praise Him) His promise to judge all people in righteousness and faithfulness.
While you are reviewing the praiseworthy works of God in these psalms, I encourage you to consider what praiseworthy works He has done in your life, both of old and those new works. Could you offer Him your own psalm of praise today? Perhaps it can be something you think about throughout the day.