Psalm 89 was written by Ethan the Ezrahite. He was – like Solomon – one of the wisest men who ever lived (cf., 1 Kings 4:31). This Psalm is a worship Psalm - one that exalts, praises, and glorifies our God by acknowledging His majesty and faithfulness. It proclaims His awesome uniqueness. Our reading for today incorporates verses 1-8, in which the writer states that his definite intention is “to sing of the LORD’s great love forever” (verse 1). Three times in the first two verses, the Psalmist replies “I will … sing … I will make your faithfulness known, and … I will declare your love.” This is his response to the Lord’s expressed will in verse 4, where God says, “I will establish your line forever” (cf., verses 1-4). In verse 5, the Psalmist says that “the heavens praise God’s wonders and faithfulness” even to “the assembly of the holy ones.” Then he raises two rhetorical questions: “Who can compare with the LORD?” and “Who is like you?” (verses 6-8). None can compare, and none is like Him. Within all the range of praise to God - from the lowest forms of creation (i.e., the inanimate rocks) to the highest intelligences (i.e., angels) – only man has the eccentric freedom and folly of will – to reject God and to refrain from praising Him. What does that reveal about us? Sin has made us aberrant among all the creation. We would do well to meditate often on this Psalm.
In Hosea 10:1-11:11, we see God’s patience with deceitful Israel (verse 2) - marked by the people's various sins of rejection against God (verse 3); idolatry (verse 5); taking false oaths (verse 4); making evil alliances (verse 4), etc. Hosea pointed out that “idolatry – especially on the ‘high places’ – is the sin of Israel” (verse 8). In other words, Israel was known and defined by idolatry. Furthermore, Hosea accurately prophesied Israel’s situation when the people would say, “We have no king” (verse 3). This statement has a three-fold meaning: [1] ironically, after demanding that God give them a king, it indicates their chaotic lack of a current, legitimate ruler because they did not revere the LORD (verse 3); God took away their king. [2] It foreshadows their future rejection of Christ as their King (cf., John 19:15); and [3] it describes Israel’s present condition today. Moreover, Hosea correctly prophesied Israel’s “exile to Assyria” (verses 5-6). God says, “I will punish them when I please” (verse 10). Yet, we see the love and faithfulness of God in chapter 11 when He promises to restore them to their land.
In Romans 8:18-39, Paul explains that sin’s consequences have affected the entire universe which is “groaning and waiting for its liberation from the bondage of sin” (verses 19-21). However, Paul’s point is that – like Israel in Hosea’s day – we have a glorious “hope” ahead of us (verse 24). We “wait eagerly for our adoption and patiently for our redemption” (verses 23-25). A restoration of all things is coming, and “God works for the good of all those who love Him” (verse 28). He has “called us according to His purposes” (verse 28). Because God has promised to make all things new again, and because He keeps us faithfully and safely in His hands, what can man do to us? “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (verse 31). Nothing – not trouble, nor hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword – can separate us from the love of Christ” (verse 35). This is a wonderful chapter in which Paul tells us that we can expect a future where we will be secure forever with the Lord.
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