REFLECTION ON PSALM 89….

When God blesses His children, He acts without any iota of limitation or moderation. God’s blessings are out of proportion, and beyond comprehension. He turns a barren old man into the father of many nations. He takes a shepherd boy and transforms him into a mighty king with an everlasting throne. He takes a bunch of fishermen from a Palestine town and set them on 12 thrones around the glorious throne of Christ for all of eternity (Matthew 19:28).

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, please be prepared to be lavished with mind-boggling blessings of gargantuan proportions – particularly in eternity. Be prepared to be rewarded and thrilled beyond your wildest imagination. Psalm 89:6-18 outlines the awesome dimension of God’s power, mercy, and faithfulness in keeping His eternal promises to His children.

All these sound great! But if God is powerful, merciful and faithful enough to bless us so mightily, why are we going through so much pain and suffering today? Whereas Psalm 89 gives no specific answer to this vexing question, it, however, explores the theme of this mystery in sublime details. The passage casts God’s awesome promises against the background of intense pain and shame.

And this is one of the first things that strike us as we meditate on Psalm 89 – the striking dual tone of the passage. The first part (verses 1- 37) very heart-warming, and the second part (verses 38 – 51) very gloomy. The first part is a revelation of the mind of God (His goal, His plan, His purpose). The second part is the experience of the recipient of the blessing on earth. God’s purpose is very lofty, but man’s experience on earth is very gloomy!

LESSON: Never, ever equate the experience you are going through with God’s plan for your life. You may be suffering in pain and shame today, but behind the scenes, God may be working out an eternal destiny that will outshine and outlast millions of stars – ALL YOURS!

All that those around you can see today is your story – they cannot see the glory that awaits the end of your story. And so, many may laugh at you today, but as long as you hold on to God, you will DEFINITELY laugh last and loudest. While their mockery will end here, your joy will last throughout all eternity.

The dual-tone of Psalm 89 is a vivid reminder of how God has chosen to relate with mankind. The concept of night coming before day. Pain coming before gain. THE CROSS coming before THE CROWN (2 Timothy 2:12). In the Old Testament, we see God leading the children of Israel to a land that flowed with MILK and HONEY – yet they passed through a difficult place of thirst (Exodus 17:3). In the New Testament, God ‘has BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in heavenly places in Christ’ (Ephesians 1:3) – yet we are clearly told that “we must through MUCH TRIBULATION enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Do you see the pattern?

Here is the best example. Our Lord Jesus Christ. There was no place for Him to be born at the inn, so He was born in an animal’s stable. Life for Jesus Christ started on the bed of an animal! Yet, today, He is highly exalted at the right hand of God with a name that is above every other name. It is a pattern. With God, pain comes before gain. THE CROSS comes before THE CROWN.

Do not despair at ANY cross that you bear today. Your crown is secure in Him. All you have to do is just to believe. In the place of intense despair and suffering, keep waiting for His promise. Keep trusting. Keep praising. “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father…” (Ephesians 5:20). Also, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God…” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). The admonition to give thanks ALWAYS for EVERYTHING is not an advice! It is a reflection of the divine reality that GOD IS WORKING SOMETHING OUT FOR YOU.

It is not about what you see today – it is ALL about what God is doing behind the scenes for you. Psalm 89 starts with a song, and ends with a doxology – in spite of all the pain and shame. Let this be your pattern too. Believe God, and sing His praises however dark the night is. At the appointed time, your joy will come in the morning.

GOD NEVER FAILS.

Thanks for reading, God bless.