Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
Verse 2I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
Verse 3You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
Verse 4'I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.'" Selah
Verse 15Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance;
Verse 16they exult in your name all day long, and extol your righteousness.
Verse 17For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.
Verse 18For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.
Devotion
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Thus declares the psalmist. In the Bible, steadfast love and faithfulness are numbered among the primary attributes of God, part and parcel of who God is, of the very essence of God.
What a marked contrast from humankind! We tend to love as long as our love is returned in the ways that we wish. We tend to keep our promises for as long as it is convenient and are masters at finding or creating loopholes that allow us to justify reneging on the promises we have made.
What blessed good news it is to hear and to know that our salvation does not depend on our ability to love steadfastly or on our faithfulness! Instead we can rely on the faithfulness of the One who has promised, the One whose steadfast love never fails.
Prayer
Dear God, we thank and praise you for your steadfast love and faithfulness. Build our faith and help us to trust in you. Amen.