Daily Devotion – December 16, 2020 – Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
89:1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
89:2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
89:3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
89:4 ‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.'” Selah
89:19 Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said: “I have set the crown on one who is mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people.
89:20 I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him;
89:21 my hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.
89:22 The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.
89:23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
89:24 My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
89:25 I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
89:26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’
This psalm exalting King David is a little bit like the verses from Romans for this week: they both talk about the power and glory of a big God who takes an interest in little human beings and who helps them flourish.
This is amazing theology. We humans aren’t just instrumental to God’s amusement, as humans were to the Greek and Roman gods, who used people as pawns in their larger power games. Our God instead loves us, helps us thrive, makes covenants and promises to us and does not let us down. We let God down plenty, but God never abandons God’s promises and covenants with us.
So the psalmist talks about God’s faithfulness and the blessings that ensue to King David as a result. Even when David did wrong, God was faithful to him and blessed him. Was there ever such a loving god before?
Do we take God’s love for granted? I don’t know why we should. It is really something to consider that the creator and shaper of the universe should care one little bit about me and my world. Thinking about that size and power difference a little could affect how we pray. Praise and amazement is where we might start, not with a list of what we need most. If we lived under the rule of an earthly king, a benefactor we would petition if we needed anything, isn’t that how we would start?
“I just want to say how awed I am to be allowed to come into your presence, Lord. You are the creator of heaven and earth. I want to praise your very name, but my words are too small. Yet I believe you care what I think, what I need, who is dear to me, and what keeps me awake at night. How amazing is that?”
Many of our prayers might begin and end right there. And that wouldn’t be bad at all, would it?
Gracious God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for being so large and powerful we almost can’t conceive of it, yet caring what keeps us up at night. Help us to see and deliver to you what you want from us. Amen.
