August 21, 2009
ADD A DOXOLOGY, PLEASE! a WHAT?
Psalm 89:38–52
Kalen Mainord
Central Truth
At the end of the day, God gets the glory. Our circumstances, questions, and emotions aside, God is worthy of our praise—not because we feel like giving it, but because He deserves it!
Key Verse | Psalm 89:52
The Lord deserves praise forevermore!
We agree! We agree!
(Psalm 89:52)
Psalm 89:38–52
38
But now you have cast off and rejected;
you are full of wrath against your anointed.
39
You have renounced the covenant with your servant;
you have defiled his crown in the dust.
40
You have breached all his walls;
you have laid his strongholds in ruins.
41
All who pass by plunder him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42
You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43
You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
and you have not made him stand in battle.
44
You have made his splendor to cease
and cast his throne to the ground.
45
You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with shame. Selah
46
How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?
47
Remember how short my time is!
For what vanity you have created all the children of man!
48
What man can live and never see death?
Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah
49
Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,
which by your faithfulness you swore to David?
50
Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked,
and how I bear in my heart the insults
1
89:50
Hebrew lacks the insults
of all the many nations,
51
with which your enemies mock, O LORD,
with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.
52
Blessed be the LORD forever!
Amen and Amen.
Dive Deeper | Psalm 89:38–52
At first glance through this passage, I thought the psalmist's last words in verse 52 seemed oddly inserted—not wrong, just out of line with the tone of the previous verses. While this psalm speaks to circumstances involving King David, I paraphrased this section of Scripture as something a parent might hear from a child, generally with a slight whine in his voice or hint of exasperation in his tone: "But, Mom! You said . . . . And look how it's working out now! Aren't you going to do something? Anything? Don't you see? Are you paying attention? I don't have all day . . . and in case you haven't noticed, I'm hurt over here." Then suddenly with boldness, the child interrupts himself, "Mom, you're the greatest!"
What?! Unlike the above paraphrase, these verses are not a childish rant suddenly reversed by impulsive clarity of mind. This is biblical poetry that concludes with a doxology, (i.e., "a hymn or verse in Christian liturgy glorifying God," Wordnet Dictionary). The Psalms are an expression of real emotion and truth as it relates to our God.
"The Lord deserves praise forevermore! We agree! We agree!" (Psalm 89:52) This doxology closes the third book within the Psalms, declaring God worthy of praise. My first impression was wrong. Recognizing and acknowledging God for who He is, in spite of current circumstances, is not out of place—it is the perfect poetic ending!
As I strive to pursue Christ and His ways, I have many questions and experience a wide range of emotions. Some I am proud of, and some I am not. At the end of the day, however, Jesus Christ deserves my praise because of who He is and what He has accomplished for me on the cross. Because of Him, I am a new creation with hope and promise of an eternal future. So, to the liturgy that is my life—add a doxology, please!
Discussion Questions
1. If you were to record your thoughts and prayers for a period of time, would they be punctuated with appropriate praise for God throughout? How about when times were tough or questions were going unanswered?
2. Do you trust God with your circumstances and emotions? Will you give Him glory in spite of them?
3. Can you stop right now and close this minute, this hour, this chapter of your life, with recognition of who God is according to Scripture?