Saturday, November 8, 2014

THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - November 8, 2014 - Day 89 - Psalm 89


Can you lose your salvation? One of the most argued theologies of the church. I have been reading and studying God's Word for a great many years. I did not attend a seminary nor a Bible college, though a few years ago I did spend 3 years in an online Biblical Counseling program, but by then my basic theological views had been mostly built. They were built upon only one thing; God's Word and His Holy Spirit's teaching. For years I studied God's Word not even thinking about theology but in the process discovered I had a theology. I do not believe you can lose your salvation because I do not believe that when scripture is read from cover to cover and interpreted in that way it is clear salvation is by faith alone and that faith does not come from self but from God. Psalm 89 supports this position. It opens with the covenant with God made with David.

Psalm 89:1-4
A MASKIL OF ETHAN THE EZRAHITE. I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, "Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness." You have said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 'I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.' " Selah

The throne spoken of here is the throne of Christ.

Because of God’s faithfulness we, like the psalmist, can praise God no matter our situation.

Psalm 89:5-13
Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name. You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.

When Jesus died for us He satisfied the penalty we owed for our sinfulness. God is holy and God is just. Without the imputed righteousness of Christ we cannot enter into His presence. Blessed are we who call on the name of Jesus.

Psalm 89:14-16
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.

Our salvation is of Him.

Psalm 89:17-18
For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

God chose David from whose line the Messiah would come.

Psalm 89:19-21
Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said: "I have granted help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.

When God makes a promise He keeps it.

Psalm 89:26-29
He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.' And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him. I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.

God knew David was a sinner. God knows we are too. But our salvation is not based on what we do; it is based on what Christ did. That does not mean we are free to sin.

Psalm 89:30-32
If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes,

God will discipline us, but watch what comes next.

Psalm 89:33-34
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.

God cannot lie. God cannot break promises. Our salvation is built on His work not ours.

Psalm 89:35-37
Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David. His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me. Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies." Selah

Sometimes our sin will bring separation from God and we will be like Israel and wander the desert. Proverbs 3:11-12  and Hebrews  12:6 remind us saying, “My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”

We might be in the desert but God has not deserted us. The psalmist ends this psalm in a difficult period. He cries out to God.

Psalm 89:46
How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?

The answer to that is to confess and repent.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The psalmist ends with praise as it should.

Psalm 89:52
Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.

If you are struggling and feel as if God has deserted you because of your sin take hope. You did not save yourself and the power of salvation does not lie in you. Confess and repent and be restored. Remember the Words of God as He made the covenant by which you are saved.

“I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.”

Then read the great story of the prodigal son as told in Luke 15:11-32. God will welcome you back even if you’ve been living with the pigs. He will run to meet you, for His grace is amazing. And it’s bigger than your sin.


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