Psalm 89:1-4
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
And so the Israelites waited. They waited for the promise to be fulfilled. For the prophet like Moses. For the king whose reign would be unending. They waited through failure and strife. They waited through sorrow, through war, and through exile. They held closely to the promise of God because at times, that promise was all they had.
Even in the midst of their struggles, when the world was crumbling around them, when the consequences of their sins overwhelmed them, they could sing of this promise, of the goodness of a loving God who was faithful enough to deliver them.
And that’s why we still sing today. Even in the midst of immense suffering and pain. Even when our foes outnumber our friends. Even when the weight of our sin threatens to crush us underneath, we can still sing of the loving God who is faithful enough to deliver us, not by a king in a palace surrounded by servants, but by a child in a manger surrounded by shepherds.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
