Daily Devotional Podcasts

522_God’s covenant faithfulness Psalm 89 I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.” 3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah 5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! 6 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, 7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? 8 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? A little boy once asked his grandfather, “Grandpa, why do you always keep that old pocket watch in your pocket? It doesn’t even keep time properly anymore.” The grandfather smiled, took out the worn watch, and said, “This was given to me by your great-grandfather on the day I left home as a young man. It may not keep perfect time, but it reminds me of his love and his promise: that no matter where I went, I would always have a home to return to.” That watch, though imperfect as a timepiece, was a faithful reminder of an unchanging promise. In a far greater way, Psalm 89 points us to a God whose promises are not tarnished by time, nor weakened by circumstances. His covenant faithfulness endures, no matter what His people may face. Ethan the Ezrahite, who wrote this psalm, lived during a time of national calamity—perhaps after a crushing defeat at the hands of enemies. Yet, in the midst of that despair, Ethan anchors his song in the faithfulness of God, whose covenant with David was unshakable. He begins not with complaint, but with praise: “I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1). The word used here for steadfast love is hesed—God’s covenantal, loyal love. It is His unbreakable commitment to His people, reflecting His own character. Knowing that God’s mercy and faithfulness are everlasting should bring forth unending praise. He longs to make God’s faithful love known so that generations to come will also glorify God. In verses 5–14, the psalmist declares the majesty of God. “The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them” (v. 11). There is none like Him, in heaven or on earth. The universe was made by him and belongs to him. Yet greater far is God’s character as verse 14 says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” God rules not with tyranny or unpredictability, but with rich grace