This post is an excerpt from Stand Strong, a six-week Bible study from Bible Studies for Life. Learn more about this curriculum and preview one month for free at biblestudiesforlife.com.
God’s Promise of Faithfulness
Psalm 89 is a fresh reminder of the greatness of our God. It also highlights His closeness. Knowing God is mighty, great, and powerful should cause us to shout for joy—not to mention knowing that He’s ready to put every one of those attributes to work for us. God is there for us because of His love. His faithful love. Even in the midst of our worst pain, we can find joy in God’s power and closeness to us.
When I was in middle school, a friend told me a girl in my class actually liked me. As you can imagine, this was a pretty big deal for an awkward middle-school kid, and it caused me to crow a bit. I was pretty happy about the situation, and I wanted everybody else to know about it. Why? Because I wanted to make sure everyone knew somebody out there valued me.
Psalm 89:1-2 leads us to recognize that God’s love is something to shout about. And His love isn’t just some middle-school type of love. Nor is God’s love the self-centered kind we see through movies and television. Instead, it’s a love that never fails. The God of the universe sees value in you! His love for you goes to the end of the universe and back.
In our culture, we are relentlessly bombarded with superficial relationships that are readily tossed away over seemingly insignificant conflicts and misunderstandings. But God’s love for us will never end, no matter what we do.
The psalmist wrote in verse 1 that he would forever tell the world of God’s faithfulness. The Hebrew word for “faithfulness” used in this verse is emuwnah, which means “firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, and steadiness.” In other words, God’s love will always remain strong, will always remain steady, and most importantly, will always remain!
We see God’s faithfulness in His rule over heaven. In verse 2, the writer penned, “You establish Your faithfulness in the heavens.” Since God’s sovereign rule over the universe is consistent and steadfast, we certainly can count on Him in our own lives. God’s faithful rule over all creation means He can be trusted with whatever we’re facing.
The God who created this breathtaking universe is the same God who loves you. Even as the heavens call His people to celebrate God’s glory and power, His faithful love should also be the cause of great celebration. Psalm 89:5-8 shows us the universe declares God’s faithfulness even as it declares His awesome power.
We all need reminders of how much God values us and love us. What will you do this week to reflect on God’s faithfulness? Consider the following suggestions:
- Choose forgiveness. God will never break His promise or let us down, but we can’t say the same for people. When someone breaks his or her word in the coming days, choose to forgive that person rather than marinating in bitterness and disappointment.
- Note God’s faithfulness. Make a daily habit of writing down how God has blessed you each day. Keep a journal of God’s faithfulness as a constant reminder that God will never let you down.
- Share God’s faithfulness. Do you know someone who is struggling with faith because of the trials in his or her life? Use the principles found in Psalm 89 to help you serve as a witness and testimony of God’s faithfulness and love. Find those individuals who need to be encouraged and tell them what a mighty God we serve. Let your story be a reminder of God’s faithfulness.
“I promise.” You can be sure that people will let you down—even those you love and trust. But not God. His promises are a trusted foundation on which you can stand every day of your life.
Excerpted from Jonathan Falwell, Bible Studies for Life: Stand Strong © 2017 Lifeway Press®. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®. Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
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