I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1
This verse makes a wonderful chorus; we all love to sing it! Its Hebrew author would no doubt be pleased to learn that this verse has made sweet music in English. Ethan the Ezrahite wrote this Psalm. What was Ethan like? Although scripture tells us little about him, he was noted as a wise man, one of the few in Israel against whom Solomon’s great wisdom could be compared. He was a great counsellor in Israel in the days of both David and Solomon. He was undoubtedly a godly man, as evidenced by the wonderful Psalm that he gives us. His name means strong and optimistic, solid and enduring, or permanent. After the sorrowful and grief-stricken account of the Messiah’s suffering, written by Ethan’s near kinsman Heman in the previous Psalm, this 89th Psalm is exalting and comforting. Ethan begins by remarking on God’s mercy and faithfulness.
Well might we sing of the mercies of the Lord! His mercies that are new every morning have preserved our souls from Hell and have preserved our feet from going further astray than we are. We cannot enumerate or describe the extent of the mercies of God… if we sing of these mercies forever, we will indeed have an eternal, worthwhile, and exciting occupation.
Do we sing of God’s great mercies daily? Or do we sing of other things. Are our CDs and iPods filled with the world’s empty and dirty ditties or with praise for our Lord?
Ethan does not refer to merely speaking of God’s faithfulness, he speaks of making God’s faithfulness known, to telling others who may not be aware. Ethan over these centuries has reminded us of God’s faithfulness in this lovely Psalm. What about us over the last few weeks? Who have we told about God’s faithfulness to us and faithfulness and mercies available to those who do not yet know Him?
Read Ethan’s lovely Psalm. Be reminded of God’s mercies and faithfulness. And tell others. – Jim MacIntosh