April 23, 2015 – Thursday

Start Time:   9:00 AM

End Time:    9:53 AM

Title: A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. 

Scripture: Psalm 89:1 – 52

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Truly who is like the Lord?  Ethan the Ezrahite started his maskil with that thought.  Who is like the Lord?  He bagen by introducing God in praise...talking about His faithfulness, His love that stands firm forever; Why does Ethan say this?  Because God made a covenant with His chosen one, David, to establish David's line forever.  Note that Ethan, praise God because of a covenant that He has made with David, which impacts even his generation at that time.  And in reality, impacts our generation at this time.  That's how faithful God is and will always be.  The promise He made with Abraham, David, Jacob, and all the characters we heard in the Bible, those promises are still in effect even to our times today.  That's how faithful God is to us.  That alone should drive us to never let go of the Lord because of His love and faithfulness.  Indeed, there is none like Him!

The author then illustrated God's power in verse 9, how he can calm the waves, destroy Rahab (Rahab was known to be prostitute who hid the 2 spies of Joshua in  Jericho.  She belonged to an idolatrous people).  He spoke of God as the owner of heaven earth.  He has all power and His right hand is exalted.  He spoke of God's righteousness and justice as the foundation of His throne.  Love and faithfulness go before Him.  Those who have learned to acclaim Him is blessed and will rejoice in His Name.  Why?  Because He is their glory and strength.  Think about having your strength as the God who crushes Rahab or silences the waves of the sea?  Amazing!

In verse 19, the author spoke of God speaking in a vision about how He bestowed strength on a warrior and have raised up a young man from among the people...David.  Everything He spoke about David, it came to be.  His faithful love remained with David and struck down all his enemies.  God also spoke of David calling out to Him as his Father, God, the Rock, and his Savior.  And David did say or call God all those.  God even spoke of David's possibility of forsaking His law and what He intends to do.  All these things happened and I believe was happening during the time Ethan wrote this maskil. 

That's why in Verse 46, Ethan asked, how long Lord?  Will you hide yourself forever?  Then he cried out to God to remember His former great love, the faithfulness He swore with David.  And in the end, Ethan knew that God will not hide furthermore because of His promise...so in verse 52, Ethan spoke of what really matters at that time in his life, when things are falling apart, when God is nowhere to be found...Ethan ended his maskil with these words..."Praise be to the Lord forever!  Amen and Amen!"  Praise God in all situations, good or bad, worse or without hope!  Praise God at all times!

Prayer:

Lord what a heartwarming maskil from Ethan.  Truly, You are faithful and You do have such great love for us!  Thank You Lord because You showed me that You predicted everything as it is.  What's the point of leaving or going things my way when You have all the answers needed.  What's the point of walking my own path when everything leads to You?  What's the point of running away when security, assurance, protection, safety, prosperity, love, joy, and etc...belong to You alone?  There's no way than You Jesus.  Thank You for making me realized this.  Thank You for the life of Ethan who managed to praise You in the end despite of the difficulties of times.  Help me to have the same habit or practice.  Develop in me a habit of praise Lord.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!