Psalm 89:1-29: A Promise Long Made, Finally Fulfilled

Lectionary Cycle Year B: Fourth Sunday in Advent
Psalm 89:1-29 (Read it on Bible Gateway)
A Promise Long Made, Finally Fulfilled
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The selection from this Psalm, for this fourth Sunday in Advent, naturally seems to be a perfect lead-in for Christmas. It has clear Messianic overtones, with its focus on God's promise to the line of King David, to be established as the King of Kings, and to rule forever. This is a promise we Christians believe was ultimately fulfilled in the coming of Christ, who was born of David's line. However, this is one of those Scriptures that has an interesting context to it we may not realize unless we dig a little deeper, so let's do just that.

First, what is this covenant between God and David and his line? The Covenant itself traces back to the beginning of David's reign and can be found in II Samuel 7:8-16.

Remember, Israel was a very young nation and an even younger Kingdom. The people of Israel had grown into a multitude during generations of slavery in Egypt. God finally delivered them from that slavery in the Exodus event, as Moses led the people to freedom. They then dwelt in exile forty years in the wilderness before they were finally able to enter the Promised Land that God had given them. However, that settlement involved conflict with those who lived there, and a slow and painful establishment of their own control of the territory.

Israel, in its earliest history was properly a Theocracy, with no formal government. Initial leaders were known as Judges and were those chosen by God to deal with specific situations and who then faded from the spotlight. A large step for the nation was taken when God selected Saul as King and had him anointed, thus establishing a central government that could be recognized by other nations. However, the crown did not rest easy on King Saul, his reign was plagued with continued violence, and ended with his insanity and death.

David was chosen by God as Saul's successor and with his reign the nation achieved an unparalleled prosperity. They were victorious against their enemies, firmly established themselves in the eyes of other lands, increased their security and began to build the infrastructure that would allow the nation to continue to prosper into the future. There was no doubt that David was well chosen by God as he is still seen as the greatest king of Israel in her history.

As the reading in Samuel points out, God had made a promise to establish David's line forever. Now, we as Christians, as we look to the birth of Christ, find in the Gospels a lineage (see Matthew 1:1-17) that was included to show that Jesus was descended from the House of David. This was in part to establish Christ's credentials as Messiah, since prophecy stated that the Messiah would come from "the stump of Jesse" or David's line.

However, the part of the Psalm we read in this selection is only about half of the entire passage and the rest of the chapter takes an interesting turn. This Psalm was actually composed sometime after the fall of the House of David, possibly after the attack on Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar and his exiling King Jehoiachin in 597 BCE. This traumatic event represented the fall of David's line that would never (politically at least) be re-established again.

In other words, this is not a Psalm of praise and celebration; instead it is one of mourning and shock. The verses we read in this selection are the prelude to the actual prayer of the Psalm, establishing why the petitioning psalmist feels they can confront God with this injustice. The rest of the Psalm is a cry out as the House of David is shattered and mocked by its enemies. The Psalmist is asking God why this has been allowed to happen, why it was not prevented.

Indeed, the reason Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would come from the "stump of Jesse" (who was David's father) is because David's line, his family tree, was cut off. While it continued in blood, it's reign and greatness was lost.

It can be helpful to remember the fullness of this and to reflect on both sides because there is a deeper message here. God does keep God's promises, though often not in the way or the time we may expect. This line, lost for many, many years, would be returned to an even greater rule in the form of the Messiah, Jesus the Christ. Yet, he would not rule, nor be crowned king in a political realm and would instead be the chosen to bring us to the Heavenly Kingdom.

As we approach Christmas and remember the birth of Christ, we all move into a time of increased reflection, heartfelt emotion, and sentimentality. For some Christmas is a time of joy, the celebration of blessings, the fulfillment of dreams, the gathering of loved ones. For others Christmas is a time of sorrow, sometimes loneliness and sometimes a recognition or remembrance of loss. It is an important thing to remember God is there with us in the midst of both, and sometimes, the greatest blessing, the fulfilled promise can come at a time and in a way we least expect.


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