In this last of the Leviticus book of Psalms. Ethan was concerned that the things happening to Israel made it seem like God was going back on His covenant with David’s royal line. He knew God kept His promises, so he reviewed, with a sense of reverence, the fact of God’s honor and that it must be kept intact. He is mourning for the downfall of David’s kingdom and prays for it to be restored. Creation, morality, faithfulness, love, grace, and mercy were all evidence of how God looked at His people, but it seemed like God was hiding from them.
When Ethan wrote this psalm, it didn’t seem to him like God was even with them. Adversaries had conquered them. Their capital city was ruined. David's throne was empty, and the psalm seemed to mourn the downfall of David's kingly line. It didn’t seem like the Lord was even around. But despite all that, the psalm begins with honoring God and His faithfulness to His people. The psalmist emphasizes the faithfulness of God. The covenant between God and David was also stressed because of its importance to both who made the covenant as they looked ahead.
The lovingkindness of God toward His people never has to be doubted, even when events happening to us seem to be almost overwhelming because of the difficulties. God has always been faithful to His own. It may seem to us that He should keep any evil intention against us by enemies entirely away from us, and that we should be able to go through life unscathed or walk in an Eden-like life through a wicked world. The valley of the shadow of death is not just at the end of our lives when we are drawing our last breath. This is the valley in which we live. In this valley, the Lord is with us and does not abandon us; He is faithful to us in His love and power. God’s power in creation, creation’s joy in God, and righteousness and faithfulness in ruling His people should never be doubted by those who have their joy in Him.
It is always right to honor God in every situation we encounter. This is our primary obligation. In every event of life God allows us to experience, there are ways for us to testify to His unfailing love, His universal power, His absolute righteousness, and His faithfulness. The psalmist speaks of the covenant God made with David, and then there is a song of praise to the Lord, testifying to all these things. The character of God is evident in all that He does. Mercy, faithfulness – every holy character trait of our God, and every wonder in creation declares the glory of God. In all He does, His reputation is on the line. When He forms covenants, makes promises, and takes action, who He is and His trustworthiness are there to see.
As His children, we need to remember those same things are expected of us within the limits of our humanity. Am I a merciful person? If so, I will obtain mercy. Is my love genuine and without any dissimulation? Then, what I do will show evidence of how I value others. Is my word able to be trusted? Do I keep my promises? If so, people may listen to my testimony regarding my Savior and salvation. God’s faithfulness exceeds His power and control over the universe and His creation. He has opened His heart and abundant grace to us and given us what we need from His fullness. Such faithfulness toward us should bring praise and thanks to us from our hearts. Our redemption came from such a faithful God.
The covenant God made with David is introduced in v.19. He was anointed and sustained by God, who told how He would deal with David’s enemies, enlarge his kingdom, and make him king first among other kings. His kingdom will last forever, which has not yet happened, but will be fulfilled when our Lord Jesus Christ reigns. Those promises centered on the Lord Jesus Christ, who will keep that covenant with God on behalf of David because He came to earth from David’s lineage. God’s covenant was with David and those who came after him in his lineage, to which our Lord Jesus Christ came. The promise of that kingship will be fulfilled when He returns in glory to sit on David’s throne.
This part of the psalm recounts the covenant terms when Nathan, the prophet, instituted the covenant as the spokesperson for the Lord and His servant. “Thou art My son, this day have I begotten thee,” was spoken first to Israel [Ex. 4:22]. Then, it relates to David and the Lord Jesus, the ultimate covenant fulfillment. Our Lord Jesus is the “firstborn” – the One given all authority. He is higher than earthly kings. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” “He was found in fashion as a man. He was humiliated when He was here on earth. He died a death of sacrifice on our behalf. He was raised from among the dead as the first begotten. He has ascended into heaven and, in the future, will be exalted among all men on earth, even in the place of His greatest humiliation and suffering.
David’s physical posterity has failed to keep the terms of the covenant God made with him. But God has established His kingdom on righteousness and justice, and that kingdom will not fail. God chose David to lead His people in this way. Those who led in an unjust and unfaithful way individually suffer under the justice of a holy God. Unfortunately, this affected and infected the whole nation when such leaders followed the wrong way. Consequently, Israel is still suffering from their failure. Ethan appeals to God to take action on Israel’s behalf in a way their enemies can see. He bluntly said that the reproach on Israel, which claims to have a God who can be trusted, made it look to observers that their God cannot be trusted to deliver them. Ethan was saying that God should do something about that. And God will, in His way and time.
Even though it sounds like God is done with His people from verses 29-32 because they were not faithful to Him, He remains the same faithful God. God testifies to that Himself. His faithfulness can be counted on no matter what things might be like around His people. His “Faithful Witness” can be counted on even though His people chose to go away from Him, and when He came to His own, they would not receive Him. God’s present rejection of David’s son (Israel) and the consequences of neglecting and rejecting the terms of Israel’s covenant with God. Then there is a prayer to God asking Him to remember His covenant with David, despite their failure. It includes an awareness of the shortness of life, the limitations of humanity, and our dependence on God.
Only God can make what we do significant because we do not know how short our time is. Divine characteristics should be seen in the children of God. When they are missing, there is a reflection cast on the ability and authority of God because of our failure. When our spiritual strength and glory are evident by the Spirit of God, the testimony's power cannot be denied. God never broke faith with His people, even though they did with Him. Evil and exile were the result of the children of Israel going their own way and the way of the world around them. God always keeps His promises to judge evil, carry out justice, and punish evildoers. He is always consistent with His word, and His promises are reliable. But the glories of His divine personhood remain. So, in grace, He demonstrates His character, faithfulness, righteousness, holiness, and longsuffering as we wait for the glories of His coming kingdom. And we, too, say, “Blessed be the Lord forevermore. Amen and Amen.”