Steady As He Goes

Psalm 89:8-18

8O LORD God Almighty!

Where is there anyone as mighty as you, LORD?

Faithfulness is your very character.

9You are the one who rules the oceans.

When their waves rise in fearful storms, you subdue them.

10You are the one who crushed the great sea monster.

You scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

11The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;

everything in the world is yours—you created it all.

12You created north and south.

Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon praise your name.

13Powerful is your arm!

Strong is your hand!

Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.

14Your throne is founded on two strong pillars—righteousness and justice.

Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.

15Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,

for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

16They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.

They exult in your righteousness.

17You are their glorious strength.

Our power is based on your favor.

18Yes, our protection comes from the LORD,

and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.

When the Israelites had to fight the fierce Amalekites, Joshua led the troops into battle, while Moses watched from a nearby hill. Whenever Moses raised his staff, the Israelite army succeeded. Whenever he lowered it, they started losing. Moses’ arms grew too tired to hold the staff, however, so Aaron and another man held his arms steady (Exodus 17:8-13).

In the original Hebrew, the word for “steady” in that story is the same word that appears in Psalm 89:8 as “faithfulness.” This word also appears as “faith” in Habakkuk 2:4, where the prophet denounces the proud people of his day: “They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith.”

This psalm recognizes that faithfulness is at the very core of God’s character. And it’s not just that he will try to do what he promises—he is mighty enough to do it. His arms are strong enough by themselves (see verse 13); he doesn’t need helpers to hold them up! The psalmist tosses around other characteristics of the Lord: righteousness and justice, unfailing love and truth. All of this combines to paint a portrait of a God you can count on—even when everything else in your life seems to be falling apart.

As we steadily trust in God’s steadiness and faithfulness, we find life, even when the powers of death surround us. He holds us up in his mighty arms, and he will not let us down.

Firm as His throne His promise stands,

And He can well secure

What I’ve committed to His hands

Till the decisive hour.

ISAAC WATTS

Bible Networking

For a look at the mighty right hand of God, read Exodus 15:6-12.

Notable Quotable

Alexander Maclaren believed that verse 15 should be paraphrased as: “Oh! How blessed are the people who are sure that they have God with them, and who, being sure, bow before Him in loving worship.”