Joyful Prayer in the Midst of Trouble

“I will sing of the LORD’s unfailing love forever!
Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.
Your unfailing love will last forever.
Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens” (Psalm 89:1-2).

In the midst of his anguish, the psalmist (Ethan) begins his prayer with praise and worship. He recounts God’s majesty, power, mercy, faithfulness, and covenant that David’s descendants would reign as kings forever. Jesus is a descendant of David.

“And he will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
I will make him my firstborn son, the mightiest king on earth.
I will love him and be kind to him forever; my covenant with him will never end” (Psalm 89:26-28).

Ethan remembers that God’s covenant of blessing had a condition: if Israel disobeyed God’s decrees and commandments, He would discipline them.

“But I will never stop loving him nor fail to keep my promise to him” (Psalm 89:33).

Israel disobeyed God, and God threw Israel’s “crown in the dust” (Psalm 89:39).

Some think that Ethan was the same person as Jeduthun who was a musician during David’s reign, noted for his wisdom during Solomon’s reign, and living during the troubled times of Rehoboam. Others think that the psalm was written during Babylonian captivity. Both times were a result of Israel’s rejection of God.

Ethan details his complaint to God and asks God how long this will continue (verse 46).

Abruptly, Ethan ends, “Praise the LORD forever! Amen and amen!” (Psalm 89:52).

Many of the psalms begin with recounting the sufferings of the psalmist or people and as the psalmist begins to focus on God’s majesty, power, and lovingkindness, the psalmist ends in praise.

Yet, heavy-hearted Ethan came to God with worship and praise on his lips first, despite his grief.

“… we must, in every thing, in every state, give thanks; thus we must glorify the Lord in the fire. We think, when we are in trouble, that we get ease by complaining; but we do more-we get joy, by praising.” Matthew Henry

What if we wrapped our prayers and requests to God with praise and worship?
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Do you think, like Paul, we would rejoice always as we walk in the light of the Lord’s presence?

Holy Lord God Almighty, Your Word is Truth. By Your Word, the world was created. By Your hands, You formed man and woman. By Your great love, You sent Your only-begotten Son into the world as the world’s Savior. You are faithful and merciful. We are sinners, and yet, You still love us. We turn from our sins and back to You. We seek Your face, Lord. Forgive us. Heal our land. “Praise the LORD forever! Amen and amen!