Psalm 89:7-18 – WHY REVERENCE?
Psalm 89:7 – God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
Most commentators think that this verse is referring to a Heavenly scene with the Angels being the “holy ones” or saints mentioned here. And this is probably true.
But if God is to be reverenced by all those that are about Him that would also apply to those of us who know the Lord Jesus as our Savior. We are “about him” because we are the temple of God. 1 Corinthians 6:19
In Psalm 9:7-18 I found some of the reasons why Christians should reverence God.
WE SHOULD REVERENCE GOD BECAUSE HE IS STRONG – Vss. 8-10, 13
Vs. 8 – Nobody is stronger than God!
Psalm 89:9 – Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
There are at least two times in the Bible when God stilled the ragging sea.
· When God parted the Red Sea so the Children of Israel could go across.
· When Jesus stood up in the boat and calmed the Sea of Galilee.
And Jesus still calms the ragging seas of our anxiety today, if we but let Him. He is strong enough to give us peace through any difficulty.
Vs. 10 – Rahab is a term used to refer to Egypt.
Hebert Lockyer says that “Rahab” means both “Strength” and “pride”. Heberbert Lockyer, Psalms: A Devotional Commentary (Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids Michigan, 1993), pgs. 300-301
Egypt was both a strong and proud nation.
But God is stronger.
The same sea God calmed to protect Israel, was the same sea that was unleashed on Pharaoh and his army.
And just think. No enemy of God can stand against His strength. Even Satan is no match for God and is doomed to defeat!
Psalm 89:13 – Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
God is pictured with a mighty arm, strong hand, and a powerful right hand.
Our problem is we don’t remember how strong God is when we worship. And we don’t remember how strong God is when we face troubles. Jeremiah 32:17
WE SHOULD REVERENCE GOD BECAUSE HE OWNS EVERYTHING – Vss. 11-12
Psalm 89:11 – The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
How much should we worship God because He owns all the stars and the planets!
And how much more should we worship God because He owns the whole world.
God particularly owns the Christian. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Psalm 89:12 – The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
Tabor and Hermon were mountains east and west of Israel. So, God was saying that everything, going east, west, north, south, was created by Him.
WE SHOULD REVERENCE GOD BECAUSE OF HIS CHARACTER – Vs. 14
Psalm 89:14 – Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
The word justice means “righteousness”.
God is righteous.
He can always be counted on to do what is right.
Because God is righteous, his judgments are accurate.
When the wicked are judged at the Great White Throne, they will be judged righteously. Revelation 20:12
When you and I are judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ we will be judged righteously. 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 4:5
I am so glad there is balance with God.
Yes, there is righteous judgment.
But part of God’s character is also mercy and truth, or we may use the words “love and faithfulness”.
WE SHOULD REVERENCE GOD BECAUSE OF THE JOY HE BRINGS – Vss. 15-16
Psalm 89:15 – Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
The Christians who know the joyful sound of worship are happy people.
The Christians who know the joyful sound of worship don’t just worship with a congregation on Sunday. They worship God continually. Psalm 89:16, Ephesians 5:18-20, Hebrews 13:15
Notice please that if you reverence God enough to worship God, God’s smile will be upon you. they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
WE SHOULD REVERENCE GOD BECAUSE OF HIS HELP – Vss. 17-18
Psalm 89:17 – For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
What true strength we have comes from God. Psalm 27:1
Our horn shall be exalted – Albert Barnes said, “The horn is a symbol of power… The meaning here is, that their power had been derived from God; or that all which contributed to their exaltation and honor in the world, had been derived from him.” Barnes’ Notes on the Old Testament
Psalm 89:18 – For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
What better defense can we ask for than to be protected by God?