Psalm 89:38-52

38 But now you have rejected him and cast him off. You are angry with your anointed king.
39 You have renounced your covenant with him; you have thrown his crown in the dust.
40 You have broken down the walls protecting him and ruined every fort defending him.
41 Everyone who comes along has robbed him, and he has become a joke to his neighbors.
42 You have strengthened his enemies and made them all rejoice.
43 You have made his sword useless and refused to help him in battle.
44 You have ended his splendor and overturned his throne.
45 You have made him old before his time and publicly disgraced him.
Interlude

46 O Lord, how long will this go on? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your anger burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my life is, how empty and futile this human existence!
48 No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave.
Interlude

49 Lord, where is your unfailing love? You promised it to David with a faithful pledge.
50 Consider, Lord, how your servants are disgraced! I carry in my heart the insults of so many people.
51 Your enemies have mocked me, O Lord; they mock your anointed king wherever he goes.
52 Praise the Lord forever! Amen and amen!

Often it seems that the people who have the most are also the people who are the hardest to satisfy.

Look at Rehoboam, the subject of this psalm. He had it all. He was born into it: His grandpa was King David. His dad was King Solomon. He couldn't have asked for a better pedigree in terms of expecting God's blessings. But, it wasn't enough. When Rehoboam was asked to lower burdensome taxes he refused. He said "Whereas my father laid upon you a heavy yoke, so shall I add tenfold thereto. Whereas my father chastised (tortured) you with whips, so shall I chastise you with scorpions. For my littlest finger is thicker than my father's loins; and your backs, which bent like reeds at my father's touch, shall break like straws at my own touch."


Brilliant...

Once Rehoboam made it all about himself, God decided to step in. The psalmists says of God ..."now you have rejected him and cast him off. You are angry with your anointed king. You have renounced your covenant with him; you have thrown his crown in the dust. You have broken down the walls protecting him and ruined every fort." Before it was over, Ten of the 12 tribes seceded and formed their own kingdom. As a result, Rehoboam's power was depleted and he became low hanging fruit for neighboring kings bent on expanding their own territories. His kingdom became a mere shadow of what his dad and grandpa enjoyed.

And the writer doesn't pull any punches. He says God "strengthened his enemies and made them all rejoice. You have made his sword useless and refused to help him in battle. You have ended his splendor and overturned his throne. You have made him old before his time and publicly disgraced him. And said Tom Petty sings "its good to be king." Maybe not.

The psalmist rightfully laments the state of affairs...life in Israel is a shambles. He asks God how long this is going to last. "Lord, how long will this go on? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your anger burn like fire? Remember how short my life is, how empty and futile this human existence! No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave." Well, that's depressing.

And then he closes with these words..."Praise the Lord forever! Amen and amen."

Ironic? No! He arrived at this point because he knew God's history with Israel. It wasn't about that day. He knew it was just a matter of time until God took control once again.

This can happen to us...we can become Rehoboams with our own lives. When we insist on becoming the conductors of our own little symphony of life, we inevitable strike a discordant note and the Divine reviews will be merciless. On the other hand...letting God be faithful...on His terms, gives us the opportunity to live with rejoicing and confidence. Amen and Amen!"

Your choice.

Live boldly out there today...