Psalm 80:49-52

Psalm 89:49-52 49 Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses, Which You swore to David in Your truth? 50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants—How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples, 51 With which Your enemies have reproached, O Lord, With which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed. 52 Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen.

This psalm is all about the covenant that God had made with David. The Psalmist has taught us about God’s covenant and God’s attributes. He has struggled with the apparent defeat of God’s anointed and has called upon God’s mercy to not delay the fulfillment of the covenant. In the final verses of the Psalm he brings to mind his own feelings about God.

He starts off by calling upon God’s lovingkindness. Think of how much love God poured out upon David. Without David even knowing it, God was preparing him to lead His nation. David was learning patience and trust for God in the fields tending sheep. Think of all the times that God stood with David: in the fields, in battle with Goliath, in the caves, when his own son rebelled against him, etc. David’s life is a beautiful example of what it means to walk with God. Was David perfect? No! Was he loved by God? Yes! Did David love God? Yes! The Psalmist is pleading with God to restore that love and protection unto David's line.

He goes on to say “remember the reproach of Your servants”. Even though the kingdom of Israel was splitting up there were still people who stood for God. Not every one was “rotten” (remember that whole God preserving a remnant for Himself part?). Those that stood for God were suffering because of what was going on. Can you imagine the wagging of heads that occurred as the kingdom split apart? Can you imagine the insults that were hurled toward those that stood for God as everything fell apart?

Take that thought and apply it to the cross. The Pharisees were at the foot of the cross mocking the Savior as He died. It is not out of the realm of possibility to believe that those insults and taunts were also thrown the way of those who belonged to Jesus that were at the foot of the cross that day. On top of losing the one that they loved they now stood in the place where they were being mocked and ridiculed. Which brings me to my next thought.

“How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples” the psalmist continues. What he’s saying here is that “I take this stuff personally. When I see Your people suffer I suffer with them. It is tearing me up inside to see Your name tarnished and Your people made to suffer”. Oh if that were true in the Church today! If only we felt it inside when our Lord’s name was used in vain, if only our souls cried out when our Savior is mocked. Where has the righteous indignation gone when we see our brothers and sisters being persecuted? Do we hurt when they hurt? Do we cry when they cry? Do we carry them in our bosom?

It is in that place the Psalmist ends his plea. He has called upon God’s faithfulness, grace and mercy and he caps it off with his own heart’s desire to see God’s word come to fruition. He knows God. He believes in Him. He trusts that God will move. What else would motivate him to say “Blessed be the Lord forevermore” and accentuate that with a double “Amen”?

That is the place I want to leave us in this psalm as well. I do not know what storm of life you are going through. I do not know where you are at with your walk with the Lord. But this I do know – we serve a God who is faithful. We serve a God who is holy. We serve a God who will never leave nor forsake us. His desire is for you to be more like His Son. His desire for you is that you walk closer to Him. His desire for you is that you trust in Him completely - first for your salvation and then for everything else. My pastor use to tell me, “When you get to the end of your rope – tie a knot in it and hang on. God is coming”. I leave you with the same thought.

Rejoice in the Lord, Christian! Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen!