READ Psalm 89:46–52. 46 How long, LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? 47 Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all humanity! 48 Who can live and not see death, or who can escape the power of the grave? 49 Lord, where is your former great love, which in your faithfulness you swore to David? 50 Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations, 51 the taunts with which your enemies, LORD, have mocked, with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one. 52 Praise be to the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.
EXPECTATION FULFILLED. The psalmist faces the conflict between God’s apparent offer and its lack of fulfillment. He does not shy away from expressing disappointment, yet there is more perplexity than bitterness. We now know that, contrary to appearances, God’s promises to David did not fall short of expectations. Indeed their fulfillment in Jesus Christ exceeded all expectations in undreamed-of ways. Jesus was the descendant of David who was literally God’s firstborn Son, who is drawing all nations to himself and who will literally rule the world forever (verse 26–29). So this psalm is a model. Pray your disappointments but leave them with God. Remember, you just can’t see. And when he answers us, it will be far better and more astonishing than anything we could have asked for.
Prayer: Lord, I praise you that your promises will always give us more than we dare think they promise us, not less. I’ve had a small taste of this over the years. You have helped me in deeper, wiser, and better ways than I originally imagined as a new believer. Let me live in joyful anticipation of my unimaginably great future with you. Amen.