Read Psalm 89:9-18. 9You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. 10You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. 11The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. 12The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name. 13You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand. 14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. 15Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, 16who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. 17For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted. 18For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.
The context of the psalm is the ravaging of Jerusalem by the Babylonian hordes. The psalm will take a dramatic turn at verse 38, but for now the psalmist continues with praise. God is mighty and God is moral. God rules the raging sea and he crushed its monster, Rahab (Egypt). God is righteous and just, loving and faithful. He exalts those who exalt his name. He is their horn, their shield, their strength. Blessed are those who walk with him, in the light of his face.
The ultimate way to read the psalms is to read them Christologically, to put them into the mouth of Christ. These are the prayers of Jesus himself. To do this we can and should hear these prayers coming from the mouth of the man Jesus who would declare all these same things about his God.
But we can and should also hear these words coming from the mouth of the God-man, Christ in the first person. I AM the ruler of the raging sea, the calmer of the waves. I AM the creator of north and south and the crusher of Rahab. On the throne of MY cross righteousness and justice, love and faithfulness went before me. Blessed are you who walk in the light of MY face.
2 Corinthians 4:6. For God, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
To live is Christ is to exalt the name of Christ all the day long, walking in the light of his face, exalted in his righteousness, knowing that by his cross love and justice have met in our hearts.
This is how we must read the psalms, and this is how we must live our lives.
You: What things distract you from walking in the light of Jesus’ face?
You in Christ: In what way will your union with Christ be your shield today?
Christ in you: How can your heart be a throne of righteousness and justice today?
Pray: Jesus, whatever I am walking through, may it be a journey by the light of your beautiful face and glorious grace.
To Live is Christ 