By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley,
There are many Psalms that start out with the words “I will sing.” Singing is an interesting thing nowadays. You can sing about anything! There are songs about love, hate, romance, fighting, drinking, dancing, excitement, tragedy, and much more. There are even songs about nothing in particular. As Christians, what should we be singing about?
This particular Psalm says, “I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations” (verse 1). Okay, steadfast love, faithfulness – pretty standard Bible stuff. But the Psalmist goes on to say, “Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord” (verse 5). Now we’re getting into extreme territory. What could be so amazing that even the heavens burst into song?
Again, the Psalmist has the answer. He describes a man who will come in the future. This man will be mighty, a descendant of David, someone strengthened by God whom enemies will not overcome. He will be the firstborn, highest of the kings on earth. With this person will God’s covenant stand firm. You guessed it- the Psalmist is describing Jesus.
You guessed that because what the Psalmist sang about has come true. He sang about someone he believed was going to come. We can sing with joy like the Psalmist, but we can do one better, because that someone has already come. Jesus came to earth. He was mighty and strengthened by God; he was the firstborn, the King. The genealogies in the Gospels explain how he was a descendant of David. He allowed his enemies to overcome him so that he could save us from our sins.
That is God’s covenant that the Psalmist sang about. The Psalmist believed in God’s faithfulness; we can know for sure that he is faithful, because Jesus did come, and he did save us. The covenant has been fulfilled, and we have so much to sing about as we remember Christ’s birth this Christmas season. Let’s join in with the Psalmist and say, “I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations!”