It makes me uncomfortable reading the verses at the end of Psalm 89.  Don’t like it.  God’s people griping at the Lord, blaming Him for the mess they’re in.  See what I mean?–‘But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed.  You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust…You have exalted the right hand of his foes…you have covered him with shame'(from verses 38-45).

I cringe when I hear someone letting-it-all-out with the Lord.  Would be afraid that lightning might strike!  Really, would you feel comfortable saying these words to the Lord like Ethan the Ezrahite did in this psalm?  But it’s right there in the Bible.  And no criticism is leveled at Ethan.  That’s real hard for me.  Why?  Can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t fear that the rug wouldn’t be pulled out from under me.  Scared that anything I did wrong would cause the anger of God to be unleashed on me.

Be careful what you do and say.  Walk gently and gingerly on those eggshells.  Not sure that those who know me would guess that all this goes on inside.  I can’t possibly know all that goes on inside of you, either.  What struggles you hide from the world.  What embarrassments and shame you hope no one would ever see on your face.

Ethan obviously had no such hesitations.  He says whatever he feels.  There’s a part of me that envies him.  What’s really neat is that very last verse of Psalm 89.  After all his complaining, he says ‘Blessed be the Lord forever!  Amen and amen.’  Even though he complains,yet he praises the Lord he loves and worships.  He really believes that God is on his side.  That God is loving and faithful…’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).  He believes that God is who He says He is.

There’s the rub.  To really believe… who He says He is.  Take Him at His Word!

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, for calling us to be open and honest with you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.