Note to Reader
The celebration of Christ’s birth is at hand! Did you know that Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms – Devotional has 7 meditations dedicated to this event? They are found in Appendix 1, starting on p. 321. Why not read a few yourself or with your family as December 25 approaches? It’s a great way to keep the focus on God’s saving work in Jesus. Each of these 7 devotions are from the pen of Rev. Reuben Bredenhof , including this one below from Psalm 98. Enjoy!
Read: Psalm 98
Psalm 98:3 –“He has remembered his steadfast love and
faithfulness.”
Have you ever made a promise or commitment to do something, but then forgotten? Many of us have. Even when we have the best intentions, we are forgetful people and don’t always follow through on our word. How good it is then, that the LORD never forgets, but is faithful to all his promises!
Psalm 98 celebrates the LORD and his righteous reign. As King over all, he has done “marvelous things” (v. 1). The psalmist invites all the world to praise the LORD because he has performed great works of salvation. This has been true ever since God entered into a covenant with his people: he has been saving his own, delivering us from our enemies, protecting us from harm, and forgiving our sins so that we can live.
These great works are the evidence that God does not forget; as the psalmist says, “He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness.” The LORD promised to be God and Saviour to his people, and he has been faithful to that word. Time after time God has “revealed his righteousness” (v. 2), showing deep commitment to his purpose.
Mary’s Magnificat
It’s so fitting then, that the words of verse 3 are echoed by Mary when she sings her Magnificat in Luke 1. In recent days she had been learning all about how God is going to save his people through the gift of a child—even through a son born to her, a virgin, by the working of the Holy Spirit! Mary praises God for his amazing work of salvation, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (vv. 46–47). A bit later she sings about how this coming Saviour displays God’s faithfulness to his promise, “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy”(v. 54). In the beginning, God promised to deliver his people from the power of Satan, and he never forgot. The conception and birth of Christ means that God remembers his mercy and steadfast love!
Promise-Keeping God
And for we who believe in Christ, this is still a great reason for rejoicing. We belong to a righteous God who never forgets his promises, a King who follows through on all his words. We can trust in him always and can be confident in his commitment. Whatever our situation we can rest in his faithfulness, for in Christ it is sure.
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