God is Sovereign
The author, Ethan the Ezrahite, is only mentioned in 1 Kings 4:31. If it be one and the same person, then it’s apparent he grew up during David’s reign over Israel, and became recognized as a man of great wisdom by the time Solomon succeeded the throne (this is inferred from the fact that Solomon is considered wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, as means of establishing just how wise Solomon had become). Furthermore, this Psalm reflects a time of turmoil, which suggests he lived beyond Solomon’s death to witness things turn sour as the kingdom is divided, and Jerusalem is plundered by Egypt.
Of course, reading through the first two thirds of this Psalm, you’re given no idea this is the case. It’s a great declaration of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, serving as a reminder of his covenant with King David and his throne. It’s not until verse 38 you realize something is drastically wrong.
2 Chronicles 12 (1 Kings 14:21-28) could well be the background that serves to inspire this Psalm. I can’t help but think Ethan is lamenting at just how wrong things have ended up, and is pleading with the Lord to re-establish his covenant with his people.
Right through the Psalm, you get no sense of anger or bitterness toward God, nor the feeling that Ethan is blaming God. There is, however, an unambiguous declaration of God’s sovereignty; recognizing that all things ultimately come from His hand. God established the kingship of David, and God promised an everlasting throne. God is characterized by righteousness and justice; the One before whom goes steadfast love and faithfulness. Yet God is also the one who has cast off and rejected; God is the one who has renounced the covenant with his servant; God is the one who has defiled his servant’s crown in the dust; God is the one who has breached the walls; and on it goes.
Curiously, there’s no mention of any sin or need of forgiveness. Maybe its implicit in the fact he’s turning to God for the answer, and sees no other means for remedy. Ethans’ presupposition is that God is in complete control, and whatever the problem is, God is also the solution. So Ethan pours out this lengthy reminder to God of His promises and His character, appealing to that merciful and loving nature to somehow coerce Him to restore Israel.
The very fact that Ethan is crying out to God shows his faith in the goodness of God, trusting that his mercy and steadfast love will ultimately prevail. It brings to mind God’s own declaration to Moses, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.” (Ex 34:6-7).
You’ll have to reach your own conclusions with this one: I’ve still not arrived. But I do have one recurring thought that keeps going round my head; “God is Sovereign.”
– Douglas Smythe