Advent Passage: Psalm 89

I remember how upset I felt; it seemed so unfair. I jumped up and down on my parents’ bed, loudly proclaiming my indignation so they could hear me behind the closed door. My playmate was the one who threatened to take my Raggedy Ann doll home with her. Why was I the one being punished?

Justice can be very subjective, especially when we are four years old. We only see the world through one set of eyes, and we want the world to be fair, at least for us.

In contrast, God’s justice is not subjective because it stems from His unchangeable, righteous nature. For example, God is good, faithful, and loving, so His justice is always good, faithful, and loving. God is also all-knowing, and ever-present, so His justice reaches far beyond what we can see or understand.

Today’s verse, Psalm 89:14, highlights Gods’ love and faithfulness as “going out before him.” This curious language reveals God’s mindset regarding His acts of justice. He comes to His work with love and faithfulness.

The King James Version of the Bible translates Psalm 89:14 this way: “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” I really like this version. When I read it, I imagine the attitude of Jesus on His throne. His countenance glows with love and welcome.

I can see it because this was the same look on my Mom’s face when she opened the door to release me from my time out after I finally calmed down. She could have been angry, but her face reflected only love and the truth of my situation. She would never allow my friend to take my doll, but she also knew I needed help. She pulled me away until I calmed down. You see, I was a tiny kid, and my feelings were bigger than my faith.

The Israelites waited a long time for their Immanuel. We also wait on the Lord to deliver justice in the form of healing, satisfaction, and release in our life circumstances. Sometimes, we wait because we are the unjust in need of His love and mercy.

It can be easy to lose faith in long seasons of waiting. Many Israelites did.

But here is the good news. Jesus came at just the right time, in the right place, to the right people. So, when we put Jesus on the throne of our hearts, we can trust Him. He enters our lives with love and welcome before His face. He sees and judges rightly. His timing is perfect. He acts when we are ready to accept His righteous justice in every circumstance. This is the nature of Immanuel, the One who is with us in the waiting.

© 2025 Lori Myers Berry

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