GOD’S kindness to His chosen one is forever; he will sing of the Lord’s goodness for eternity (Psalm 89:2–3, 4–5, 27, 29). The Child to be born of Mary will have the throne of David, and His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:26–38).
My kindness toward him is forever
PSALM 89 is apparently modeled on 2 Samuel 7:16–29, wherein God’s promise to David that his throne shall stand strong forever moves the king to sing praises to Him. The psalmist expresses his faith in God’s unalterable commitment to His people, who are now waiting for His saving presence. Two terms are constantly repeated: divine kindness and faithfulness, which are the basis of faith and trust in God. Kindness (hesed) is God’s unconditional love for David and his descendants; faithfulness (emuna) is God’s fidelity to His promises. God’s love and faithfulness last forever, His gift to His chosen ones that endures forever. What God guarantees is established as firm as the heavens and stretching beyond any specific time. All ages shall know of it and proclaim it.
Everlasting is the covenant that God made with David; its consequences, to unfold in the lives of his descendants. It is through his family that God would carry out His promises to the people of Israel; David’s throne would last forever and his posterity ensured. In this unique relationship between God and the Davidic house, they could not help but realize and confess that the Lord is their “father” and they are His children. They adore only God, the “rock” of their refuge and strength, and their “savior” in all dire situations. God is true to His covenant with David and recommits Himself that “forever I will maintain my kindness toward him.”
He will rule forever
IT is to a descendant of the house of David that the angel Gabriel announced the impending birth of a son, to be named Jesus (meaning “God saves”). The announced birth is part of God’s plan of salvation for His people. As the prophet Zephaniah (3:14–17) told Zion/Israel to “shout for joy…exult with all your heart…the Lord is in your midst. Fear not…your God…will renew you in His love,” so now the angel tells Mary, the virgin betrothed to Joseph of the house of David, to “rejoice, the Lord is with you…. Do not be afraid…for you have found favor with God.”
The son of Mary “will be great, and will be called Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of David, His father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Jesus will be the ultimate descendant of David. This awesome story that Gabriel tells Mary makes her wonder how it can happen at all. The angel explained that it is the Holy Spirit who will come upon her, and that it is by the power of the Most High that everything will happen. This is illustrated by the case of Mary’s kinswoman Elizabeth, who, in her old age and barren condition, is already in her sixth month of pregnancy, for nothing is impossible with God. It is, indeed, God’s loving kindness and faithfulness to His promises to David that make this gospel of salvation possible.
Your word is forever
GOD’S love and power play out in an out-of-the-way corner of Galilee, with a virgin who still has no relations with a man and with an aged couple who finally overcame their limitation, as far as posterity is concerned. The narrative of God’s saving love is clearly divine work, and is not due to mere natural causes.
Gabriel’s opening words to Mary already indicate the extraordinary and the supernatural: “Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you!” “Rejoice” connotes the prophecies of the restoration of God’s chosen people and recalls the promises waiting to be fulfilled. The angel knows something about Mary that she herself does not: She is full of grace; she has been filled already by God with His divine gifts. The Lord is with her! The Most High has chosen her to be His instrument in carrying out the divine commitment to His people. She is a virgin in the deeper sense of belonging and being dedicated to God and His plans.
Now aware of God’s loving presence in her life and His invitation to share in His plan, Mary comes to her decision. Her act of commitment to the covenant with God is expressed by referring to herself as “the handmaid of the Lord,” hearer and doer of God’s eternal word.
Alálaong bagá, with the psalmist, Mary, more than anybody else, can sing of the goodness of the Lord that is forever. She can testify that God’s kindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness confirmed in heaven. The birth of Jesus represents God’s eternal kindness.
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