Psalm 190 from Beyond Psalm 150
This psalm takes us on a roller coaster of emotions.
It opens with an inspiring promise to tell others about Yahweh, praising him in the process. The second portion delves into the people’s past rebellion and God’s subsequent rescue.
This seems like an ideal place to end this psalm, but Isaiah continues. He begs for God to consider his people’s present plight and deliver them from their sorry existence. It is like a lament.
Here is prophet’s final psalm, which we’ll call it Isaiah’s lament.
I will tell of the loving kindnesses of Yahweh
Isaiah 63:7–19 (WEB)
and the praises of Yahweh,
according to all that Yahweh has given to us,
and the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
which he has given to them according to his mercies,
and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
For he said, “Surely, they are my people,
children who will not deal falsely;”
so he became their Savior.
In all their affliction he was afflicted,
and the angel of his presence saved them.
In his love and in his pity he redeemed them.
He bore them,
and carried them all the days of old.
But they rebelled
and grieved his Holy Spirit.
Therefore he turned and became their enemy,
and he himself fought against them.
Then he remembered the days of old,
Moses and his people, saying,
“Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock?
Where is he who put his Holy Spirit among them?”
Who caused his glorious arm to be at Moses’ right hand?
Who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
Who led them through the depths,
like a horse in the wilderness,
so that they didn’t stumble?
As the livestock that go down into the valley,
Yahweh’s Spirit caused them to rest.
So you led your people to make yourself a glorious name.
Look down from heaven,
and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory.
Where are your zeal and your mighty acts?
The yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me.
For you are our Father,
though Abraham doesn’t know us,
and Israel does not acknowledge us.
You, Yahweh, are our Father.
Our Redeemer from everlasting is your name.
O Yahweh, why do you make us wander from your ways,
and harden our heart from your fear?
Return for your servants’ sake,
the tribes of your inheritance.
Your holy people possessed it but a little while.
Our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary.
We have become like those over whom you never ruled,
like those who were not called by your name.
Reflections on Isaiah’s Lament
Isaiah’s psalm gives us much to contemplate.
Which part of this psalm do you most resonate with? What can we learn from the rest? May God receive our words as an act of worship and adoration.
Explore the other psalms—sacred songs of praise, petition, and lament—scattered throughout the Bible in Peter’s book Beyond Psalm 150.
Discover more sacred songs of praise, petition, and lament throughout the Bible.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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