"forever and ever, amen"

Psalm 89:52, "Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen."

Ethan, a musician, is interceding for King David and gives a good model of prayer for us to follow.  Our prayers should always start out praising God and remembering who He is.  Ethan praises God for His character, "I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that You established your faithfulness in Heaven itself." (v.2) Ethan remembers the holiness of who he is praying to, "O Lord God Almighty, who is like You?  You are mighty, O Lord, ad your faithfulness surrounds You." (v. 8).  

As he intercedes for his ruler and friend, Ethan recalls the promises of God.  Praying scripture is extremely powerful.  If you have not done this, it looks like going into God's Word and remembering and calling on God to remember His promises to those who are His children.  Ethan recalled the Davidic covenant when God promised David that He would sustain and strengthen David and that David's "line" (his lineage) would endure forever.  

Then David's friend, and what a great friend he is to go to God on his behalf...or even if it is just us praying for those God has put in authority in our lives...presents the present circumstances that David is going through and his condition and asks God to respond to their pleas.  

And the part that I love, verse 52, ends Ethan's intercession.  It is odd in that the verse immediately preceding it (in fact the whole 33 verses before it) were Ethan reminding God of his promises then asking why God has turned His back on the anointed one whose line He said would rule forever and begging, "How long?"  Then, BAM, "Praise be to the Lord forever!..." out of nowhere seemingly.  But, it is what we should all remember as we pray.  God is not our personal genie.  Ethan did exactly what God wants:  poured out his heart and his requests...AND remembered that God is Sovereign and in control.  What appears is not always as it seems through our eyes.  God is to be praised...always.  Even when we don't get it, He is loyal and faithful.  We can call on Him to act for His own glory and for the welfare of His people...He wants to hear that from us; but He is in charge and so worthy of our praise even when we don't understand what we see and want relief.  He draws us closer to Him knowing what is better for us than we know ourselves.  "Praise be to the Lord forever!  Amen and Amen."