I am a huge fan of the Broadway musical “Hamilton.” I was blessed to see it on Broadway several years ago and have watched the televised version on Disney+ several times. (Use the closed captioning if you want to understand the story line better!) The lyrics, the tempo, the precision, and the fact that the genius Lin-Manuel Miranda got us all to like American History are just a few reasons why I love this play.

To remember the tremendous fall from grace of Aaron Burr was part of the appeal. A large supporter of the American Revolution, Burr (and Hamilton) joined the continental army in order to contribute to the war against the British. After the war, Burr became jealous of Hamilton’s increasing power in government and his support from George Washington. Hamilton endorsed Jefferson over Burr in the presidential election of 1800. Burr lost, but became Jefferson’s vice president ,and before his term was completed, he shot Alexander Hamilton in a duel over the publication of a letter Hamilton had written that demeaned Burr’s character. Burr was charged with murder and treason, and never served in political office again.

This story came to mind today when I read Psalm 89. It is quite long, and tells a first-to-worst story in its own way. Ethan the Ezrahite wrote this maskil detailing the fall of the house of David. We aren’t sure what calamity befell his kingdom; it could have been Absolam’s rebellion, the spiritual decline of Israel during and after Solomon’s reign … since we aren’t sure of the date of his writing, we don’t know.

Notice the high praise that soon turns into despair.

Psalm 89 (Common English Bible)

I will sing of the Lord’s loyal love forever.
    I will proclaim your faithfulness
    with my own mouth
    from one generation to the next.
² That’s why I say,
    “Your loyal love is rightly built—forever!
    You establish your faithfulness in heaven.”
³ You said,^[c] “I made a covenant with my chosen one;
    I promised my servant David:
⁴     ‘I will establish your offspring forever;
    I will build up your throne from one generation to the next.’” Selah

And now comes the fall. Ethan perceives that God is abandoning Israel and has rejected the covenant with David’s lineage. We know that is not the case, as Jesus came from the house of David, securing his line for all of eternity. But Jerusalem struggled with its apostasy and rejection of God, and there was hell to pay for it.

But you, God, have rejected and despised him.
    You’ve become infuriated with your anointed one.
³⁹     You’ve canceled the covenant with your servant.
    You’ve thrown his crown in the dirt.
⁴⁰     You’ve broken through all his walls.
    You’ve made his strongholds a pile of ruins.
⁴¹ All those who pass by plunder him.
    He’s nothing but a joke to his neighbors.

Where now are your loving acts
    from long ago, my Lord—
    the same ones you promised to David
    by your own faithfulness?

Have you ever experienced a personal “fall from grace?” Have you been tempted to think that God has abandoned you? Have you felt God’s punishment for your sin? Take heart. Because of the gift of the forgiveness of the cross, you can never be forgotten.

Ethan ended his psalm in a wonderful way. Even though he was sure God had rejected Israel, he still blessed the Lord.

⁵² Bless the Lord forever!
    Amen and Amen!

May we do the same when we feel abandoned. Remember that if you’re feeling far away from God, it’s probably you who moved.

The Fall by Michelle Robertson