In Psalm 89 the author feels cast off and rejected by God (:38) as well as reproached by men (:41). He asks God in :49, “Where are Your former lovingkindnesses, O Lord?” He feels totally deserted. And yet with all the hurt and the questioning he expresses in this chapter, he ends the Psalm in :52 with these words: “Blessed be the Lord forever!”

There was a lot that this man did not understand, but with his final words he held fast to this commitment: no matter what his state, he would believe in God, and bless His name. This is the same attitude we see in Job, where amidst the loss of everything he had, he exclaims: “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Both of these men serve as examples for us when we feel abused by men, or deserted by God. We may not understand what is happening to us and why. As in Job’s case, these may be hidden from us. But it is our privilege, like his, to glorify God before the watching angels by praising Him regardless. When knowledge and understanding fail, let our last word be the same as this Psalmists’: “Blessed the The Lord forever!”