Steadfast Love and Mercy

Psalm 147 :11 in the ESV uses the words "steadfast love" in place of "mercy." When I read that last night is reminded me of the song we used to sing from Lamentation 3:22-23. Lamentation 3:22-25 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion." says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him." (ESV) I chose to add the two additional verses because they seem to complete the thought to me. Again, as in Ps. 147:11, our only real hope is in the LORD, in His mercy or steadfast love. I like that word "steadfast." It means firm and never changing. God's love and mercy are connected and both are firm and never changing. That makes me feel secure to know that these characteristics of God will not change. Another verse that this reminds me of is, Psalm 103:4 "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies." I remember reading somewhere or in another translation that "crowneth" means to "surround." So God surrounds us, perhaps like a hug or shield with His lovingkindness and tender mercies. This also makes me feel secure. In Ps. 103:4, we also see yet another aspect of God's mercy....it is tender. That makes me feel safe.

Hope In His Mercy

Psalm 147:10-11 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 11The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

I find this scripture very comforting. I am very thankful that God takes pleasure in those who hope in His mercy. Really His mercy is my only hope. Because I am a sinner, it is only God's mercy that preserves me from being destroyed.

God loves me as I am. But He also desires that I become all that He created me to be. His love provides me with all I need in order to fulfill His will. The mercy of God is part of that provision. I consistently sin and because of His mercy I am not destroyed and am given another chance.

He takes pleasure when we choose to hope in Him, in His mercy, rather than hope in ourselves or our own strength.

I Am A Warrior

Joel 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, "I am strong." KJV

I want to focus on "let the weak say I am strong." Last night I was reading this in the ESV and it translates this to say "let the weak say I am a warrior." That really ignited something in me. I woke up this morning declaring "I AM A WARRIOR." I am a warrior in the kingdom of God, no matter how weak or puny I feel. "I AM A WARRIOR"

We are in a constant war zone, with entities of the kingdom of darkness all around. But Romans 8:37 says I am more than a conqueror through Christ. The word "conquerors" in that scripture means to "gain a decisive victory." Not just a victory, but a decisive victory.

So not only am I a warrior, but through Christ I have already won a decisive victory.

Always Enough

Continuing on the theme of the Lord's provision for His people...Back when I was in Bible school my school bill had reached a point where I was going to have to leave school if I did not have money by the end of the week. As I sought the Lord He spoke to me from the following Scripture passage.

1 Kings 17:13-16 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

God told me that just like when this woman went to the barrel for meal and to the cruse for oil there was always enough for each day, I would always have enough. I may not have an abundance, but I could always be assured of the Lord's provision of enough for my needs. That was 30 years ago and God has always been faithful to that word......Oh and by the way someone paid off my school bill by Friday and I was able to continue at the Bible school.

I Shall Not Want

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

I have been sharing a series of short teachings on Psalm 23 at church mostly geared to the kids on the Sundays that they stay in the adult service. So recently I have been spending time in that Psalm once again. Tonight I was thinking again about verse one, especially the second part.

It is because the Lord is my shepherd that I will not be in want. He is a good shepherd and knows my every need. He is my creator. Who better than my creator to know my needs.

I shall not want does not mean I will get everything I think I want or need. I may get the things I want but that is not guaranteed.

It does mean that Jesus who knows best will give me what he knows I need when I need it---I know I can trust him to be a good shepherd and take good care of me in every situation.

I believe David had come to know God well enough/ was in relationship with God in such a way that he trusted him to take good care of him even in the really hard times.

Phillip Keller, in the book "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23," says the main concept is of not lacking in proper care or management--also the idea of being utterly contented in the Good Shepherd’s care and consequently not craving or desiring anything else. Staying in his care and not continually jumping the fence and leaving the care of the good shepherd.