Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Subject: God's Unfailing, Steadfast Love - Psalm 105-107

Psalms 107:43 (ESV Strong's)
Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

Subject:  God's Love - His steadfast love!

You can not read this section of Psalms (105-107) without seeing the theme, summarized in the above verse.   These three Psalms are rich with the theme of God's amazing love.   The word for love in this verse carries such rich meaning.  Note the following comment on this word in the Hebrew, "checed":

(Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) In general, one may identify three basic meanings of the word, which always interact: “strength,” “steadfastness,” and “love.” Any understanding of the word that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness. “Love” by itself easily becomes sentimentalized or universalized apart from the covenant. Yet “strength” or “steadfastness” suggests only the fulfillment of a legal or other obligation.
The word refers primarily to mutual and reciprocal rights and obligations between the parties of a relationship (especially Yahweh and Israel). But checed is not only a matter of obligation; it is also of generosity. It is not only a matter of loyalty, but also of mercy. The weaker party seeks the protection and blessing of the patron and protector, but he may not lay absolute claim to it. The stronger party remains committed to his promise, but retains his freedom, especially with regard to the manner in which he will implement those promises. Checed implies personal involvement and commitment in a relationship beyond the rule of law.

These three Psalm magnify God's unfailing, steadfast, strong love for us.   Despite the believers failings, God continues to love.   There is nothing the elect can do that will separate us from the love of God:

Romans 8:37-39 (ESV Strong's)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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