Rev. Don Campbell
Psalms 106-107
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, May 3, 2019
“THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD”
The phrase “the steadfast love of the Lord” is recorded 127 times in the Psalms in the English Standard Version. It is used nine times in the two psalms assigned for today’s reading. Psalm 107 ends with these words: “Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord” (v.43). These things are the sad and sordid history of the people whom God delivered out of Egypt and whom he continued delivering from their own folly for centuries. They sinned; they fell; they cried out; God delivered. Why? Because his steadfast love endures forever (106:1; 107:1).
The phrase “the steadfast love of the Lord” is not found in the New Testament, but that does not mean the love itself is not found there. Jesus himself said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Paul wrote, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-7). John adds, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure” (1 John 3:1-3).
The steadfast love of God calls us to a steadfast life: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
CONNECTIONS
1. The corollary of John 3:16 is 1 John 3:16. What is a simple, basic proof that the love of God abides in us (vv.17-18)?
2. How much more should we praise God for his steadfast love than did those of old?
