ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT JUSTICE?

READ PSALM 106

A LOVE THAT NEVER FAILS!

Psalm 106:1

Praise the LORD!

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!

As the psalmist rehearses the steadfast love of God, it is magnified against the backdrop of the people’s unfaithfulness and rebellion.

The history of Israel is an ongoing cycle of rebellion, repentance and forgiveness. The grace of God was showered on His loved ones, who could not do anything to deserve it.

They sinned, rebelled, and forgot His works. They worshipped man made gods and forgot their savior. They despised His provision, they murmured, they united themselves with pagans, and provoked God with their actions, as they followed pagan religions.

Psalm 106:43

Many times he delivered them,

but they were rebellious in their purposes

and were brought low through their iniquity.

Because of God’s steadfast love He continued to rescue them.

Psalm 106:44-45

Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,

when he heard their cry.

For their sake he remembered his covenant,

and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

This is the God of the Bible: the God to whom we cannot offer anything. The only thing we can offer is our brokenness and genuine repentance.

As I look at this psalm, I am amazed at this kind of love. I rage against the injustice of others and call for mercy for mine. I look in disdain to the behavior of others and seek for my sins to be covered and forgotten.

No wonder Jesus had no mercy on the man who received grace and then showed no grace to others.

The psalmist certainly reminds us that Israel bore the consequences of their sins, but also enjoyed the unmerited love and forgiveness of God.

I could never contemplate this truth if God had repaid me for the actions I have committed. I can only approach God as a broken child who has found mercy and grace so often.

The children of Israel again and again looked to God for His steadfast love.

Psalm 106:47

Save us, O LORD our God,

and gather us from among the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name

and glory in your praise.

They promised gratefulness and praise, only to fall again. We do the same so many times. God grants us grace in spite of the fact that He knows exactly when and how often we will fail again! If you and I are not amazed and awe-struck, then we need to ask God to help us to see ourselves in our wicked state.

Psalm 106:48

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting!

And let all the people say, “Amen!”

Praise the LORD!

If we don’t get up from our quiet time with these words, then we must wonder if we have understood anything.

In love He saves us, in love He chastises us, in love He carries us, in love He corrects us, in love He shepherds us, in love He provides, in love He surrounds us with care, in love He draws us to Himself. The list is endless because His love in steadfast.

You and I cannot do anything to attract and keep this love. God expects us to come broken to Him, on His terms and resting in Him.

Psalm 106:1

Praise the LORD!

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!

And so we end where we started: resting in God’s steadfast love!