God’s love is steadfast ∙

God’s love is steadfast ∙

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of steadfast love for all who ask for your help. – Psalms 86:5

Psalms 136:1-9

 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His steadfast love endures forever.

 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His steadfast love endures forever.

 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His steadfast love endures forever.

 4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His steadfast love endures forever.

 5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His steadfast love endures forever.

 6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters. His steadfast love endures forever.

 7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights – His steadfast love endures forever.

 8 the sun to rule the day, His steadfast love endures forever.

 9 and the moon and stars to rule the night. His steadfast love endures forever.

What does it mean to be steadfast? Steadfast encompasses two primary meanings. On the one hand, it signifies being fixed, steady, unchangeable, or firmly established. This quality is evident in enduring commitments, institutions that withstand the passage of time, or immovable objects like a large boulder in the midst of a stream.

On the other hand, steadfastness also implies unwavering loyalty, devotion, or fondness, characterized by being dependable, reliable, steadfast, faithful, and consistently affectionate and interested.

The two meanings converge on the concept of durability or permanence.

Pause for a moment and consider how this definition reflects the character, essence, and attributes of Father God. He is replete with steadfast love and fidelity. At His very core, the Father embodies steadfast love.

Psalms 86:5,15

 5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of steadfast love for all who ask for your help.

 15 But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with steadfast love and faithfulness.

Psalms 136 call on worshippers to worship and give thanks to the Father. He has shown His steadfast love to the children of the King throughout the millennia. Each verse repeats the same refrain: “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Could it be that Psalms 136 was sung responsively? Perhaps a priest led, reciting the first line of each verse. The people would then respond with the refrain, “His steadfast love endures forever.” This technique is used for worship and memorization throughout the Old Testament.

Ezra 3:11 They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Psalms 136 extends gratitude towards the One True God, laying out various reasons that become part of the foundation of gratitude and worship. The Father is recognized for His goodness and supremacy as the God of gods and the Lord of lords. He alone can perform mighty miracles. The Father is not remote, distant, or unavailable. Instead, He is near, close at hand, and makes His presence known repeatedly.

REFLECT & PRAY

The steadfast nature, unwavering love, and the realization of His promises across all generations provide confidence and hope for every child of the King.

Father I am grateful that Your love for me is unwavering and eternal. It remains constant, never wavering or changing. Your loyal love is remarkable.

INSIGHT

Psalms 100:5 For the LORD is good. His steadfast love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Children of the King can rest knowing that Father God’s goodness, unwavering love, and faithfulness are everlasting. They never fluctuate. This assures us that He is reliable and responsive. We can always lean on Him. He is consistently accessible and attentive. As children of the King, we can confidently call upon Him. The Father’s steadfast love for us endures forever. It is the foundation for all of life.

Psalms 86:5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of steadfast love for all who ask for your help.

The Father is good. The Hebrew word for good is tov. Tov means pleasant, desirable, and merry; it connotes being deserving of esteem and respect. “The Lord is good, i.e., altogether love, and for this very reason also ready to forgive, and great and rich in mercy for all who call upon Him as such” (Keil and Delitzsch).

The Father is forgiving. The Hebrew word translated as forgiving is sallach. Sallach could literally be translated ready to forgive or ready to pardon. This is the only place in the Old Testament where sallach is used as a noun. The verbal form is frequently used. Interestingly, the subject is always the Lord whenever sallach is used as a verb. Could it be that the reason for this is that the Father God is the only source of true forgiveness? The Father purges our past and truly forgives us.

The Hebrew term for steadfast love is hesed. It is often translated as kindness, lovingkindness, reliability, faithfulness, mercy, grace, and loyal love. Hesed is one of the most beautiful and fascinating words in the Old Testament to describe the Father. Hesed is profound and multifaceted. The Father has many superb characteristics and personality traits. Among the most delightful of all is His steadfast love and lovingkindness.

Hesed epitomizes the Father’s love and affection for the children of the King. Hesed signifies a commitment, a love that is relational and unconditionally boundless, a love that persists regardless of the situation or reaction (Waltner). Rooted in what is authentic and reliable, hesed is intimately associated with covenant-keeping (Kidner).

Hesed is used repeatedly in the Old Testament. It is used twenty-six times in Psalms 136 alone! No modern word can completely encompass its essence; we interpret it as kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, or loyalty. Hesedrepresents a love anchored in covenantal commitment – a love that is loyal, dependable, wholehearted, and resolute. Hesedis an integral part of God’s character.

Psalms 86:5 resembles Exodus 34, where the Lord passes before Moses, but Moses is only allowed to see His back and not His face.

Exodus 34:6 The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.”

Lamb of God

The Steadfast Love Of The Lord Never Ceases,

His Mercies Never Come To An End,

They Are New Every Morning, New Every Morning.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Oh Lord). Great Is Thy Faithfulness.

(Jim Gilbert, 1993)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 2-18-2

© Dr. H 2024