Make 2014 a year of Sharing
“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger,
abounding in love and faithfulness.” – Psalm 86:15
If you recall in
Genesis 6, God looked down upon the earth and saw the corruptness and
wickedness of mankind and chose to “wipe them from the face of the earth”; except
of course, Noah and his family. God’s
love for mankind was that they live within His provision and enjoy life both
here and in eternity, but we have plenty of examples that when He is angered
His wrath is unrelenting. David was a
mighty warrior for God while he was King of Israel. He was known for his leadership, his wisdom
and his willingness to trust in God without reservation. Throughout the Old Testament we are reminded
that God is a jealous, vengeful God and willing to “smite” entire armies and
communities when they are opposed to His plan for the Israelites. King David was no exception to doing to the
Lord’s work and carrying out the plan of God’s wrath upon those who would
oppose His love and plans for the children of Israel.
Yet, at the same time David was capable of seeing the Lord for who He was, loving, compassionate and gracious to those who loved and followed Him. The emergence of Jesus Christ was yet a thousand years away when David wrote many of the Psalms. His identity was so connected to the Lord though, that He knew the plans the Lord had for mankind were plans of love, grace and compassion. His faith had wavered, and he had blatantly sinned against God on many occasions. This gave him a strong understanding of the forgiving compassion and love of the Father. Despite his waywardness, the Lord was always there to set him back on the path of righteousness.
Jesus came to the earth as God’s provision for mankind from that point forward. The fact that mankind is inherently sinful and lost to unrighteousness was evident in the children of Israel at the time. So in His deepest act of love for us and seeing that no man was capable of overcoming this unrighteousness alone, He provided the sacrificial lamb Himself. In doing so, exemplified the compassion, the grace and the love that embodies His very being. Even though we do not deserve forgiveness or eternal peace, in His grace He has provided the means to receive it.
David saw this side of God even before Jesus Christ came as our provision. The relationship between David and God is a treasure to behold. So, when he writes of the Lord’s compassion, grace and love we need to take note and learn from it. For this man, like you and I, was born in sin, struggled mightily with temptations and the lust of the flesh. Yet, he realized that this life is only temporary and that his eternal life with God the Father was of most importance. He pursued God in a manner that we ought to desire, and in doing so, also come to realize the depth of God’s love is not in the emotions of this life, but in the eternal life awaiting us. Praise be to God for His loving plan of salvation.
Yet, at the same time David was capable of seeing the Lord for who He was, loving, compassionate and gracious to those who loved and followed Him. The emergence of Jesus Christ was yet a thousand years away when David wrote many of the Psalms. His identity was so connected to the Lord though, that He knew the plans the Lord had for mankind were plans of love, grace and compassion. His faith had wavered, and he had blatantly sinned against God on many occasions. This gave him a strong understanding of the forgiving compassion and love of the Father. Despite his waywardness, the Lord was always there to set him back on the path of righteousness.
Jesus came to the earth as God’s provision for mankind from that point forward. The fact that mankind is inherently sinful and lost to unrighteousness was evident in the children of Israel at the time. So in His deepest act of love for us and seeing that no man was capable of overcoming this unrighteousness alone, He provided the sacrificial lamb Himself. In doing so, exemplified the compassion, the grace and the love that embodies His very being. Even though we do not deserve forgiveness or eternal peace, in His grace He has provided the means to receive it.
David saw this side of God even before Jesus Christ came as our provision. The relationship between David and God is a treasure to behold. So, when he writes of the Lord’s compassion, grace and love we need to take note and learn from it. For this man, like you and I, was born in sin, struggled mightily with temptations and the lust of the flesh. Yet, he realized that this life is only temporary and that his eternal life with God the Father was of most importance. He pursued God in a manner that we ought to desire, and in doing so, also come to realize the depth of God’s love is not in the emotions of this life, but in the eternal life awaiting us. Praise be to God for His loving plan of salvation.
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