God's Loving Kindness # 2

God's Loving Kindness # 2

"I will betroth you unto Me forever; yes, I will betroth you unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies" (Hos. 2:19). Having made us willing in the day of His power to give up ourselves unto Him, the Lord enters into an everlasting marriage contract with us. This loving kindness of the Lord is never removed from His children. To our reason and sense, it may appear to be so, yet it never is; for since the believer be in Christ, nothing can separate him from the love of God (Romans 8:39). God has solemnly engaged Himself by covenant, and our sins cannot make it void. God has sworn that if His children keep not His commandments, that He will "visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes"; yet He at once adds, "Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor allow my faithfulness to fail! My covenant will I not break" (Psalm 89:30-35).

The loving kindness of God toward His people  is centered in Christ. It is because His exercise of loving kindness is a covenant engagement that it is repeatedly linked to His "truth" (Psalm 40:11; 138:2), showing that it proceeds to us by promise, and therefore, we should never despair.

"For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, says the LORD that has mercy on you" (Isaiah 54:10). No! That covenant has been ratified by the blood of its Mediator, by which blood the enmity (occasioned by sin) has been removed and perfect reconciliation effected. God knows the thoughts which He entertains unto those embraced in His covenant and who have been reconciled to Him, namely, "thoughts of peace and not of evil" (Jere. 29:11).

Therefore are we assured, "The LORD will command His loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me" (Psalm 42:8). What a promise is that! Not merely that the Lord will give or bestow but command His loving kindness! It is given by decree, bestowed by royal engagement, as He also commands "deliverances" (Psalm 44:4), "strength" (Psalm 68:28), "the blessing, even life for evermore" (Psalm 133:3), which announces that nothing can possibly hinder these bestowments.

Well then, may we exclaim, "Your loving kindness is better than life!" (Psalm 63:3).

And what ought to be our response thereto?

FIRST, "Be therefore followers (imitators) of God, as dear children; And walk in love" (Eph. 5:1-2). "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, affections of mercies, kindness" (Col. 3:12). Thus it was with David: "Your loving kindness is before my eyes: and I have walked in your truth" (Psalm 26:3). His mind was employed thereon, he delighted to ponder it, and it refreshed his soul to do so; yes, it molded his conduct.

The more we are occupied with God's goodness, the more careful shall we be about our obedience - the constraints of God's love and grace are more powerful to the regenerate, than the terrors of His Law!

"How excellent is your loving kindness, O God! therefore both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings." (Psalm 36:7).

Thus, SECOND, a sense of this divine perfection strengthens faith and promotes confidence in God.

THIRD, it should stimulate the spirit of worship: "Because your loving kindness is better than life - my lips shall praise you" (Psalm 63:3; Psalm 117).

FOURTH, it should be our cordial when depressed: "May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant" (Psalm 119:76. So it was with Christ in His anguish (Psalm 69_17).

FIFTH, it should be made our plea in prayer: "Quicken me, O Lord, according to Your loving kindness (Psalm 119:159).

SIXTH, it should be appealed to when we have fallen by the wayside: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your loving kindness" (Psalm 51:1): deal with me according to the gentlest of Your attributes, make my case an exemplification of Your tenderness.

SEVENTH, it should be a petition in our evening devotions: "Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning" (Psalm 143:8): arouse me with my soul in tune therewith, let my waking thoughts be of Your goodness!

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)