Passage and Comments

6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. (Ex 34:6–8)

The defining characteristic of God in covenant relationship with his people is that he shows ‘kindness’ to them. His wrath is short in contrast to his love.

Today’s Psalm repeats the expression ‘steadfast love’ over and over again. In order to make the Psalm clearer Ive divides up the Psalm into a table.

In the first section God is given a series of names. LORD (YHWH), God of gods and Lord of lords. The people are exhorted to give thanks to him because he is good. I love the word good. It simultaneously expresses the two ideas of just and loving in one word. For God, in the many ways he is named, and because he is good, the people are to remember his steadfast love.

The Psalm begins with God as creator. He alone does great wonders. What the Psalmist means by this is explained afterward.

Almost repeating Genesis 1 in a six day sequence. He says;

1. God made the heavens,
2. the earth,
3. the waters,
4. the great lights,
5. the sun, and
6. the moon and the stars

The Psalmist has tied creation to an act of God’s covenant love and faithfulness by continuing to refer to his creative wonders with his steadfast love.

Story of Israel

Then the Psalmist moves to describe the great saving events experienced by Israel. The main points of the narrative are there. Their rescue from Egypt. Escape through the Red Sea and the leading through the wilderness.

God was being faithful to his covenant promises to Abraham by bringing Israel out of Egypt. They are to remember his steadfast love.

The narrative continues with the early defeat of the kings around the promised land. Once again God is being faithful to his covenant promises in leading Israel into the promised land and conquering the pagan inhabitants.

The Psalmist looks back to these events and remembers the hallmarks of God’s steadfast love. The LORD chose them from among all nations and raised them up. He saved them from slavery and provided for them as they travelled. He continues to do so for his people now.

Story of Jesus

The story of God’s steadfast love continues on and on. Not least, but the best aspect of God’s steadfast love – his covenant faithfulness to his people is demonstrated in the gospel. As Paul says at the start of Romans;

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, (Rom 1:1–6)

God sent Jesus to live, die, and rise again. In doing so he fulfilled his covenant promises to bring salvation to all his people. The gospel reveals God’s covenant and kingly righteousness in the salvation of his people and the judgment on the wicked.

The Psalm ends where it began. In all these things God’s people are to give him thanks for his steadfast love.

Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014. All Rights Reserved.