A word has been popping up in the Psalms of late. Of course it’s always been there but that’s the way with the Bible, it is a ‘living’ word. Different things from the same passage can impress on us at different times. The thing that’s been catching my attention recently is how often the writers celebrate God’s faithfulness.
It goes well with a beautiful children’s illustration I came across in which a father teaches his young child the moon is ‘always round’, even if we can only see part of it or none at all. The moon is always there and always round and God is always faithful, even if we cannot see or understand everything or find some things hard to accept.
‘Great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies’ writes David in Ps 57 v 9.
‘You are mighty O Lord’ says the writer of Ps89, ‘and Your faithfulness surrounds You.’ (v8)
The famous Ps100 ends, ‘For the Lord is good and His love endures for ever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.’
We even find this intriguing reference in Ps119 v 75, ‘I know O Lord that Your laws are righteous and in faithfulness You have afflicted me.’
It seems even when God seems to be disciplining His people He is being ‘faithful’, dependable, true to His character of holiness but also love. We by contrast are often inconsistent, we don’t always keep our promises fully. We are unfaithful!
But God still desires a holy people to share His covenant blessing forever. This is illustrated in the Old Testament history of Israel in how, despite their persistent disobedience, God’s neverending grace humbles them yet also preserves, protects, provides and brings them home.
His faithfulness is illustrated fully in Jesus Who comes to fulfil God’s promise, demonstrating complete holiness with the deepest love on the cross. Thus He saves and renews a people to inhabit eternity.
The moon is still round. Rightly we keep on worshipping and praying through good and bad days, trusting He is working all things for good and those who love Him will see it and rejoice as He outworks His plan of redemption.
‘Great is Thy faithfulness O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.’
It goes well with a beautiful children’s illustration I came across in which a father teaches his young child the moon is ‘always round’, even if we can only see part of it or none at all. The moon is always there and always round and God is always faithful, even if we cannot see or understand everything or find some things hard to accept.
‘Great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies’ writes David in Ps 57 v 9.
‘You are mighty O Lord’ says the writer of Ps89, ‘and Your faithfulness surrounds You.’ (v8)
The famous Ps100 ends, ‘For the Lord is good and His love endures for ever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.’
We even find this intriguing reference in Ps119 v 75, ‘I know O Lord that Your laws are righteous and in faithfulness You have afflicted me.’
It seems even when God seems to be disciplining His people He is being ‘faithful’, dependable, true to His character of holiness but also love. We by contrast are often inconsistent, we don’t always keep our promises fully. We are unfaithful!
But God still desires a holy people to share His covenant blessing forever. This is illustrated in the Old Testament history of Israel in how, despite their persistent disobedience, God’s neverending grace humbles them yet also preserves, protects, provides and brings them home.
His faithfulness is illustrated fully in Jesus Who comes to fulfil God’s promise, demonstrating complete holiness with the deepest love on the cross. Thus He saves and renews a people to inhabit eternity.
The moon is still round. Rightly we keep on worshipping and praying through good and bad days, trusting He is working all things for good and those who love Him will see it and rejoice as He outworks His plan of redemption.
‘Great is Thy faithfulness O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.’
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