Thursday, November 20, 2014
Lovingkindness, now there’s an odd word for you. My word processor just notified me that there is no such word. Well, if there isn’t, someone should have long, long ago stopped the translators of the King James Version of the Bible because they used it 26 times. It also seemed to be one of King David’s favorite words because he’s the one that used it the most. I was reminded of this beautiful word this past Tuesday when my wife and I joined our prayer group in church. As we were quietly praying at the altar, these words from David kept coming back to me: “Thy lovingkindness is better than life.” I then saw a picture we all see often as we are out in public. I am referring to the countless T-shirts that tell the world that something like football, basketball, baseball, or many other things are “life.” You’ve seen them, right? Well, David in Psalm 63, referring to God’s lovingkindness went even further because he declared that it was even “better” than life itself. My favorite bible commentator, Matthew Henry, was in total agreement because he said that although few thing compare with a life with God in it, with the comforts, prosperity, joy, and countless advantages it affords us, he implied it falls short of the magnitude and blessedness of His lovingkindness.
When one reads Psalm 63, we get a more complete idea of what God’s lovingkindness really meant to David. We all know some folks who sometimes make a pretty convincing job of voicing their opinion or denoting their stand on a certain issue. They may even go on a tirade that exposes their bulging neck veins or may even spray saliva to those within shouting distance. At times like these, someone may sarcastically tell them, “Now tell us how you really feel.” Well, if I were to ask David, “Tell us how you really feel about God’s lovingkindness”, I bet he would remind us of some of the things he wrote about in this psalm.
In verses 6-7, he wrote: “On my bed I remember you; (God) I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are (have been) my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.” In the first two verses of the psalm he had expressed his earnest desire to see God’s glory and power, the one he saw in the sanctuary. Can we not relate to that? In our quiet times at night with Him, when the rest of the world is asleep, is that not the time when we think of how loving and kind He was with us during the day? Is that not the time when think of all the many great things He has done for us in our lifetime? Is that not the time when we want to see and feel more of His power and glory? Is that not the time when we feel our greatest love, gratitude, and reverence for Him, and is that not the time when we can better understand what David meant when he wrote that God’s lovingkindness is better than life? Perhaps, a T-shirt with that phrase may be appropriate apparel. If not, there are many other ways in which we can remind the world that God’s children, are a blessed people indeed.
Memory verse for the week: (Luke 6:46) Jesus said: "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say."
