Unfailing Love Of God
(Paul Gwee, Associate Lay Leader)
READ:
Psalm 44 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
The psalmist began by praising God for what He had done for his ancestors. He had heard from them how The Lord delivered them from their enemies during the Exodus journey to the Promised Land. He acknowledged how it was God’s right hand, arm, Light of His face and His Name that brought victories over their adversaries. It was not by their effort nor their own swords and bows. They could just trample on their foes by the Name of The Lord God. How awesome it must be. These made the people of Israel praise and glorify God all day long and forever.
Yet from verse 9 onwards, we see a dramatic change in the psalmist’s tone. He began with “BUT NOW”. His position changed to the current state of misery and oppression. Verses 9 to 22 describe his state of mind with these words: rejected, retreat, plundered, devoured, scattered, sold, pittance, reproach, scorn, derision, byword, shake their heads, disgrace, shame, taunts, revile, bent on revenge, crushed, darkness, facing death all day long. There was a sense of intense, unbearable and traumatic challenges that he and Israel faced.
Having poured out his deep grievances, he began to search and reason why such predicaments had fallen upon them. He seemed even to allude to their own self-justification of their righteousness, which is something we can so often associate with in ourselves during such trying times.
Yet we see from verses 23 to 26 that he turned his focus unto The Lord. He did not dwell on the circumstances around him but cried out to The Lord: “Awake Lord! Why do you sleep?” He pleaded confidently for The Lord’s attention and for His help and rescue. Why? He knew in his heart of God’s unfailing love and His faithfulness, who will deliver them no matter how deep their pain and predicaments. It was God’s unfailing love that gave such a great assurance and upliftment. Indeed, He never fails. His Love endures forever (a theme which is echoed in Ps 136).
I believe that the life stories of the mighty deliverance by The Lord from the past generations had made a significant difference by giving him the assurance of God’s unfailing love.
APPLY
I need to hand down The Lord’s inheritance (Debt 32:9) and Word of God to my current and next generation. I must take time to share life stories of how The Lord has always been faithful in delivering me from all my challenges despite my shortcomings and detours along the way. I recall how my parents too, shared their life stories in their journey of faith that now encourage me. It is only upon hearing such testimonies and studying God’s word that one can deepen one’s sense of the unfailing love and faithfulness of God for the generations to come.
I must refrain from wallowing in my predicaments or even put myself in situations of self-justification of my righteousness. Instead, I need to turn my focus onto The Lord and encourage myself through His Holy Spirit to trust Him for His full assurance and unfailing love. Just like the psalmist declares in verse 5: “…through your Name we trample our foes.”
DO
- Tell my life stories on how God has dealt with me through my journey of faith in Jesus Christ and use God’s word to reinforce my belief in His unfailing love and faithfulness.
- Guard against the trap of self-justification on righteousness no matter how right I may be as I am not perfect. Only God is righteous and perfect.
- Praise and give thanks daily for God’s unfailing love and His faithfulness.
PRAY
Holy Spirit, guide me in sharing my life stories to glorify God’s unfailing love and not to dwell on self-justification but rather go the extra mile in serving others in the community. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
