Christ's Precious Steadfast Love
4/25 Reading Portions: Numbers 2; Psalm 36; Ecclesiastes 12; Philemon 1
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4/25 Reading Portions: Numbers 2; Psalm 36; Ecclesiastes 12; Philemon 1
Psalm 36:7
How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
MERCY
When we consider God’s mercy or steadfast love, the Hebrew חֵסֵד (CHĀ-sād), as with any of God’s divine attributes, we must consider that God is mercy itself, just as God is love (1 Jn 4:8). His mercy will be consistent and coexist equally with every other attribute of God. Conflicts and contradictions concerning God’s holy attributes are only a misunderstanding on our part, the finite creature attempting to comprehend the infinite Creator. The Bible gives us glimpses of God’s eternal being. The most supreme way He displays His steadfast love is through His precious Son, Jesus Christ. We see Christ’s perfection as Man. We view Christ’s infinitude as God. We grasp God’s justice, mercy, grace, and love by Christ’s atoning Sacrifice upon the cross. To look elsewhere for these blessed truths is the acme of foolishness and an assault upon faith. God’s mercy in Christ is “excellent” (KJV) because it is infinitely costly. It cost the Son of God infinite sufferings for our sake. The word precious indicates costliness; however, since it is an attribute of Deity, it must be infinite because He is infinite. The Scripture tells us that His mercy never ceases, that it is not consumed (Lam 3:22). Moreover, His mercy endures forever (Psa 136:1-26). God’s mercy in Christ is as high as heaven itself (Psa 36:5), so while it may seem out of reach to some, like those who have an eye on self and not on Christ, it must be infinitely lofty in order for all of Christ’s children, those saved from Adam’s fall until His return, to take refuge in the shadow of [His] wings. His wing’s shadow, or rather shade or defense, is His merciful refuge. It is as vast and secure as the self-sufficient God Himself. Why? His mercy is precious, excellent, infinitely costly, containing the eternal presence of Christ, and filled with all the power and authority of Christ’s sufferings upon the cross. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Christ, consumed by holy justice,
He suffer’d on that tree:
Christ’s cross shows us how precious
Mercy cost to purchase you and me.