"But you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit." Psalm 86.15
I at times will randomly, or thoughtfully, send this verse to friends. It has the power to be encouraging all the time, and often, exactly what somebody needs to hear. It doesn't hurt to hear about the love of God every once and a while, and this one is a great example of the many different kinds of love God shows us.
I don't plan of adding as much commentary to a passage as I am accustomed to doing here on Fridays. I believe these words are powerful enough all by themselves to shake you and move you. To show you different facets of His love without my help
Tender and kind. Our God is compassionate. His love is good to us.
Not easily angered. His love is forgiving and gracious.
Immense. His love is vast and eternal.
Never quits. Our God never gives up on us. Nothing can separate us from His love.
C.H. Spurgeon commented on Psalm 86,
"God's love assumes many forms, and is lovely in them all."
Showing posts with label psalms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label psalms. Show all posts
Psalm 86 (MSG) is one of the five Tephillahs or “prayers” in the psalms, and is a prayer of Davids. It’s a beautiful and powerful prayer, one that has done much to encourage my heart. It is the insert of praise within the prayer that I find especially nice.
For today, I would like to look specifically at the latter part of the psalm, beginning in verse 11. David says, “train me, God, to walk straight.” The KJV puts it, “teach me thy way, O Lord.” I don’t know what it is, but something about this particular verse in the KJV in this context is so intimate. “Teach me thy way, O Lord.” Don’t you want to repeat it a hundred times!
We are to be constant students in the school of God. Ever learning, and desiring to learn, from the King of Kings. David willfully wanted to follow God. I like Charles Spurgeons commentary, “not my way give me, but thy way teach me.” That is my daily prayer if I’ve ever had one.
David takes it a step further by taking it to the heart. “Put me together, one heart AND mind.” To be made whole, undivided. A (wo)man divided can not stand, but a (wo)man made whole can “worship in joyful fear.” We are being called to rise up as women undivided in heart and mind, free from any fear but holy awe.
Praise should never be lifted unless it is whole. When we give anything but, it is not complete, therefore it is not real and authentic. God doesn’t deserve divided and conflicted praise, but whole heart and mind within the avenue of glory we give above.
In verse 13 David continues with, “You've always been great toward me—what love!” I really don’t know what I could put here that would highlight your understanding of it any better. We all have come from a low place; we are all sinners who botched it up. But those of us who know the immeasurable grace and mercy of God can testify that He has been great towards us! Which is indeed an incredible love!
“But you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit.” Verse 15 is without a doubt my favorite verse in this psalm. David has just talked about the enemies rising against him and continues the thought with, “BUT.” But God is tender.kind.not easily angered.immense in love.and He never quits. What a contrast he has painted for us!
David turns to bold requests at the end of the psalm. “So look me in the eye and show kindness.” I’m pretty sure that’s a bold request...and that’s okay. Don’t be afraid to ask God to look you in the eye. Don’t be afraid to ask for His attention and kindness. By asking this, David is asking for mercy and strength. “Give your servant the strength to go on, save your dear, dear child!” When God gives us His strength, we are sufficient in all times.
With one last bold request, David says, “Make a show of how much you love me so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed, as you, God, gently and powerfully put me back on my feet.” God makes a show of His love for us by taking care of us. By saying “make a show,” David is asking God to assure him of His mercy by delivering him out of his current trouble.
We serve a pretty amazing God. And it must be our desire to understand Him that nudges us to move forward as students eager to learn. Students of our mighty God made whole in heart and mind. It must be our pursuit of God and His truth that defines us. And it will be within our pursuit, bearing fruits of praise, that we will see God show us (and others) how much He loves us!
For today, I would like to look specifically at the latter part of the psalm, beginning in verse 11. David says, “train me, God, to walk straight.” The KJV puts it, “teach me thy way, O Lord.” I don’t know what it is, but something about this particular verse in the KJV in this context is so intimate. “Teach me thy way, O Lord.” Don’t you want to repeat it a hundred times!
We are to be constant students in the school of God. Ever learning, and desiring to learn, from the King of Kings. David willfully wanted to follow God. I like Charles Spurgeons commentary, “not my way give me, but thy way teach me.” That is my daily prayer if I’ve ever had one.
David takes it a step further by taking it to the heart. “Put me together, one heart AND mind.” To be made whole, undivided. A (wo)man divided can not stand, but a (wo)man made whole can “worship in joyful fear.” We are being called to rise up as women undivided in heart and mind, free from any fear but holy awe.
Praise should never be lifted unless it is whole. When we give anything but, it is not complete, therefore it is not real and authentic. God doesn’t deserve divided and conflicted praise, but whole heart and mind within the avenue of glory we give above.
In verse 13 David continues with, “You've always been great toward me—what love!” I really don’t know what I could put here that would highlight your understanding of it any better. We all have come from a low place; we are all sinners who botched it up. But those of us who know the immeasurable grace and mercy of God can testify that He has been great towards us! Which is indeed an incredible love!
“But you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit.” Verse 15 is without a doubt my favorite verse in this psalm. David has just talked about the enemies rising against him and continues the thought with, “BUT.” But God is tender.kind.not easily angered.immense in love.and He never quits. What a contrast he has painted for us!
David turns to bold requests at the end of the psalm. “So look me in the eye and show kindness.” I’m pretty sure that’s a bold request...and that’s okay. Don’t be afraid to ask God to look you in the eye. Don’t be afraid to ask for His attention and kindness. By asking this, David is asking for mercy and strength. “Give your servant the strength to go on, save your dear, dear child!” When God gives us His strength, we are sufficient in all times.
With one last bold request, David says, “Make a show of how much you love me so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed, as you, God, gently and powerfully put me back on my feet.” God makes a show of His love for us by taking care of us. By saying “make a show,” David is asking God to assure him of His mercy by delivering him out of his current trouble.
We serve a pretty amazing God. And it must be our desire to understand Him that nudges us to move forward as students eager to learn. Students of our mighty God made whole in heart and mind. It must be our pursuit of God and His truth that defines us. And it will be within our pursuit, bearing fruits of praise, that we will see God show us (and others) how much He loves us!
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encouragement,
praise,
prayer,
psalms,
worship
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One of my favorite things about God and His Word is the constant relationship between the two. And how neither will ever change. There is something very trusting and safe in knowing that the One on the other side of the relationship will never give up on you, and that the promises that coincide with that relationship will never be empty.
I love (and I use that word very seriously) that God and His Word are always for me. And not just for me, but for everyone. It’s universal! One of the best experiences in life happens when you are going through a season and God sends you Scripture that is perfect in it’s timing. It’s food in season that you desperately hold onto and feed yourself with.
Right now that food for me is Psalm 34. I can’ t tell you how much this Psalm has fed my soul in the last few weeks. It’s a Psalm of praise, and a Psalm of wisdom instruction. Both key disciplines in the spiritual walk of a believer.
The first verse is my favorite. “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” This may sound ridiculous, but when I first began incorporating this psalm into my walk a few weeks ago, I put in my phone calendar this verse, and scheduled random reminders for it. So throughout the day and the week, I was getting reminders to praise God.
I’m not embarrassed to admit I need a little help in this. The Bible says that our minds are hostile towards God (Romans 8.7); naturally, it does not desire to contemplate on His goodness, so sometimes I may need a little reminder to do just that.
Oh, how I long to be known as a person who continually praises God. That’s are primary purpose and first calling...to give glory to God. And not only to be known as a person who does so, but to be one that encourages others to do so. Verse 3 says, “Oh, magnify the LORD with me,and let us exalt his name together!”
Definitions of magnify include: to make greater in size, to enlarge, to extol.
This means that my primary reason for breathing is to enlarge God not only in my life, but to encourage it in the lives of others.
I know I said verse 1 is my favorite, but I happen to have another favorite part (let’s be real, I can’t have a favorite when it comes to the Word of God...it’s all so good!). Five times in this Psalm, the word “all” is used (ESV).
V. 4: “I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
V. 6: “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.”
V. 17: “When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their
troubles.”
V. 19: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”
V. 20: “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
If that doesn’t encourage your heart, I don’t know what would? Not only do we serve a God that is unchanging, but we serve a God that delivers us out of ALL our troubles. We can be confident in the promises of God. We can be confident in the promise that He will take care of ALL our problems.
The key to receiving the blessings of God is a consistency of worship in the life of the believer. Verse 9 (MSG) says, “Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.” Perhaps you’re facing an uphill battle? Maybe worship and praise is one of the last things on your mind? I’ve been there many times, but each time I learn how much more important it is to praise. At all times.
The final verse in the psalm says, “God pays for each slave's freedom; no one who runs to him loses out.” He’s already purchased your freedom and the victory is His already. Which means the victory is yours! Know that You can’t lose when you run to God!
I love (and I use that word very seriously) that God and His Word are always for me. And not just for me, but for everyone. It’s universal! One of the best experiences in life happens when you are going through a season and God sends you Scripture that is perfect in it’s timing. It’s food in season that you desperately hold onto and feed yourself with.
Right now that food for me is Psalm 34. I can’ t tell you how much this Psalm has fed my soul in the last few weeks. It’s a Psalm of praise, and a Psalm of wisdom instruction. Both key disciplines in the spiritual walk of a believer.
The first verse is my favorite. “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” This may sound ridiculous, but when I first began incorporating this psalm into my walk a few weeks ago, I put in my phone calendar this verse, and scheduled random reminders for it. So throughout the day and the week, I was getting reminders to praise God.
I’m not embarrassed to admit I need a little help in this. The Bible says that our minds are hostile towards God (Romans 8.7); naturally, it does not desire to contemplate on His goodness, so sometimes I may need a little reminder to do just that.
Oh, how I long to be known as a person who continually praises God. That’s are primary purpose and first calling...to give glory to God. And not only to be known as a person who does so, but to be one that encourages others to do so. Verse 3 says, “Oh, magnify the LORD with me,and let us exalt his name together!”
Definitions of magnify include: to make greater in size, to enlarge, to extol.
This means that my primary reason for breathing is to enlarge God not only in my life, but to encourage it in the lives of others.
I know I said verse 1 is my favorite, but I happen to have another favorite part (let’s be real, I can’t have a favorite when it comes to the Word of God...it’s all so good!). Five times in this Psalm, the word “all” is used (ESV).
V. 4: “I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
V. 6: “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.”
V. 17: “When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their
troubles.”
V. 19: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”
V. 20: “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
If that doesn’t encourage your heart, I don’t know what would? Not only do we serve a God that is unchanging, but we serve a God that delivers us out of ALL our troubles. We can be confident in the promises of God. We can be confident in the promise that He will take care of ALL our problems.
The key to receiving the blessings of God is a consistency of worship in the life of the believer. Verse 9 (MSG) says, “Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.” Perhaps you’re facing an uphill battle? Maybe worship and praise is one of the last things on your mind? I’ve been there many times, but each time I learn how much more important it is to praise. At all times.
The final verse in the psalm says, “God pays for each slave's freedom; no one who runs to him loses out.” He’s already purchased your freedom and the victory is His already. Which means the victory is yours! Know that You can’t lose when you run to God!
Category:
encouragement,
praise,
psalms,
trials,
worship
0
comments
