Let us Consider the Steadfast Love of the LORD

“Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.” (Psalm 107:43 ESV)

Are we wise? Have you and I considered the steadfast love of the LORD for our lives?

Especially since the Pandemic descended upon us, we have all felt the need for wisdom. Knowledge alone is not enough. Knowledge is not the same as wisdom. With all the knowledge of experts and the multiplicity of opinions and charts and statistics and data… we are still left with choices that quite literally is matter of life or death. And those choices demand that we are wise. Should we start call for a Circuit Breaker or should we create a new phase - Phase 2 (Heightened Alert)? Should we go from Phase 2 (HA) to Phase 3 (HA)? Or should we create a staggered opening? Should we risk the possible increase in the death toll from coronavirus infection or should we risk the death toll of local SMEs? These kinds of decisions are no longer just a matter of having the right data and knowledge, but a matter of interpretation, discernment and fine judgement. Especially in these times, the importance of wisdom over just knowledge is made clear.

The need for wisdom is clear, but why does the Psalmist make this link between wisdom and the “the steadfast love of the LORD”? He ends the entire Psalm with - ”Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things. What are these things that the wise must attend to? He replies in the line that follows - “Let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD”. Those who consider the steadfast love of the LORD will have the wisdom they need for life.

We seek wisdom for a reason. We seek wisdom so that we can live well. We seek wisdom in order to keep safe and secure. We seek wisdom for a success in our endeavours. We seek wisdom in order to live a fulfilling life. In this way, Wisdom is only the means to an End. And the insight of the Psalmist is this - a right relationship with God guarantees a blessed outcome in our lives. A right relationship with God ensures that we will have Life in abundance; and Life of the everlasting kind. Psalm 107 points out four specific outcomes of the people who have this right relationship with God.

A right relationship with God results in true satisfaction and true fulfilment (Psalm 107:4-9).

A right relationship with God results in true freedom from all forms of bondage and imprisonment (Psalm 107: 10-16)

A right relationship with God results in true healing and restoration (Psalm 107:17-20).

A right relationship with God results in safety and successful endeavours (Psalm 107:23-30)

The Psalmist doesn’t just describe these blessed outcomes of life, but underlines for us what kind of relationship with God produces these kinds of outcomes.

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”

Four times this exact phrase is repeated (Psalm 107:6, 13, 19, 28). It is precisely when “they cried out to the LORD”, that they received these blessed outcomes of life. The lesson of Psalm 107 is clear. Right relationship with God produces blessed outcomes of life. And right relationship with God is defined as this utter dependence on His steadfast love for us.

Are we wise? Have you and I considered the steadfast love of the LORD for us? In these challenging times, let me amplify the wisdom of the Psalmist, but reminding us of the teaching of the LORD Jesus Himself -

““Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:25–33 ESV)