This article is based on the lectionary reading for January 17, Psalm 36:5-10.
The word "steadfast" means unmovable, sure, dependable, and never-ending. The psalmist grows rapturous as he speaks of the steadfastness of God, which extends to the heavens. God is the one who sticks by us, no matter what. God can be counted upon to do the right thing. Even when he is angry with us, such as sending the nation of Israel into exile in payment for her spiritual unfaithfulness, God provides a means of forgiveness and return. God will always love us and care about us, even in times when He seems to be silent.
"Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains…" The holiness of God is beyond measure. Strong and mighty is the Lord, and he is altogether right and pure. "Your judgments are like the great deep." God's wisdom is beyond our understanding, and his ways are clearly not our ways. The God who chose to send a little child to save the world from its sins, who hung salvation upon the thin thread of faith in the One born in Bethlehem, is entirely above and beyond human ability to predict how and why God acts in our affairs. His judgments are indeed deeper than the deepest sea.
"How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings." The God of Israel is not just the God for one people; He is the God for everyone. His never-ending love is for all time and all people. We are now in the season of Epiphany. The meaning of the season is the revealing of Christ to the world. The symbols are the wise men and the star of Bethlehem. As the wise men found the child, it is as if the Gentiles had found God. God is not the God exclusively for Israel; He is the God for all peoples, everywhere. You and I, who were once outcasts and strangers to God, have now been brought near through the intervention and wonderful love of Christ Jesus.
"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." In God there is life. This life comes as a gift from Jesus Christ. "There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel's veins." We have the life blown into our nostrils by God at our creation, but it is Christ who brings salvation and life for the soul. By his work of saving grace upon the cross, we are brought back into a relationship with God which saves us from our selfishness and sin and puts us into a right relationship of love and obedience to God our Creator.
The love of God is steadfast. His love endures through our sin and brings us into a right relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Love never ends, and will triumph over our sin, our waywardness, our tendency to go astray. Love can outlast any hurt, any slight, and endure any circumstance. The love of God is steadfast.
Blessings,
Terry
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