Tags
Faithfulness, Generations, James 1:17, Mercy, Promise of God, Psalm 89.1, Steadfast love, The faithfulness of God, Truth, Witness, Word of God
Day 23: Monday in the Fourth Week of Lent
Psalm 89:1
I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever;
….with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
‘Steadfast love’ and ‘faithfulness’ in this verse were translated as ‘mercy’ and ‘truth’ when the scripture was brought into Greek in the centuries before Jesus. The first word refers to covenant loyalty, the second to reliability. God can be counted on. God’s word is sure. God stands by God’s promise. The God of the scriptures is not fickle, like other ancient deities. God is true, reliable, faithful, steadfast; “there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
And even in times that seem to cast a shadow over God’s promises, the conviction of God’s faithfulness abides. The whole biblical narrative is testimony to God’s faithfulness. The God who created a good world and set free those held in bondage, who spoke from Sinai and sent prophets to speak, who made a promise to David of a world governed by mercy – this God is faithful. Salvation will come. The grave will be opened. The world will be reborn.
This is what the poet sings to all generations. It is the central conviction of biblical faith: God is faithful. The promises of God are sure. Prayers are heard. Sins are forgiven. Hearts are healed. The earth is renewed. Even when the covenant lies broken, God proclaims a new covenant, with God’s way written on our hearts. We may prove fickle, but God does not. We may be faithless, but God remains faithful.
This is the faith we pass down to every generation. This is the message we share with every tribe and nation: God is steadfast love and faithfulness; God is mercy and truth. The heartbeat of the universe does not falter. The breath of the divine does not cease. The work of healing does not perish. The. labor for justice and mercy does not waver. The light of truth does not fade.
From generation to generation, we proclaim this message. From generation to generation we sing this praise.
Gracious and ever-present God,
whose mercy knows no bounds,
and whose arms are ever open to your world:
Grant us courage to spread your light
And make us joyful in your service.
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Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jeune_famille_par_Roger_Langevin_2007.JPG Alcide55 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)