THE LOVING-KINDNESS OF GOD
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"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed — yet My loving-kindness shall not depart from you, nor My covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10
Sometimes, we like to think of the consolation which awaits us in Heaven, when our warfare is accomplished, and our iniquity is pardoned. But here, in this precious Scripture — we have comfort and help for the daily life and strife of earth.
The loving-kindness of God! It is unutterable, illimitable, unchangeable! Every believer has experienced it; but the whole host of the redeemed, gathered from all lands, throughout all ages — could not tell the heights, and depths, and lengths, and breadths of this "great" "everlasting" "loving" kindness, which dwells in the heart of God for His people!
"My loving-kindness!" Dear Lord, the words are as sweet to my soul — as honey and the honeycomb. They carry in them . . .
an answer to all my fears,
a response to all my pleas,
a promise of power to overcome all my weakness.
I say to You, sometimes, "Lord, how is it that You can be so tender and gracious to one so forgetful, so unworthy, so inexcusable as I am?" And Your answer is, "My loving-kindness! I have loved you with an everlasting love!"
"But, Lord, I am a worse and greater sinner than I thought I was! Every day reveals to me some hitherto undiscovered evil in my heart, which must be displeasing in Your sight." Again You say, "My loving-kindness! I have put away your sin!"
"But, Lord, I have no power to do right, I cannot of myself, even think a good thought — much less live that life of holiness which You command and require." And again You give me that sweet reply, "My loving-kindness! My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness!"
Oh! that I had a seraph's tongue to tell, or a pen dipped in the praises of Heaven to write — what His loving-kindness and tender-mercy have been to me!
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed — yet My loving-kindness shall not depart from you!" God's negatives and affirmatives — are like great rocks jutting out from the insecure and shifting sands of all earthly experiences. When a troubled, bewildered soul is enabled by faith to cling fast to one of these — all fear vanishes, all anxiety is gone, nothing can move it from its confidence and peace.
We have all suffered, more or less, from the ever-changing influences around us. And perhaps we ourselves have added somewhat to the sorrow which is in the world — by reason of our fickleness and changeableness. But never, for one moment, has our God withdrawn the love with which He loved us from all eternity! Never has He forsaken or forgotten one of those who have put their trust in Him. Tis true, our sins and our ingratitude may so grieve and provoke Him — that He may hide His face from us for a while. But even then, "My loving-kindness shall not depart from you!"
O my loving Lord, let the support and comfort of this precious "shall not" sink deep into my soul this morning, and strengthen me to face every difficulty, and resist every evil, and bear any trial — with the courage such an assurance gives! Or, make it a sweet resting place and refuge for me, Lord — where I may be sheltered from all the disturbing changes of the world around me. Though friends may grow cold, and times may change, and circumstances may alter, and old age may creep on, and infirmities may gather themselves together, and flesh and heart may fail — yes, though my feet touch the cold waters of the river of death — yet this promise will stand sure and true! Your loving-kindness shall not depart from me forever — for it shall present me "faultless before the presence of Your glory with exceeding joy!"
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