Sovereign Grace Church Toronto

We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Psalms 89:9-10

It seems that most people are perpetually busy. So much to do, so little time. No time to even think or reflect. But if we dare to push the pause button and think—really think—our world might suddenly appear very different. What is the close connection between our contemplation of God and our praise of him?

Pastor Tim Kerr

Though I walk in the midst of trouble…The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Ps 138:7a, 8

A proclamation and a prayer. Since God is loving, he has a purpose for each one of us. His steadfast love includes a personal and providentially unfolding plan—even when we walk in the midst of trouble. Note what the word “work” refers to! (compare with Eph 2:10)

Pastor Tim Kerr

I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul. Ps 31:7

What do we discover here about steadfast love? How does God’s intimate knowledge of our suffering make us glad? It is not the absence of trials that give us joy but the presence of God. Knowing that he knows and cares lifts the burden.

Pastor Tim Kerr

Your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. Ps 26:3

Conscious awareness of God is a ministry of the Holy Spirit. From our side it evidences itself as a gentle faith that calls to mind and recognizes God’s presence with us. What is the connection between living with a sense of God’s love and “walking in faithfulness”? (compare Eph 3:16-19 with Eph 4:1-3)

Pastor Tim Kerr

All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Ps 25:10

With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. Ps 18:25-27

We could add the words “perceived to be” between the words “are” and “steadfast love” to give the sense of Ps. 25:10. In other words, we become more aware of God’s activity and presence as we submit to him. The submitted one “sees” more clearly. Note this also in Ps 18:25. The opposite pattern also holds true—God seems dark and crooked to the person who is wrong inside (see Ps 18:26). Ps 18:27 gives us the root cause of this. The proud man never sees God accurately.

Pastor Tim Kerr

But you, O GOD my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me! Ps 109:21

Here we find two very effective ways to pray:

Appeal to God’s honor (see Duet 9:26-28)

Appeal to God’s character

The word “because” indicates the Psalmist gave God reasons why he should answer his prayer. What is the connection between God’s goodness and his deliverance in this passage? When we face times that we are tempted to doubt God’s goodness, how can contemplating his great salvation help us perceive God’s goodness once again?

Pastor Tim Kerr

I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Ps 13:5 & Ps 33:21

According to these verses, what is the most direct pathway to joy? Why do you think this is true? What is the obvious (or not so obvious) correlation between these two? Anxiety is one of the thieves of joy. Notice how 1 Peter 5:6-7 presents the same solution as these verses to dispelling worry from our lives.

Pastor Tim Kerr

Now may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. 2 Sam 2:6

Wondrously show your steadfast love. & Ps 17:7

Have you ever prayed for God to show steadfast love and faithfulness to others in your life? Have you ever spoken this blessing over your children using these words? It honors God for his steadfast love to be seen and on display.

Pastor Tim Kerr

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Exod 34:6

Note the first characteristic about himself that God chooses to make known. What is significant about this? Why do you think God added the word “abounding” to the already power packed word “steadfast love”? God wants us to know something about Himself that we find difficult to fully believe. He is extravagant in his love. Lavish and generous beyond belief! This is our God.

Pastor Tim Kerr

Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now. Num 14:19

Pardon for sin is never given without a heart of love and mercy behind it. So it is with God toward us. So it is with us toward others. The heart ready to forgive never appears out of nowhere. There is always a powerful love behind it.

Who is this prayer for? What is the significance of the words “according to”? What is the significance of the word “greatness”? Have you ever prayed like this for your family? For your church? For your family of churches?

Pastor Tim Kerr