Sovereign Grace Church Toronto

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face. Psalms 89:14-15

Note the foundational pillars of God’s sovereign rule. Then marvel at what emanates outward from the throne towards us! What a picture of the cross! This is no mere static doctrinal affirmation. It is to affect us deeply because it has massive implications.

The word translated “festal shout” could also be translated as “battle cry” or “joyful acclamation”. It is the same word used in Joshua 6:5. It is the declaration of faith in God when as yet his action is still unseen (Hebrews 11:1). Does the sense of God’s presence impart this kind of faith, or does this kind of faith make one aware of God’s presence? (lit. “the light of your face”)

Pastor Tim Kerr

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. Psalms 86:12-13

Every day is a good day if we know Christ. To be able to say, “you have delivered my soul from the depths” is to be compelled to also say “great is your steadfast love toward me”. No matter what the disappointment, defeat, or trial. Have you taken time today to thank God for saving you? Have you contemplated what your salvation implies about God’s personal interest in you?

Pastor Tim Kerr

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. Psalms 69:13

God is not in a hurry. Nor are his delays because of a cooling of his affections. The Psalmist speaks of the “abundance” of God’s steadfast love—yet the answer has still not come. Have you been able to say with contented resignation, “At an acceptable time, O God” when faced with a delayed answer to prayer? Perhaps God is also waiting for something from us—our yielded trust in him! (see also Psalms 102:13)

Pastor Tim Kerr

Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Psalms 77:8

Here we see a close relationship between God’s love and God’s promises. It is good for us to remember the character of the One behind the promises in scripture. It is good for us to remember the motive of the One making the promises. His promises will come to an end when his steadfast love comes to an end. What hope is found in tying God’s promises to his undying steadfast love? How does this help us when the promise seems long delayed in coming?

Pastor Tim Kerr

I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalms 63:2-4

In what ways is God’s steadfast love better than life itself? Compare the following verses:

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. Philippians 1:21-23

Pastor Tim Kerr

Appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! Psalms 61:7

These two attributes of God are often paired together- God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. Here we find a prayer where these two attributes are personified. They are compared to two mighty sentries that will guard and protect. Pray this prayer for some of the people in your life.

Pastor Tim Kerr

I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love. Psalms 59:16-17

A good way to start the day, regardless of the quality of our voice. Some of us can’t sing well, but we can sing heartily! We need to reach outside of ourselves, outside of our circumstances—out and up to God to get that kind of joy. Verse 16 speaks of God’s attributes. Verse 17 speaks of those attributes being shared with the psalmist. What words in verse 17 convey this? What is the relationship between our experience of God’s attributes and our praise of him?

Pastor Tim Kerr

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