Steadfast Love

Scripture Reading: Psalm 106:15

He gave them what they asked but sent a wasting disease among them.

Looking back, I am thankful to God for all the “no’s.” I desired and asked for things that now, in hindsight, I see how bad they would have been for me. I confess that I was disappointed in God’s ways at times. Now I am delighted with them.

God is gracious and merciful when it comes to saying “no” to our childish wants.

That is not always the case. As we see in this Psalm, God does at times give His people what they ask for, even when it isn’t going to be good for them. Even then, we shouldn’t take this as a hint that God is really against His people.

When we read this verse in the context of the whole Psalm, we see that the Psalm begins with “Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” It ends similarly with, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ Praise the LORD!”

Then, in between there is a litany of Israel’s failures and God’s dealings with His unbelieving and sinfully rebellious people. How do these things fit together?

The point is that despite the failures, rebellion, sins, and selfish prayers of His people; God remained faithful to His covenant with them and His love for them never waned.

Like the Israelites, if we examine the history of our life we will see a long list of failures, sins, and selfishness. What we will also see, if we look for it in the gospel of Jesus Christ, is God has remained faithful and His love toward us is steadfast.

Therefore, we can praise the Lord, for He is good!