Show Your marvelous lovingkindness . . . Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You . . . Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You . . .. Cause me to hear your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust. (Psalm 17:7; 36:10; 63:3; and 143:8)
There are many reasons why David is a wonderful Old Testament example of God's people living by His grace. Previously, we saw that David confessed the Lord as his strength and his refuge. "The LORD is the strength of my life . . . God is a refuge for us" (Psalm 27:1 and 62:8). In our present verses we see David relying upon the Lord's lovingkindness.
Lovingkindness is an Old Testament term that is closely related to the New Testament term, grace. It speaks of God's zealous, loyal, steadfast love toward His people. It includes the truth that God is merciful (that is, He provides a way to hold back from us the judgment that our sins deserve). Yet, it goes beyond that wonderful fact. Lovingkindness also includes God's goodness (that is, His commitment to do good things for His children day by day, supplying whatever is needed in our lives).
Much insight into this word (and appreciation for it) is found in David's frequent reference to it and reliance upon it. "Show Your marvelous lovingkindness." David had a deep desire that the Lord would demonstrate the wondrous reality of His lovingkindness through his daily walk. He knew that the Lord's lovingkindness was what actually made life what God intended it to be. "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You." David praised God for His faithful goodness toward him, which was far better, and far beyond, merely enjoying the natural things that life offers to all who exist. The Lord is good to all who live on this earth. "He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45). However, His lovingkindness is shown to those who have a true relationship with Him by faith. David wanted this goodness to be his ongoing supply. "Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You."
David sought the Lord for the work of His lovingkindness, from morning time on through the day. "Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust." As the Lord poured out His loyal, steadfast love, David gave glory to the Lord among His people. "I have not concealed Your lovingkindness . . . from the great congregation" (Psa 40:10).
Dear Lord of lovingkindness, I thank You for Your loyal, steadfast love toward me through the years. You have had mercy upon me. You have shown great goodness toward me. Help me to point others to Your marvelous lovingkindness, Amen.
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Bob Hoekstra ( - 2012)
Bob's involvement with the Calvary Chapels began in 1971, when he and his wife Dini visited Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on a Sunday evening. They were deeply touched by the life-giving teaching of the word of God, the simple worship "in Spirit and in truth", and the profound expressions of the love of the Lord among the saints. Upon returning to Dallas, they regularly obtained Pastor Chuck Smith's teaching tapes and eventually became daily listeners of the Word for Today on the radio.Since 1993, Bob had been teaching at Calvary Chapel and other church fellowships across the country and overseas (including, Seminars, Pastors' Conferences, Church Services, Leadership Conferences, Retreats, and Schools of Evangelism/Ministry). He has taught numerous classes at Calvary Chapel Bible College (both at its former location in Twin Peaks, CA and its current location in Murrieta Hot Springs, CA) as well as at the extension campuses of Costa Mesa, Vista, San Diego, El Cajon, and others. Bob's teaching generally highlights such subjects as Counseling God's Way ,Family God's Way ,Growing in the Grace of God ,The Church: How Jesus Builds It ,Contending for the Faith ,Promise Believers ,The Sufficiency of Christ and His Word ,The Psychologizing of the Faith , and related themes.
Pastor Bob Hoekstra is the founder and Director of Living in Christ Ministries (livinginchrist.org). He has been in ministry since 1967, including fourteen years in Dallas, TX and eleven years as Pastor of Calvary Chapel of Irvine, CA. He and his wife, Dini, were married in 1966, and have three adult children and eleven grandchildren. Bob graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1973 with the Master of Theology degree.
Bob's involvement with the Calvary Chapels began in 1971. Since 1993, Bob has been teaching at Calvary Chapel and other church fellowships across the country and overseas. The Living in Christ Radio Program is heard on several stations across the country.