211. PSA 63:3. THE LOVING-KINDNESS OF GOD
Psa_63:3. The Loving-Kindness of God
"Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee."’97Psa_63:3
Afflictions are not only profitable to those who are exercised with them, but also to the church of God in general. How many bright examples have they furnished! How many instances of God’s care and goodness have they exhibited! How many proofs have they furnished of the consoling influences of genuine religion! Thousands have been instructed and edified by those precious Psa. s which David composed while suffering affliction. In the psalm which contains the text there is a beautiful manifestation of experimental piety. He was now deprived of the means of grace, but his soul was entirely fixed upon God. And he longed to have fellowship with him and his people again, ver. 2 Our text is the grateful exultation of his heart in God. "Because thy lovingkindness," &c.
Notice,
I. The Blessing acknowledged. "God’s lovingkindness."
II. Its Superlative Value. "Better that life."
III. Its grateful Influence. "Because &c., my lips shall praise thee."
I. The Blessing acknowledged. "Thy lovingkindness."
The term is a compound one, signifying love in its outgoings of kindness. Not love as an abstract principle, but love as a lively vigorous cause, producing the kindest effects. Kindness, not the result of mere esteem, or arising out of the propriety of things, but kindness flowing from intensity of affection, the ardent actings of love. The term was a favorite one with the psalmist, who employs it about twenty-two times; Jeremiah uses it four times; Hosea once. The lovingkindness of God to us was displayed,
1. In the gift of Jesus to our ruined world.
Paul speaks of God’s "kindness towards us through Christ Jesus," Eph_2:7. Now the provision of Jesus is the great basis of all the goodness of God towards us. This is the channel which his infinite mercy opened for the bestowment of every blessing, both spiritual and eternal. Hence reasons the apostle: "If God spared not," &c. Rom_8:31. He blesses us with all "spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ," Eph_1:3. God’s lovingkindness,
2. Is displayed in his forgiving mercy and saving grace.
Hence the psalmist pleads, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness," Psa_51:1. He prays also, "Hear me, and turn me; for thy lovingkindness is good," lxix. 16. God also promises, "that with everlasting kindness he will Lave mercy on his people," Isa_54:8. God’s lovingkindness,
3. Is displayed in his kind dealings with those who love him.
"As a father pitieth," &c. Psa_103:13, Psa_103:14. He supplies all their wants; directs all their steps; orders all their ways; preserves, delivers, keeps, comforts, gives grace; he is their shield, and withholds no good thing.
4. In his visits of kindness.
"What is man," &c. Temple visits’97family visits’97closet visits. His visits are holy, enlivening, comforting.
God’s lovingkindness is also exhibited,
5. In his kind promises.
The psalmist exclaims, "O, how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee," Psa_31:19. Hence he makes unto us great and precious promises, &c. Promises of all that we can possibly need either in life, death, or eternity. Promises free, munificent, exhaustless, and everlasting.
Let us notice, in reference to the lovingkindness of God,
II. Its superlative Value. "Better than life."
Here it is implied,
1. That life is valuable.
Gold and silver are so. Knowledge and dignity are greatly prized. Health and reputation are exceedingly precious. But life is still more so. As such, God has implanted very deeply in our hearts the love of life. Men will make any sacrifices to prolong it. Every other temporal thing is worthless contrasted with it. It is the gift of God. God has set a high price upon it. Although Satan was permitted to afflict the patriarch Job in his estate, family, and health, yet he was not allowed to "touch his life." God is the only rightful Disposer of life. Life is the seed-time for eternity; the period of man’s probation for the eternal state. Yet the lovingkindness of God is,
2. More valuable than life.
"Better than life."
(1) It is so in point of priority. It is before life, as our life is the first expression of God’s lovingkindness to us. His lovingkindness prepared the way for my existence, fashioned me in the womb, endued me with intellectual faculties, and at last gives me birth itself. And this lovingkindness, considered in reference to redemption, existed in the compassionate counsels of God before time itself began to roll its course.
(2) It is the support of life. He supplies all those mercies necessary to its preservation and its continuance. Bread, water, air, &c. His mercies new every morning, and fresh every evening. He preserves the life of every living thing.
(3) It is the joy and felicity of life. Mere existence has no charms. We may have life, and yet be totally wretched. Remove all connected with the Lord’s lovingkindness, and we shall be miserable indeed. It is this irradiates life, sweetens life, renders it happy under all circumstances.
(4) It blesses the blessings of life. It makes every portion as large as Benjamin’s. All insipid without it. Every thing doubly blessed with his lovingkindness.
(5) It sanctifies the adversities and sorrows of life. "If God be for us," &c. "All things work," &c. "These light afflictions," &c. Joseph in prison’97David in exile’97Daniel in the den’97three Hebrews in the fire’97Paul and Silas in the dungeon’97John in the isle of Patmos.
(6) It is more endurable than life. Life is a vapor, a thing of naught; but the lovingkindness of God changes not; cannot be exhausted; will be our comfort in affliction, our life in death, and our portion forever. Isa_54:10.
Notice, then,
III. Its grateful Influence
"Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee."
This praise would be,
1. The overflowing of a thankful heart.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul," &c.
What shall I render," &c.
This praise would,
2. Form the expression of the lips.
From the fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh. God requires both. Highest employment of man to bless and praise God.
This praise,
3. Should be constantly given to God.
We are daily the recipients of his good ness. We should therefore praise him while he lends us breath: in public, secret, family altar, &c.
4. This praise will We perpetuated through eternity.
"While life, or thought, or being last,
Or immortality endures."
Application
1 Highly prize and estimate, 2 Extol and celebrate, and, 3 Recommend the lovingkindness of the Lord.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS