Savoring the Scripture

God’s Compassionate ‘Yet’ to Our Unfaithfulness Psalm 78 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14 When I’ve spent time reading through Exodus and Numbers, there are a couple of things that amaze me. One, God performs many wonderful things on behalf of His people. The plagues executed on Egypt to deliver His people, the parting of the Red Sea, the miraculous provision of water and food are just a few of the ways God worked for the people of Israel. If that wasn’t enough, His very presence went with them and dwelt with them, guiding and protecting them. The second thing that is always amazing is the number of times, despite God’s mighty works, the people rebel against Him and grumble against Him. Numerous times they cry out that they would rather have stayed in Egypt the land of their affliction than to be brought to the place God led them. But however wondrous ...

His Compassion Will Not Be Restrained  Psalm 40 To speak of God the Father as “the Father of mercies” is to say that he is the one who multiplies compassionate mercies to his needful, wayward, messy, fallen, wandering people. Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly God’s compassion toward us is His tender mercy, pity, and love. In Psalm 40, David prays, “You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me.” The ESV translates this as, “As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me.” This is tender comfort for those times when “evils beyond number” surround us (40:12). Whether it be our own iniquities which abound, others who seek to hurt us and delight in it, or anything that makes us afflicted and needy (40:12,14, 17). His compassionate mercy toward us is not restrained. He is mindful of us. He is our help. He is our deliverer. In His faithfulness and lovingkindness He will be there to meet us with His presence in our time of need.  We can trust that He will act acco...