09132025 Surely Lovingkindness

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the kindest, most loving, most compassionate Person who exists. David said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

The second attribute of God that David expected to follow him all his days is mercy (chesed). Like “goodness,” it can be translated as kindness, goodness, or favor. It can also be translated as mercy or pity, giving the idea that the kindness stems from a generous heart response to someone’s difficult situation. It can also carry the idea of faithfulness. I prefer the term “lovingkindness” for this gentle and faithful love that responds with sympathy and kindness to the struggles of the one loved. With 50 references in his psalms, David had a lot to say about this very meaningful aspect of God’s character.

David notices that God’s lovingkindness abounds. There is no shortage. “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Ps. 86:5). “The multitude of thy mercy” (Ps. 5:7). “Plenteous in mercy” (Ps. 86:15). “Of great mercy” (Ps. 145:8). “Plenteous in mercy” (Ps. 103:8).

A common way David expresses the greatness and vastness of God’s lovingkindness is by comparing it to the height of heaven. “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him” (Ps. 103:11). “Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens” (Ps. 36:5). “For thy mercy is great unto the heavens” (Ps. 57:10). “Thy mercy is great above the heavens” (Ps. 108:4).

David also recognizes the longevity, constancy, and eternality of God’s lovingkindness. “Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old” (Ps. 25:6). “Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me” (Ps. 40:11). “The goodness of God endureth continually” (Ps. 52:1). “Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever” (Ps. 138:8). “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him” (Ps. 103:17).

David gives two interesting pictures of God’s lovingkindness. He states that it surrounds, like a mother’s loving arms or a hen’s protective wings. “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about” (Ps. 32:10). He also says that God stacks it or dumps it on top of his head. “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Ps. 103:4).

With all of these attempts to describe the wonder of God’s lovingkindness, it is no wonder that David refers to it as precious and good. “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings” (Ps. 36:7). “But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me” (Ps. 109:21).

The previous two verses refer to God’s deliverance being a result of His lovingkindness, and this is an action that David focuses on. God’s repeated deliverance of David stemmed from His heart of abundant love that compassionately noticed David’s difficult situations. “Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake” (Ps. 6:4). “Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore” (Ps. 18:50). “For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved” (Ps. 21:7). “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake” (Ps. 31:16). “Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city” (Ps. 31:21). “He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth” (Ps. 57:3). “The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies” (Ps. 59:10). “He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him” (Ps. 61:7). “For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell” (Ps. 86:13). “Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy” (Ps. 109:26). “And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant” (Ps. 143:12). The next verse summarizes many years of David’s life, revealing that God in His lovingkindness, did indeed deliver David time and time again. “And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand” (I Sam. 23:14).

God’s lovingkindness also caused Him to forgive David’s sins, as He looked on His frail servant who wanted to do right but sometimes failed. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions” (Ps. 51:1). “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD” (Ps. 25:7). David threw himself on this compassion after he numbered the people. “And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand” (II Sam. 24:14,16).

Perfect love casts out fear, and David was able to rest and trust in God because of His lovingkindness. “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation” (Ps. 13:5). “Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them” (Ps. 17:7). “I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever” (Ps. 52:8). “But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies” (Ps. 69:13,16). “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust” (Ps. 143:8). “My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me” (Ps. 144:2).

Lovingkindness was an important part of the relationship between David and God. Because of it, God always did what was right. “Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work” (Ps. 62:12). Also because of it, David wanted to do what was right. “For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth” (Ps. 26:3).

Rightfully, David praised God for the abundant lovingkindness that was always with him, that delivered and sustained him. “I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities” (Ps. 31:7). “I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation” (Ps. 40:10). “I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy” (Ps. 59:16-17). “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee” (Ps. 63:3). “I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing” (Ps. 101:1). “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness” (Ps. 138:2).

It is with great understanding and appreciation that David earnestly prays: “O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee: and thy righteousness to the upright in heart” (Ps. 36:10). He both needed it and expected it every day.

May you also richly experience and rejoice in the abundant, delivering lovingkindness of God!

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA