All those who repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone for their salvation can be certain that God loves them. Dear believer, if tears are pouring down your cheeks today, and you are questioning God’s love for you, look no further than God’s creation and redemption, both of which testify of His steadfast love that endures forever.
I have sat before women with tears streaming down their face confessing the truth of God’s sovereignty, but questioning His love in the face of death, despair, disappointment and disillusionment. Whether it’s the loss of a baby, the end of a marriage, the loss of financial security, the end of a desired career path, or the loss of a loved one, believers can at times wonder if God loves them in the midst of crushing circumstances. During these times it is necessary to immerse ourselves in the word of God, most especially the psalms. Particularly relevant for meditating on God’s love is Psalm 136.
God’s Covenant Love in Creation
Notably, the author of Psalm 136 begins with a call for a grateful acknowledgement to the Lord of lords and God of gods for His goodness and covenant love. This psalm was to be sung antiphonally with one group answering to the other as they stood opposite each other. Hearing the refrain, “for his steadfast love endures forever” twenty-six times would have driven the point home to their hearts that the God who condescended to them by way of covenant did so because of His great love for them. In fact, all of creation was a testimony of God’s covenant love, goodness and wisdom for His people. Because He “alone does great wonders” (v. 4), “by understanding made the heavens” (v. 5), “spread out the earth above the waters” (v. 6), “made the great lights” (v. 7), “the sun to rule by day” (v. 8), and “the moon and stars to rule over the night” (v. 9), we should thank Him and can trust Him. His goodness and steadfast love endures forever.
In the New Testament we learn that Jesus is the climactic revelation of God’s covenant love for His people. In Christ the Lord of the covenant and the servant of the covenant meet. He comes as Lord to extend grace, peace and mercy, and He comes as the servant to perfectly obey the law of God and atone for our sins on the cross.
