God’s Steadfast Love
Introduction:
“Hallelujah” That’s how
Psalm 106
both begins and ends. Praise the Lord! This Psalm well illustrates God’s
steadfast love for His people in the face of their repeated
unfaithfulness.
Text:
Psalm 106
Body:
I.
Praising God for His Steadfast Love
(Verses
1-5)
·
Thank God for His goodness. He is the source of everything that’s good.
(James
1:17)
He is full of generosity. (Psalm
25:7-8)
·
“Steadfast love” His love and mercy are always available; they can never
run out. He can restore and revive us. He never gets tired of being
good.
·
Reflect on His wonderful works. (Psalm
40:5)
·
Stress the need for faithfulness to God’s covenant. “Observe justice and
do righteousness.” (Proverbs
28:5, I John 3:7)
·
“Blessed” Blessings of a faithful life are inward peace, possession of
God’s loving kindness, assured hope.
·
Good things that await the child of God are gladness (Psalm
144:15)
and glory of an inheritance. (I
Peter 1:4)
II.
Illustrating God’s Steadfast Love
(Verses
6-43)
·
In Egypt
(Verses
6-12)
Israel forgot God’s past love for them and had unbelieving hearts. But
God’s love caused him to show mercy and save them. (Exodus
14:30-31)
·
In the desert
(wilderness) (Verses
13-33)
(Verses
13-15)
Israel made demands of God and He gave them what they wanted. But they
received more than they bargained for. Fire of the Lord burned among
them. (Numbers
11)
Note: If God blesses you with material prosperity, pray that He will
enable you to properly use such blessings. (Verses
16-18)
They were envious of God’s leaders and He disciplined them. (Numbers
16)
The Earth swallowed them up. (Verses
19-23)
They made a golden calf and worshipped it. But God did not destroy them
due to Moses intercession. (Exodus
32)
(Verses
24-27)
They murmured and grumbled about the Promised Land. (Numbers
13)
The spies who did not believe they could take the land did not get to
enter Canaan. (Verses
28-31)
They compromised their religion and God sent a plague upon them; but He
relented upon Phinehas’ intercession. (Numbers
25)
(Verses
32-33)
People, along with Moses, lost self-control at the waters of Meribah. (Numbers
20)
·
In Canaan
(Verses
34-43)
Israel did not destroy the Canaanites but rather had fellowship with
them. [Book
of Judges]
But time after time, God delivered them. (Exodus
34:6, Judges 2:16, Psalm 69:16-18)
III.
Praying for His Continued Steadfast Love
(Verses
44-48)
·
(Verse
47)
See
Psalm 34:1-3
(Verse
48)
“Amen” – Let it be so!
Psalm 106
ends with Hallelujah just the same as it started.
Conclusion:
We see from this psalm that because of God’s goodness, He loves all
people but hates their sins. He does not change His laws to relieve the
disobedient from their suffering. We also learn God’s mercy is always
available if we come to Him in simple trusting faith.
Bobby Stafford
December
22, 2013