THE MERCY OF THE LORD IS FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING
THURSDAY 17
“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children‘s children.”
Psalms 103:17 (NKJV)
READ: Psalm 103:15–18
This Psalm 103 from which our text is taken, it is one of the psalms of David. He said the mercy of God is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him. We have talked about the fear of God in one of our teachings. Remember, in 2 Corinthians 1:3, God is called the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. This God who is said to be Father of mercies and God of all comfort is said that His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him (Psalm 103:17).
The point is, God is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, and His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 103:17).
Now, who are those who fear God?
Those who fear God are those who tremble at His words. The word translated fear in Hebrew is yârê’ and it also means morally reverent, afraid and fearful. It is all right to be afraid and fearful of God, it is not wrong or abnormal.
Those who claim to be of God and say they reverence Him morally but not afraid and fearful of Him do not really
know and understand Him.
God is fearful in the sense that if He is angry with one, He could do anything to discipline and correct the person (1
Samuel 2:6).
The Bible says God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29).
The mercy of God that is from everlasting to everlasting is for those who morally reverence Him and those who are fearful of Him (Psalm 103:17).
One thing is, if you are fearful of God and afraid of Him, there is no way you will not morally reference Him. If you
understand God and you have intimately walked with Him, you will be afraid and fearful of Him. To morally
reverence God is not enough, a measure of His fearfulness should also be in you.
This fearfulness, mostly, is what would be putting you in check, cautioning you from doing whatever is unwholesome. Those who are usually afraid and fearful of God are those who have experienced His other side—those who have experienced His anger, discipline and severeness.
If you have experienced God’s severeness, you will not play with His instructions and commands. You will not only morally reference God, but you will be afraid and fearful of Him. It is this fearfulness that would earn you
mercy when you missed it.
Although, it is commonly taught that mercy and favour of God are not earned and they cannot not be earned. Favour
is called undeserved mercy of God. Well, agreed. However, God’s favour and mercy can be propelled or triggered or
provoked through the fear of God; His fearfulness, and not only when you morally reference Him. This fearfulness should be there before you could be considered for God’s mercy that is from everlasting to everlasting.
Though it is God’s mercy and it is freely given but this fearfulness, being afraid of God, and the moral reverence of Him, would be seen in the life of a believer who is going to receive the mercy.
In addition to that, God’s righteousness is also for the children’s children of the person who keeps His covenant, and those who remember to do His commandments.
In other words, those who keep God’s covenant and those who remember to do or practice His commandments would experience His righteousness and faithfulness, including the children’s children of such people (Psalm 103:18).
Remember, God operates generationally. What you do today could either have positive or negative effects or impacts on your children and children’s children.
Three things stand out here in the passage:
I. The fear of God.
II. Keeping of His covenant.
III. Those who remember to do God’s commandments.
Remember, His commandments being referred to or talked about are God’s principles that are found in the written word, the Bible.
The fear of God and keeping of His covenant and the doing or practising of His commandments are all interrelated.
If you truly fear God, both reverentially and fearfully, you will definitely keep His covenant, and you will remember
to do or practice His words, which are His commandments (James 1:22–25).
Even the instructions given to you by God, personally, through the Holy Spirit on the inside of you; they are His commands. God’s instructions are commandments.
Whatever God tells you to do is not a suggestion but a command. If you want to experience God’s everlasting mercy and kindness and favour; fear Him, keep the covenant He made or established with you, and endeavour
to remember to do His commandments.
Peace.
Reflect:
• Are you living under guilt even after God has shown you mercy?
• Who do you need to show this same mercy you have received?
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