Your Lovingkindness is Better than Life
David was always praising the Lord. He praised the Lord in the good times and in the difficult times. His ability to magnify the Lord and give Him glory was tied to his realization that the lovingkindness of God was better than life. (Psalm 63:3) Because David had experienced the lovingkindness of God, he knew that whether he was alive or dead, God would go on being faithful and merciful to him, since David was one of His children. We all need that blessed assurance in our lives.
Lovingkindness is not a word in the English dictionary, but it is a Biblical concept that is the translation for the Hebrew word "checed." This word is also translated mercy or faithfulness most of the time in the various English translations of the Bible. However, the word is tied to the covenant relationship of God with His people, so I was taught that the best definition is "covenant faithfulness." This brings out the vital spiritual concept that God is always faithful to keep His part of the covenants He makes with His people. Now, as believers, we are participants in the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus, while David was a member of Old Covenant by virtue of his faith in God to forgive him and be His King. Either way, the lovingkindness of God is better than life, because physical life will end, but the covenant faithfulness of God never ends. He will take care of those who belong to Him for eternity. Now, that is a reason to use our lips to praise the Lord if I ever heard of one. It is the assurance that when we leave this world, we will be with Him, and while we are here, we are always under His merciful, kind, faithfulness. Therefore, no matter what happens He is worthy of our praise.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 64-66.
Lovingkindness is not a word in the English dictionary, but it is a Biblical concept that is the translation for the Hebrew word "checed." This word is also translated mercy or faithfulness most of the time in the various English translations of the Bible. However, the word is tied to the covenant relationship of God with His people, so I was taught that the best definition is "covenant faithfulness." This brings out the vital spiritual concept that God is always faithful to keep His part of the covenants He makes with His people. Now, as believers, we are participants in the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus, while David was a member of Old Covenant by virtue of his faith in God to forgive him and be His King. Either way, the lovingkindness of God is better than life, because physical life will end, but the covenant faithfulness of God never ends. He will take care of those who belong to Him for eternity. Now, that is a reason to use our lips to praise the Lord if I ever heard of one. It is the assurance that when we leave this world, we will be with Him, and while we are here, we are always under His merciful, kind, faithfulness. Therefore, no matter what happens He is worthy of our praise.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 64-66.