What is loving-kindness? It is defined as the goodness, mercy, affection, loyalty, compassion, and tenderness of one to another. It refers to the covenant commitment of God to mankind. As such, if we truly understand all that we observe. Then in light of His Loving-kindness toward us; then we will be filled with hope and steadfast joy. Not a frivolous joy; but rather a steadfast joy that does not get torn apart by the storms of life.
All that we observe of this life, we can choose to understand through prisms of glass. Sometimes ones that dim our view of God. Or we can see them through the prism of God’s Sovereignty in this Universe. We either believe or we do not believe that all God does is because of His loving-kindness toward us. Either “ALL things work together for our good” as indicated in Romans 8:28 or not. So, how do we gain wisdom to observe life through understanding the loving-kindness of God. I do suggest there are 4 important areas we must explore to gain this kind of wisdom.
One is to look at history, both ours and that of the world. Second, we must observe the core aspects of human nature. Thirdly, we must individually look at the price God was willing to pay for our salvation. Fourthly, we must never lose sight of His Majesty, Power, and Righteousness as the Supreme Creator and Ruler of Everything.
The books of the Kings demonstrate once more how a living God acts in the affairs of men and nations. His righteousness, even in judgement, never thwarts His plan of salvation. The loving-kindness of God displayed throughout the pages of history.
A Look at History to Understand the Loving-kindness of God
Every part of the history of mankind, needs to be viewed from the aspect of eternity.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart. Yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3: (NIV).
Every step from the beginning of time, God displayed His Glory, His Righteousness, and His justice. He promised there would be a Savior and that all who trusted Him would be saved. That promise marched forward throughout all of History. It was not thwarted by the evil days surrounding the flood. Nor by any of the evil acts that men and women perpetrated on this earth. Instead, a beacon of hope marched onward as God chose a people to carry forth His plan.
They, like every other person on earth, were filled with sinful hearts and desires. Hence, they sought after other gods to worship. Thereby forsaking the One True God. Yet, He did not forsake them. His promise to the nation of Israel remained then and still remains true until every promise is fulfilled. So, as we review the books of I and II Kings, remember this. The loving-kindness of God never fails to accomplish all that He has planned.
Prophets Sent as Display of the Loving-kindness of God
In spite of their rebellious hearts, God He sent prophets to warn them. He told them of the coming judgement. As I Kings ended, we saw Elijah stand up against 400 Baal prophets. He dramatically displayed the victory of God. Droughts came, famine and illness presented at times. Yet, through it all the grace of God was displayed to all who trusted Him. By faith they were saved. God’s loving kindness shone forth to the Gentile widow of Zarephath. Displayed by the miraculous preservation of food. And then in the resurrection of her son. Then after His magnificent display of God’s power on the Mountain, Elijah prayed seven times for rain. It rained. God’s Sovereignty over the weather proven true. Equally true then, in Jesus’ day, and now.
Elijah went to heaven on a fiery chariot. He did not die. The chariot descended from the clouds for him. What a beautiful picture of the rapture to come for us. Then Elisha began to prophecy to Israel after him. Although a bit less fiery than Elijah, his was a ministry of miraculous healing. His mission: helping the poor and downtrodden. He also called upon God to resurrect a child from the dead. I do think we need to study this deeper in our own quest to use the history to help us observe and understand the loving kindness of God.
The Shunammite Woman
8 Now a day came when Elisha went over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she urged him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, that he turned in there to eat food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I am aware that this is a holy man of God passing by us repeatedly. 10 Please, let’s make a little walled upper room, and let’s set up a bed for him there, and a table, a chair, and a lampstand; then it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”
Asking and wanting nothing in return, she provided for God’s prophet; although she was barren, she did not ask for a son. Yet, she felt overwhelming joy for her son. Born miraculously, a gift from God as foretold by Elisha. Then one day while in the fields with his father, the boy developed a headache. He went home and died in his mother’s arms. She laid him in the upper room on his bed and set out to speak to the man of God. Her faith so great she told everyone on her way, that all was well. All will be ok. Undeterred, she hastened her journey to fall down in great sorrow at the feet of Elisha.
JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
Elisha accompanied her to her house. Her son resurrected miraculously by God lived once more. Jesus is the resurrection life. We can go on in life with the same boldness of faith this woman had. Why? Because we know Jesus has the power to not only resurrect our dead bodies one day. But He also has the power to resurrect our spirit from death to life in Him, here and now—to all who call on Him for salvation.
The Core Nature of Humanity
One thing that is clear to us throughout scripture is the nature of humanity. Always bent on evil, striving for power, might and pleasure; the core nature of man, woman, and child is filled with sin. Humanistic society has always believed that humanity can evolve into a perfect utopia if provided with the right environment to do so. Unfortunately, we have watched that hope disappear generation after generation. Today’s society is proof of that. Bitterness, anger, power, greed, and self-preservation regardless of the devastation and cost to the rest of the people.
The same is recorded throughout I and II Kings. God sent prophets and miracles; yet the people turned to worship false gods of their own making. Why? Because the hearts of men and women are evil.
23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you shall walk entirely in the way which I command you, so that it may go well for you.’ 24 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked by their own advice and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and they went backward and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, sending them daily, again and again. 26 Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers. Jeremiah 7 (NASB).
Therefore,
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:12 (NKJV)
After considering history both of the human race and our own life, we can observe and begin to understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. This is magnified if we truly consider the depth of depravity that is within our own heart, revealing the depth of grace given by God toward us.
The Price of Calvary—God Steadfast Loving-kindness on Display
What magnificence of grace, that God’s only son came to earth to live the perfect life I could not live that He might pay the price that I justly deserved, bearing on the cross all the wrath of God against sin.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3 (NKJV).
Fourth Point in Wisely Observing and Understanding the Loving-kindness of God.
In addition to reviewing history, understanding the core nature of man being evil, and the price Jesus paid for our salvation, we must also remember the Majesty and Sovereign power of God. He with one breath created all the galaxies, the stars, the moon, and this little planet called earth. His majesty, power and glory are beyond our wildest imagination. Yet, He has created man in His image, that He might have a people on whom He may spend eternity showering with His love.
We may not understand all the intricacies of how all of this plays into that final story; but, we can trust that He does know. How do the storms in my life work together with everything else to one day help me understand the depth of His loving-kindness toward me? I do not know; but neither do I need to know. The only thing I can do is see the tiny glimpses of His glory and love in the little things that happen each day. One day I will see Him face to face and then I will know. Until then, I pray He give me the wisdom to observe and understand at least in part the loving-kindness of God in all that comes my way.
23Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
24 They have seen the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He spoke and raised a stormy wind,
Which lifted the waves of the sea.
26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul melted away in their misery.
27 They reeled and staggered like a drunken person,
And were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
29 He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired harbor.
31 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
32 They shall also exalt Him in the congregation of the people,
And praise Him at the seat of the elders…43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord (Psalm 107 NKJV).O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so (Psalm 107:1-2 NKJV)
PSALM 107
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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