Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holly name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, . . . who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.1
It’s an exciting year for Victory. Last year, the theme was Abide; for 2023, Miracles—Let Him Be Known. Yes, miracles do satisfy a need; but most importantly it points people to the Miracle Maker. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.2 I’ve also read this verse translated, In the beginning, God who created the heavens and the earth. Is there anything therefore that God can’t create nor do? In Genesis, he also made himself known as LORD GOD Most High;3 Judge;4 and Stone of Israel.5 In the book of Exodus, God asks Moses to introduce him as I AM;6 and claims to be Jealous God.7 Whereas in Leviticus, he says, I am the LORD who sanctifies.8 Jumping to 1 Samuel, God reveals himself as God of knowledge.9 There is nothing that God doesn’t know; nothing is hidden from him. In 2 Kings, he revealed himself as Holy One of Israel.10 Through his various names God reveals an attribute of his that we may fear him. In the book of Psalm, we find that he is King over all the earth;11also, Mighty One.12 These are only a few of his names that show his authority, power, and might; enough to revere him.
We know that a finite mind cannot totally fathom the magnitude of an infinite God. But through God’s mercy and compassion for humanity, he reveals himself to those who earnestly search for him. For he is pleased with those who do. I love those who love me and those who seek me diligently find me.13 Yet, to grasp his essence he teaches the fear of the LORD. The Old Testament is replete with stories that show God’s strict commands that carry swift punishment to those who disobey him. If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which neither you nor your fathers have known, . . . you shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him. But you shall kill him.14 Brutal, isn’t it? One may even question and excuse himself from further wanting to know the God of the Bible and justify oneself, “The God I know is a loving God.” Valid! For indeed God is love.15 So why? Because God is appalled by wickedness! And all Israel shall hear and fear and never again do any such wickedness as this among you.16
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.18 In Psalm 103, we find that the phrase who fear him is repeated 3x; whereas, steadfast love, 4x.
Man’s malady is that due to our corrupted nature, we cannot attain the righteousness that a Holy God demands. Thus, due to God’s mercy, grace, and steadfast love, he provided the means to be in his embrace—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.19
Notes:
a. The title is lifted from a book authored by Wil Chevalier
1. Psalm 103:1-5
2. Genesis 1:1
3. Genesis 14:22
4. Genesis 18:25
5. Genesis 49:24
6. Exodus 3:14
7. Exodus 20:5
8. Leviticus 20:8
9. 1 Samuel 2:3
10. 2 Kings 19:22
11. Psalm 47:2
12. Psalm 50:1
13. Proverbs 8:17
14. Deuteronomy 13:6-9a
15. 1 John 4:8
16. Deuteronomy 13:11
17. Psalm 103:10-14
18. Psalm 103:17
19. Romans 5:8
