‘The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness’
This verse comes in a passage where God is revealing himself to Moses. It is quoted loads of times throughout the Old Testament and especially in the songbook of the Bible, the book of Psalms. In fact, it comes up in one of my favourite Psalms, Psalm 86 and verse 10. But why do you think it is that this verse is seen as so important by the biblical authors?
Well it all has to do with names. In our culture, names often don’t mean much. I definitely don’t have a clue what any of my names mean! However, in ancient Israelite culture- they very much did.
You can see that all over the bible! A person’s name can often describe their character or destiny. This is especially true of the God of the bible, Yahweh. And in Exodus 34- Yahweh explains what his name means with the verse quoted earlier.
‘God is good, all the time and all the time, God is good!’
And in this time of such uncertainty, how important and reassuring is it to know this God?
And that’s what we see from David in Psalm 86. He is clearly having a rough time- he calls himself, poor and needy and in distress. He says that his enemies are attacking him and trying to kill him.
But how does he respond? Well he does two things repeatedly throughout this Psalm; he cries out to God for help and deliverance and he reminds himself of the what the God he is crying to is like. In other words, he calls on God’s name!
And in doing so he invites us in to do the same. Whatever we’re facing, however we’re feeling- we have a compassionate and gracious God. A God who is ABOUNDING in love.
He is both kind enough to listen to our pleas for help and powerful enough to do something about them.
Kind enough to listen- powerful enough to act.
A couple of years ago, someone shared this Psalm at a church meeting and I was so struck by it that I was inspired to go away and write a song. It’s a song that I’ve turned to several times as a prayer for when I have felt hopeless or lost. Like the Psalm, I ‘ve tried to fill it with reminders of the goodness and awesomeness of our God.
If you want to watch- there’s a video of me singing the song below!
Prayer
Father,
Thank you that we can talk to you and bring you our problems, knowing that you will listen. Thank you that you are compassionate, gracious and abounding in love. You are a good God and you will help us in the hardest times. Help us to trust this is true throughout lockdown and beyond!
Amen
Challenge
Why don’t you take your favourite bible verse or passage and try making it into a song or poem?
Teacher of Maths at Bluecoat Wollaton
Call On Your Name (Psalm 86)
Verse 1
You, O Lord, are good and forgiving
Abounding in love to all who call
So give ear to the prayer of your people
As we plead to you for grace
Pre-Chorus 1
In the hour of our trouble
We will call on you, for we know
Chorus 1
That in the heavens, on the earth
There is no-one like you Lord
And all the nations will come and worship
Your glorious name
Verse 2
Though evil rise and foes may surround us
You're our help, our comforter
So teach us now to walk in your truth Lord
Unite our hearts to fear Your name
Pre-Chorus 2
In the hour of our trouble
We will call on you, for we know
That in the hour of our trouble
You will hear our cry, this we know
Chorus 1
Bridge x3
Compassionate and gracious, You are
Slow to anger Lord, yes You are
Abounding in your steadfast love
And faithfulness, who is this God
Who would hear our prayer?
Chorus 1
Chorus 2
You are great in deed and love
We know you alone are God
Our Defender, Deliverer
Our Provider, Sustainer
You're our Saviour, Redeemer
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