Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:1 NKJV

Psalm 136 goes on to describe all the many ways that God’s mercy has endured forever, but my favorite illustration of God’s incredible mercy comes from Joshua 9 and Joshua 10.

Photo by William Earnhardt

The Gibeonites used deceit to trick Israel into letting them in on the covenant God had made with them. Even though Israel was not supposed to make a covenant with anyone living as close as the Gibeonites, they did. Later when the Gibeonites were under attack, they called upon Israel to save them, and even though the Gibeonites had used deceit to secure this covenant, God was so relentless in keeping His promise of love, that He caused the sun to stand still until the Gibeonites were all rescued! God fought for Israel as Israel fought for the mischievous Gibeonites. Let that soak in.

The Gibeonites were in no way worthy of any of God’s blessings, but God was still so loving and faithful to His promise that He made the sun stand still until they were all rescued! Talk about a love that moves heaven and earth! And this powerful love was given to the most undeserving people! So, scientifically speaking, the greatest power in the universe is not gravity or the suctioning power of the black hole. God’s love overruled all those powers and made the earth stand still. Imagine what this love can do in your heart!

God’s powerful promises and love are also for you and me. In Hebrews 13:5 God promises to never leave us or forsake us, but the Amplified Bible is the only English version that even begins to grasp what God is actually promising.

for He has said, “I will never under any circumstances desert you nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless, nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you- assuredly not!” Hebrews 13:5 AMP

Friends, God does not love the Gibeonites any more than He loves you. His mercy did not stop with the Gibeonites.

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.  Psalm 100:4 NKJV

God’s mercy and truth endures throughout all generations. If God loved naughty Gibeonites enough to make the earth stand still for them, you know God’s love and mercy will do everything supernaturally possible to save you as well.

Friends, let’s not spurn or take God’s great mercy for granted.

how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?  Hebrews 2:3-4 NKJV

Let’s talk of God’s enduring mercy, Exercise our faith in His enduring mercy, and contemplate His enduring mercy until we are changed into His image or mercy and truth.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

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Daily Lesson for Tuesday 13th of February 2024

The psalmist’s great affliction is related to his own and his people’s sins (Psalms 130:3,8). The people’s sins are so grave that they threaten to separate the people from God forever (Psalms 130:3). Scripture speaks of the records of sins that are being kept for the Judgment Day (Daniel 7:10, Revelation 20:12) and of sinners’ names being removed from the book of life (Exodus 32:32, Psalms 69:28, Revelation 13:8).

Image © Phil McKay at Goodsalt.com

The psalmist thus appeals to God’s forgiveness, which will eradicate the record of sins (Psalms 51:1,9; Jeremiah 31:34; Micah 7:19). He knows that “God is not angry by nature. His love is everlasting. His ‘anger’ is aroused only by man’s failure to appreciate His love. . . . The purpose of His anger is not to wound, but rather to heal man; not to destroy but to save His covenant people (see Hosea 6:1-2).”—Hans K. LaRondelle, Deliverance in the Psalms (Berrien Springs, MI: First Impressions, 1983), pp. 180, 181. Remarkably, it is God’s readiness to forgive sins, and not to punish them, that inspires reverence of God (Psalms 130:4, Romans 2:4). Genuine worship is built on admiration of God’s character of love, not on fear of punishment.

God’s children are called to wait on the Lord (Psalms 27:14, Psalms 37:34). The Hebrew qawah, “wait,” literally means “to stretch,” and is the root of the Hebrew word for “hope.” Thus, waiting for the Lord is not a passive surrender to miserable circumstances but rather a hopeful “stretching” or eager anticipation of the Lord’s intervention. The psalmist’s hope is grounded not in his personal optimism but in God’s Word (Psalms 130:5). Faithful waiting on the Lord is not in vain because after the dark night, the morning of divine deliverance comes.

See how the psalmist’s personal plea becomes that of the entire community (Psalms 130:7-8). The individual’s well-being is inseparable from that of the whole people. Thus, one prays not only for himself but for the community. As believers, we are part of a community, and what impacts one part of the community impacts everyone.

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Daily Lesson for Monday 12th of February 2024

King David pours out his heart before the Lord, asking for the forgiveness of sin during the spiritually darkest moments in his life (2 Samuel 12:1-31). Forgiveness is God’s extraordinary gift of grace, the result of the “multitude of Your tender mercies” (Psalms 51:1, NKJV). King David appeals to God to deal with him not in accordance with what his sin deserves (Psalms 103:10) but in accordance with His divine character, namely His mercy, faithfulness, and compassion (Psalms 51:1; Exodus 34:6-7).

Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com

Read Psalms 51:6-19. How is forgiveness of sin portrayed here? What is the goal of divine forgiveness?

Divine forgiveness involves more than a legal proclamation of innocence. It produces a profound change that reaches the most inner parts of human self (Psalms 51:6, Hebrews 4:12). It brings about a new creation (Psalms 51:10, John 3:3-8). The Hebrew verb bara’, translated “create,” depicts divine creative power (Genesis 1:1). Only God can bara’; only God can produce a radical and lasting change in the repentant person’s heart (2 Corinthians 4:6).

David asks for cleansing with hyssop (Leviticus 14:2-8, Psalms 51:7). He feels that his guilt keeps him banned from the Lord’s presence in the same way as the leper is banned from the community while the state of uncleanness lasts (Psalms 51:11). He fears that sacrifices cannot restore him fully because there was no sacrifice that could atone for his premeditated sins of adultery and murder (Exodus 21:14, Leviticus 20:10).

Only unconditional divine grace could accept David’s “broken and contrite heart” as a sacrifice and restore David back into harmony with God (Psalms 51:16, 17). By asking for cleansing with hyssop, he wants to return to God’s presence.

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Key Thought: God’s mercy is everlasting as evident in Creation and the history of God’s people. He can take comfort that the Lord is faithful to His covenant. God’s grace and love can strengthen our resolve to worship and serve God.
February 17, 2024

1. Have a volunteer read Psalm 136.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What thoughts dominate in this Psalm? Where does he find evidence for his claim?
3. Personal Application: How does God’s mercy help us be free from anxiety, a guilty conscience, and the shadows of our past? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “.How can we reconcile God’s forgiveness of our sins with the idea of God’s judgment on sin? How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Psalm 51:1-5.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why does the Psalmist appeal to God’s mercy?
3. Personal Application: If God can forgive David for adultery, deception, and murder; what hope exists for us? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What is God’s goal of Divine forgiveness? Why does He look to forgive? Are there any requirements for His forgiveness?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Psalm 130.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How is the gravity of sin and hope for sinners portrayed?
3. Personal Application: Where would you be if God marked, or kept track of your sins? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “If God’s mercy is everlasting for people’s salvation, why doesn’t this mean that one can continue on sinning, or does it?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Psalm 113, 123

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What two different aspects of God’s character are portrayed here?
3. Personal Application: What has Jesus saved you from? Why is it important to keep the cross foremost in your mind? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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The beautiful picture on the front of our lesson pamphlet brings us our theme hymn for this quarter with it’s two variations in melody:
Hymn 552/546 – The Lord’s My Shepherd.

Psalm 96:1, 2 – Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

The hymns for this week resound throughout the week’s study commencing with
Hymn 110 – God’s Free Mercy Streameth coming from the title for the week. This is followed by
Hymn 109 – Marvelous Grace.

 Sunday portrays the
Depth of Mercy – Hymn 521 that is given to us and we can then happily sing
O Love Of God Most Full – Hymn 77.

Hymn 323 – O For A Heart To Praise My God is Monday’s hymn with us then requesting
Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive – Hymn 299. We continue singing Hymn 299 on Tuesday and find the
The Saviour Is Waiting – Hymn 289.

 With our now happy hearts, we can
Give To Our God Immortal Praise – Hymn 106 – Wednesday.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given. 

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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