Unfailing Love

Introductory Comment

Are you ever guilty of using redundant phrases? For example, some people speak of an “unexpected surprise”, without stopping to realise that all surprises are unexpected!

Question

Can you think of any other examples of redundant phrases?

Commentary with Questions

In Psalm 143, on two occasions, the psalmist speaks of the Lord’s “unfailing love”. Isn’t that another redundant phrase? Surely true love can only ever be unfailing?

Perhaps the psalmist has to remind us of this because only God is able to love with unfailing love. Our love fails far too often. It is just as well that our loving relationship with God does not depend on our love as much as it depends on God’s unfailing love.

The opening lines of the Psalm examine our love for God against his love for us, and point to the fact that God’s love is the decisive one:

Psalm 143:1–2 NIV

Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.

The fact that we are in relationship with God at all is a testament to God’s unfailing love - his faithfulness and righteousness - not to ours. It is God’s unfailing love that ensures he always does the right thing and is always faithful. The supreme expression of God’s unfailing love is his sending his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us. All we can do in response is to give him our sin and show our willingness to trust in Jesus.

Question

How would you describe God’s unfailing love?

It’s difficult, isn’t it? Elsewhere, the psalms describe it like this:

Psalm 36:5–6 The Message

God’s love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks.

Much later, in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul prays his readers would experience and understand God’s love, unique in its width, length, height and depth (Ephesians 3:18). We are recipients of an unfailing love that is so incredible, it’s beyond description.

Question

Do we find it difficult to sustain our confidence in God? Why?

In response to this unfailing love, the psalmist wants to hear God’s Word:

Psalm 143:8 NIV

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

God’s Word reminds him of God’s unfailing love. It strengthens his faith. It gives him guidance on the dangerous path he is taking.

The psalmist also longs for God’s protection:

Psalm 143:9 NIV

Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.

He recognises God is his Rock. He can hide in God and be safe from his enemy.

Knowing God loves him with unfailing love gives him confidence to ask for knowledge of God’s will:

Psalm 143:10 NIV

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

He trusts God’s good Spirit (what a wonderfully warm, loving phrase that is!) would teach him from the Word and show him the path he should take. This is what gives him confidence in the difficulties he faces.

Question

How do we respond when God reminds us we are still sinners dependent on his unfailing love alone?

Like the psalmist, we discover that God’s unfailing love transforms us. As we live in relationship with our unfailing, loving God, we slowly realise he hears our prayers, takes our concerns seriously and provides for our needs. It gives us the “covenant confidence” we need to begin to love others in ways that more closely resemble God’s unfailing love. Paul describes what that looks like:

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 NLT

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

This is unfailing love. It’s amazing love, and it comes from God and it transforms us moment by moment and day by day!

Question

In what ways does our love for others reflect God’s unfailing love to us?