Blessed Be The Lord, O My Soul; His Mercy Endures Forever - Part 1849

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for His mercy endures for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for His mercy endures for ever. To Him who alone does great wonders: for His mercy endures for ever. To Him that by wisdom made the heavens: for His mercy endures for ever. To Him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for His mercy endures for ever. To Him that made great lights: for His mercy endures for ever. The sun to rule by day: for His mercy endures for ever: the moon and stars to rule by night: for His mercy endures for ever." (Psalms 136:1-9)

Within secular society, the Lord Jesus is continually being rejected as the absolute. He has already been rejected as the Lord God our Saviour, even though after His kindness and love, He toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7; I Timothy 3:16) Likewise, the same hearts that have (and still do) condemn Him will not accept the regenerated Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 1:8) Even when, as the psalmist David repeatedly points out, as we read in the psalm above, His mercy endures forever. 

The Word made flesh so that we as sinners needing His mercy would accept His invitation to become a member of His family -- the body of Christ church, wherein Jesus is the Head. This is why sinners repent of their sin, asking Jesus to be both Lord and Christ in their heart, and go on to be water baptized in His Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:36-38; Romans 6:3-4; I Peter 3:21-22; Acts 10:44-48)

This serves as our starting point for getting to know Jesus, and His abundant love for His precious beloved. He paid the price for our sins, so that we might have life. You see, in the Old Testament, those who believed did not have the Lord's grace and mercy, as we do in this current dispensation of grace. The Holy Ghost having not yet signified the new until the old was no longer standing. This is why born again believers do not mix the old wine with the new, because the wine flasks will break. Instead, what we do is pray without ceasing and rejoice evermore. We delve into the New Testament, asking the Lord Jesus to open our understanding by taking the blinders from our eyes, and our hearts.

I like to tell people to begin in John, because right from the beginning, John is revealing Jesus to us. He is the Word made flesh -- the same Word that spoke the world into existence in the beginning. He is the Light of this world. He is the Bread of life. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. 

And, as Jesus said, "I and My Father are One!" (John 10:30) 

Returning to David the psalmist, there is another psalm that may also speak to our heart as it does mine. There is also good instruction for those just beginning in this faith journey. Psalm 103 goes like this:

"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, [bless] His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases; who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns  thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies thy mouth with good [things; so that] thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD [is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep [His anger] for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, [so] great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pity's them that fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we [are] dust.

[As for] man, his days [are] as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them.

The LORD hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules.over all. Bless the LORD, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word. Bless ye the LORD, all [ye] His hosts; [ye] ministers of His, that do His pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of His dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul." (Psalm 103:1-22)

When the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary so that she could bring forth a son, God became our Father, and because of His abundant mercy He hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (I Peter 1:3)

And he that hath the Son hath the Father also. The Son of man is the Lord of glory. The first Adam earthy, but the second, the Lord from heaven. He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. Jesus was the promised Lord's Christ. Jesus was the prophesied Messiah. 

And now, we know JESUS to be the ONLY NAME whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace. (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9) 

Therefore, delight thyself in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Delight thyself in His abundant mercy. Let your cup overflow with His joy when you understand that He Himself is the greatest love story ever told. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. 

Stand in the offering plate.