Over my 69 years of life on earth I have seen and heard some of the most disgusting things come from peoples mouths and I have to wonder are these really what is in their hearts. Do they not know that out of the abundance of the heart man speaks? Some people have a knack to speak swelling words of love and adoration for family and friends and then with the same mouth speak angry words of disgust almost in the same breath, all the while having a pretense of being one in Christ. Or are they just guilty of putting on religious errs, when in fact they remain satans sons and daughters. Bond in his nature as slaves and not bond to GOD through Christ at all. We can not have both ways. Pastor Hoekstra again is looking at king David as our example of a common man who lived by Grace. Grace when properly boiled down is GOD's presence restored to mans soul. As HE was in Genesis 1 and 2. This is not usually taught in mans religions (contained in denominations) or their churches. If I were to stand today before some of those that I had attended and stated that they would raise in arms against me, as did the Jews of Jesus' day and time. Not to leave out Paul. Today I will look at the Richness of Grace by the LORD's led and make use of the ESV translation as has become my habit of late.
"David Relying upon the Lord's Lovingkindness"
"Show Your marvelous lovingkindness . . . Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You . . . Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You . . .. Cause me to hear your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust." (Psalm 7:7; 36:10; 63:3; and 143:8)
"There are many reasons why David is a wonderful Old Testament example of GOD's people living by His Grace. Previously, we saw that David confessed the LORD as his strength and his refuge. "The LORD is the strength of my life . . . GOD is a refuge for us" (Psalm 27:1 and Psalm 62:8). In our present verses we saw David relying upon the LORD's lovingkindness.
Lovingkindness is an Old Testament term that is closely related to the New Testament term, Grace. It speaks of GOD's zealous, loyal, steadfast love toward His people. It includes the Truth that GOD is merciful (that is, He provides a way to hold back from us the judgment that our sin nature deserve). Yet, it goes beyond that wonderful fact. Lovingkindness also includes GOD's goodness (that is, His commitment to do good things for His children day by day, supplying whatever is needed in our lives).
Much insight into this word (and appreciation for it) is found in David's frequent references to it and reliance upon it. "Show Your marvelous lovingkindness." David had a deep desire that the LORD would demonstrate the wondrous reality of His lovingkindness through his daily walk. He knew that the LORD's lovingkindness was what actually made life what GOD intended it to be. "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You." David praised GOD for His faithful goodness toward him, which was far better, and far beyond, merely enjoying the natural things that life offers to all who exist. The LORD is good to all who live on this earth. "He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain (grace) on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45). However, His lovingkindness is shown to those who have a true relationship with Him by faith. David wanted this goodness to be his ongoing supply. "Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You."
David sought the LORD for the work of His lovingkindness, from morning time on through the day. "Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust." As the LORD poured out His loyal, steadfast love, David gave glory to the LORD among His people. "I have not concealed Your lovingkindness . . . from the great congregation"" (Psalm 40:10).
The Richness of Grace,
Romans 2:1-11 and 9:19-26 "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of GOD rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of GOD? Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that GOD's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when GOD's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, HE will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality."
Romans 9:19-26 "You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?" But who are you, O man, to answer back to GOD? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if GOD, desiring to show His wrath and to make known His power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom He has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed He said in Hosea, "Those who were not My people I will call 'My people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" (Hosea 1:1-2) "And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.' (Hosea 1:9-10)"
Ephesians 1:3-14 "Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as HE chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love HE predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His Will, to the praise of His glorious Grace, with which HE has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His Grace, which HE generously lavishes upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His Will (plan and purposes), according to His purpose, which HE set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Himself, things in heaven and things on earth. In Him we have obtained this inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him Who works all things according to the counsel of His Will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard the word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession (the day star, light of His revelation is restored in our heart) of it, to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 2:1-10 "You were dead in the trespasses and sin nature in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is at work in the sons (children) of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which HE loves us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by Grace you have been saved— and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming Ages HE might show the immeasurable riches of His Grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by His Grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the Gift of GOD, not a result of works (demanded by mans religions), so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Philippians 4:15-20 "You Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. For my GOD will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our GOD and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen."
1Timothy 1:12-17 and Titus 3:1-11 "I thank Him Who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our LORD, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the Grace of our LORD overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am was the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for Eternal Life. To the King of the Ages, immortal, invisible, the only GOD, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."
Titus 3:1-11 "Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of GOD our Savior appeared, HE saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Whom HE poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His Grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed GOD may be careful to devote themselves to His good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. For a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."
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