“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22)
The subject of the faithfulness of God cannot be defined, nor applied adequately, when we seek to understand it by looking at what we call the “faithfulness of man,” in particular, sinful, imperfect man. In considering God’s faithfulness, let’s begin with the character, or nature, of God. As is reflected in His words, and the testimony of Scripture, He reveals Himself as the absolutely perfect, unique God, the absolute truth, whose words are those expressions of His nature, will, and desires. That which must be considered when trying to grasp something of the meaning of God’s faithfulness, is that He IS what He says. The absolute truth of His character is expressed in the absolute character of His words. For example, in John’s gospel, John begins by declaring the following: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (1:1) There is no difference, or dissonance between what God declares and what He is. When Jesus stood before Pilate, being interrogated by him, He said to Pilate: “…for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.” (18:37) In chapter fourteen of the gospel of John, the Lord specifically states that He IS the truth…absolute, and unchanging. It is because of this fact, that Jesus is the truth, and the Father’s words are the expression of that truth, that we begin to understand something of the concept, and reality, and practical application of the faithfulness of God.
The English word that we know as “faithfulness,” by definition is full of meaning with regard to God, and the revelation of His faithfulness. First of all, we see that the word, “faithful,” begins with the word “faith.” The word communicates to us the expression of trust, and this in its absolute and perfect form and realization. The nature of God, because of its unchanging and unalterable characteristics, is the very basis for trust. Beyond that which we see in the physical, or even the spiritual world, God is perfectly worthy of trust in the fullest sense because He manifests himself as the perfect object for faith. Indeed, He is the only true object of faith. This is why the Lord Jesus, on one occasion, in addressing His disciples and those around them who could not cast out a certain demon, said: “O faithless, and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him here to Me.” (Matt. 17:17) Faced with the faithfulness of God to accomplish His declared will, the disciples and the people, in spite of the very manifest revelation of the power and authority of Christ to heal, could not believe in the “faithfulness” of God to do so. True faith is based upon the faith-FULL ness of God, His absolute character, according to His words, the very expression of His perfect commitment and resolve to be and to do what He declares. The Living Word IS the God of the word.
In the book of Lamentation, Jeremiah reveals something of the suffering of his own heart with regard to the judgments upon Jerusalem. To have once seen and known something of the high, lofty, and holy call of God to Jerusalem and Israel, to be a light unto the world, a candlestick from which the light of God would be seen, and then to see its imminent destruction, and consequent suffering, is almost too much to bear. How then does he face the inevitable judgment and suffering? Jeremiah finds HOPE in the mercies, and compassions of God. He remembers them, appeals to them, and takes his stand upon them by declaring: “…they are new every morning: GREAT is Thy faithfulness.” He goes on to show us the way in the storm of unbelief, and judgment: “The LORD is My portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in HIM.” (Lam. 3:24) Jeremiah’s hope, and expectation, is founded only, and wholly, in the absolute faithfulness of God.
Dear Father, Faithful God. Show us Thy mercies this day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.