God's Unfailing Love

41 May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,
your salvation, according to your promise;
42 then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth,
for I have put my hope in your laws.
44 I will always obey your law,
for ever and ever.
45 I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts.
46 I will speak of your statutes before kings
and will not be put to shame,
47 for I delight in your commands
because I love them.
48 I reach out for your commands, which I love,
that I may meditate on your decrees.

Some people have compared Psalm 119 to a string of pearls. Rather than develop one theme, the psalmist adds one pearl at a time so that together they create a beautiful strand of truth and wisdom. The pearl of this section is God’s “unfailing love.”

God’s “unfailing love” (hesed) is the most important term in the entire Bible. Over and over, we read stories in the Bible that show God’s steadfast, unfailing love for his children—through thick and thin, and often despite their own tendency to wander from God.

In this section, the psalmist highlights God’s unfailing love and reminds us of the relationship between God’s Word and us. God reveals himself and his unfailing love for us through his promise that he will never leave us or forsake us (see Joshua 1:5). As we read of God’s love and promises, a chain reaction sets off within us. God’s Word fills us with awe and wonder for God himself, and we, in turn, grow in our desire to love, please, and serve God and others.

Do you want to grow in your faith? Dig deeply into God’s Word. As you delve deeper, you will grow in knowledge and grace with a desire to love and serve God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love others as yourself.

You have steadfastly loved us, Lord. Help us to love and delight in your Word as we grow in loving you and others. Amen.