The Character of God

 

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”- Psalm 86:5

          In this Davidic prayer we find three character traits of God: 1) that He is forgiving; 2) that He is good, and 3) that His love is abundant. This speaks volumes regarding who we serve and what we can expect from Him. What will our response be? The Reformation Study Bible makes a good point when it says, “God does not forgive all people indiscriminately; He waits until they turn to Him with prayers of repentance.” A person must recognize they are in need of saving before they can be saved. Those who simply say they believe in God yet never call out to Him for the forgiveness He offers and freely gives have missed the point entirely. Forgiveness doesn’t fall down on all of creation like rain without even being sought, it falls down like water from a shower head on the individual who sees the need of cleansing, asks to be cleaned and therefore, is cleansed. 

          The love that God has for His creation is never-ending and plentiful. It shall never be in short supply. It meets all the criteria laid out in 1 Corinthians 13; the absolute definition of love. It tells us unequivocally what it is and what it is not. God is love and therefore is the embodiment of all the characteristics listed in Corinthians. If you would like to know what God is like, read 1 Corinthians 4-8, for they define the character of God, but He is so much more than that. David knew this because He had an intimate relationship with His God. There would be no Davidic Psalms, nor any great stories to tell if King David went to the Temple on Sunday mornings and simply sat there, proclaimed that he believed in God and then went about his business. Our God desires a level of intimacy that many are unwilling to give perhaps out of ignorance or pride. The relationship we have with our God is designed to change us from the inside out. A metamorphosis is to take place within us so that we are no longer who we once were. The Bible calls us a new creation. The old has passed away, behold all things are new ^{(2 Corinthians 5:17)}. God readily forgives if we ask for forgiveness. There is no other way to receive payment for our sin debt. Christ’s horrific death on the cross was not for nothing. It paid the price for our freedom.

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

NOTE: The Book of Psalms is a prayer book as well as a collection of hymns. [Reformation Study Bible]

NOTE: “A Prayer of David. We have here one of the five psalms entitled Tephillahs or prayers. This psalm consists of praise as well as prayer, but it is in all parts so directly addressed to God that it is most fitly called ‘a prayer’.” [The Treasury of David; www.spurgeon.org]