Are you a worrier? Do you experience fear of the unknown? Do you battle anxiety? Depression? Well, if you answered “yes” to any of these questions, I pray this verse is as much of a comfort to you as it was to me.
“The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting…”
~~Psalm 138:8~~
This verse speaks so much to the sovereignty, the grace, the mercy, and the faithfulness of our God and Father. As I dissected the phrases here, I saw some really beautiful truths.
THE LORD WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT CONCERNS ME
“Will accomplish” is in the imperfect tense (it will never cease), and the Hebrew word used here is (gāmar), meaning to end (in the sense of completion) or will never bring to an end. God will never stop giving attention to what concerns me.
“(What) concerns me” (bᵊʿaḏ) generally means at, beside, among, behind, for, etc.; on behalf of. The dictionary definition of the verb “concerns” describes something that involves or has an influence on you – it refers to anything that causes a care, a trouble, or a distress to you – anything that involves you.
Think about that! Couple the Hebrew meaning of “concerns me” (at, beside, among, behind…) with the dictionary definition (things that involve you that may cause you trouble or distress to you).
There are a couple verses that come to mind as I pondered “at, beside, among, behind…”.
“Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.”
~~Psalm 139:7-12~~
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor powers,
Nor things present, nor things to come, neither height nor depth,
Nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me
From the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
~~Romans 8:38-39~~
Think about that, believer! “At” whatever crossroads at which you may find yourself. That person “beside” you that may be causing your stress. Those people “among” you at the office that pull you down. The shame of that sin “behind” you that you keep tripping over. Whatever concerns you, God has a plan to accomplish using that circumstance.
“He who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ”
~~Philippians 1:6~~
How do I know? Because…
YOUR LOVINGKINDNESS, O LORD, IS EVERLASTING
The Hebrew word for God’s lovingkindness is (ḥeseḏ), and it means His goodness, His kindness, His faithfulness. Let’s glean all we can from those descriptions.
God’s goodness. The dictionary defines “goodness” as: the nutritious, flavorful, or beneficial part of something. God can be relied on. He is wholesome and suitable and always adequate for any and every situation in which you find yourself.
God’s kindness. The dictionary defines “kind” as: of a sympathetic or helpful nature; gentle; arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance; of a kind to give pleasure or relief; affectionate and loving.
God’s faithfulness. The dictionary defines “faithful” as steadfast in affection or allegiance; firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty; true to the facts, to a standard, or to an original. God keeps His promises. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
God’s (ḥeseḏ) transcends time.
God’s lovingkindness is beyond whatever time we can comprehend. Before the creation of the world, God’s lovingkindness was there. Right here in this moment, God’s lovingkindness is available to you. In the future (from tomorrow and into eternity), God’s lovingkindness will be there too.
I leave you with this. There is nothing you or I am experiencing, or have experienced, or will experience that doesn’t concern God. He can be relied on. He can (and wants to) give you peace. When the world seems topsy-turvy, God is concerned with what concerns you. He desires to use your circumstances to His glory and for your good. Trust Him.