READ Psalm 145:1–9. 1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. 2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. 5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 6 They tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. 7 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. 9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
THE GLORY OF HIS LOVE. When Moses asked God, “Show me your glory” (Exodus 33:18), God proclaimed, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (verse 8; see also Exodus 34:5–6). Yes, God is absolute in power, yet there is no greater manifestation of his glory than his compassion for all. Jonah quoted verse 8 to God in anger because he had showed compassion to a race Jonah despised (Jonah 4:2). God rebuked him, telling Jonah he cared not only about the wicked Ninevites but even about their animals (Jonah 4:11), showing the truth of verse 9. Celebrate his abundant goodness! (verse 6).
Prayer: Lord, I confess I am much like Jonah. I want you to be loving only to certain people. I give lip service to “loving everyone,” but I don’t really do it. Teach me to be compassionate to all you have made. Help me start by being patient with that person in my life I struggle so much to love. Amen.