I know…it should be Alfie!  But this is a psalm of King David.  Psalm 5:7– ‘…through the abundance of your steadfast love, (I) will enter your house.  I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.’   Now, don’t get all tied up with the word ‘fear’ as if God is some terrible ogre out to scare you, making you jump with fear.  Yes, He is fearful and awesome.  His being is so great that His holiest prophets could only fall on their faces in His presence.

But ‘fear’ is because of His greatness and power.  Not because He can’t wait to get you when you’re down, throwing salt on all your wounds.  Sometimes I’ve had this image of God.  Forgive me, Lord, as that’s nowhere in the Bible.

As a matter of fact, the phrase ‘steadfast love’ is one of the major themes in all the Old Testament.  The genesis of this phrase is in Exodus (a very bad pun on my part!).  Exodus 34: 1-9.  Actually, go back to chapter 33: 12-23 and read of Moses asking the Lord to ‘please show me your glory'(Exodus 33: 18).  And God does.  Not by splitting rocks or gobbling up enemies, but as He says in verses 18ff by displaying His goodness and graciousness, mercy and glory…all in the rear-view mirror,  for no one really sees the face of God in this life.

Don’t get me wrong.  For those who deny and reject God, their choice will be honored, but in a way no one should ever want.  And, when we His children, veer off course, He will certainly discipline us because He loves us(Hebrews 12:6).  Turn to the Lord, and He’ll always be there for us in all His ‘steadfast love’.

So, what’s it all about, Lord?  Who are you, anyway?    Here’s the capstone verse– Exodus 34: (5 and) 6:  ‘The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him (Moses) there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.  The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, the LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands…’  Wow!  Can you possibly read those words and not shout out a loud ‘AMEN’ ?!

What’s it all about?  It’s all about our great God whose steadfast love never runs out of steam, never gets distracted and tempted away from us, never ceases and is new every morning of every day of our lives.  Count on it.  No, count on Him.  That’s what it’s all about!

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for who you are.  We depend totally on you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.