Hi Brian!
The word for this week is "tender". We'll be looking at two verses in the Old Testament and two in the New Testament. Psalm 25:6 and Psalm 145:9:
6 Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercy and loving-kindness; for they have been from of old.
9 The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].
The phrase "tender mercies" is the Hebrew word "racham". According to Strong's Concordance, this means: compassion (in the plural); tender love, mercy. Brown-Driver-Briggs says: to love deeply; to have mercy; to be compassionate; to have tender affection; to have compassion. The Free Online Dictionary says compassion means: Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it. That certainly sounds like our God! The New Testament examples are found in Luke 1:78 and James 5:11:
78 Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit [us].
11 You know how we call those blessed (happy) who were steadfast [who endured]. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the Lord's [purpose and how He richly blessed him in the] end, inasmuch as the Lord is full of pity and compassion and tenderness and mercy.
These are two different Greek words, but they have the same meaning as the Hebrew word. God created us (mankind) with the ability to choose, knowing we would eventually choose wrong, because He wanted our love to be by choice! He already had the plan of salvation in mind, because of His "tender mercies", before He even began (from of old)! There is nothing we will ever face, or could ever go through, that God hasn't already prepared the victorious conclusion for us! If we stay in His Word and in intimate fellowship with Him, He will lead, guide and direct us to that promised end! He is also our example for being the best parents, grandparents and God-parents we can be! You and Kristine are doing a wonderful job! Love is in your house and it shows! Here is Hillsong with "Mighty To Save":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
