Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
August 27, 2022: SOAP #4649: Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalm 143-144

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 143:1 A psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.

OBSERVATION:  The Psalmist needed mercy; he cried out for mercy.  But mercy could only come from one who would come in “faithfulness and righteousness.”  If his cry had been for justice, he would have been defending his innocence.  But his cry for mercy was an admission that he had done wrong and deserved punishment. 

God can only come in faithfulness and righteousness.  He is perfectly holy.  He is faithful.  He cannot be other than He is.  He is righteous.  He is eternally holy.  Even when He is loving and merciful, He is holy!   How can that be?  The perfectness of God’s mercy is found in Jesus coming to pay the full price for sin by dying on the cross!  

Jesus answered the prayer of the psalmist!  He came in faithfulness and righteousness and brought us mercy! 

APPLICATION: We must never forget that our perfectly loving God is also perfectly holy.  Every act of mercy is put in perfect balance with the value of the sacrifice of Jesus. 

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for coming to my relief in faithfulness and righteousness.  Help me to live this day with a grateful heart.  No one will ever be able to call into question whether my sins have been covered.  They are covered by the blood of a sinless sacrifice at Calvary.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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