“[The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.” (Psalm 145:13b-14 ESV)
The phrase “be kind” has invaded our cultural vocabulary. It regularly appears on bumper stickers and yard signs, and we are often expected to adopt a sort of synthetic “kindness” in all our interactions. While on the outset this sounds like a morally positive development, what is meant by “be kind” is usually something akin to the supposed tolerance that has pushed its way into the public conversation. It is not a kindness informed by the truth of Scripture but a smoothing over of anything that would cause a crack in the façade of a manufactured geniality.
When David says that God is faithful and kind, his meaning is far from this false sense of kindness that is common today. When we affirm that God is “faithful in all his words and kind in all his works,” we are affirming the supreme goodness of what he says and does. God keeps all of his promises, and his actions perfectly align with the purity and holiness of his nature (Habakkuk 1:13, Isaiah 6:1-5).
God is not one who delights in death (Ezekiel 33:11) or destruction. He is not a malicious deity like those in pagan pantheons. When God the Son came in human flesh to the earth, he described himself as “gentle and lowly” (Matthew 11:29). He washed the filthy feet of his sinful disciples and healed the sick and suffering. He drew people out of their destructive ways and into the light of pure obedience. This is the true kindness of God, who cares for his creatures and does good to all of them (v. 9). This paints a radically different picture of kindness than simply getting along with our neighbors through empty tolerance. We should find great comfort in the reminder that our God is, in the most supreme sense, a God of faithfulness and kindness.
David continues that the Lord “upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.” This is the outworking of divine kindness. While it certainly includes compassion toward and protection of the weak, it also includes drawing the wayward back to the path of righteousness and raising up the downcast. Christ demonstrated these actions with to the physically lame during his earthly ministry, but God also does so to those who are spiritually and emotionally suffering. As the psalmist penned in Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Those who are bowed down are, as John Calvin describes, “those who are overwhelmed by adversity, and would sink at once, were not God to extend his hand for their support.” Each of us owes the continuation of our existence to the hand of the Lord. We are daily, even hourly, upheld by our kind and faithful Lord.
Calvin continues,
God, in short, has respect to the troubles of men, and helps such as are in distress, so that all ought not only to look upon his divine government with reverence, but willingly and cordially submit themselves to it. Another lesson taught us is, that none will be disappointed who seeks comfort from God in his affliction.
God grants bountiful rest and sustenance to all who come to him for refuge. For people who know nothing of true rest in this broken world, this is such an attractive invitation. As we preach the gospel to the nations, our primary message is that sinners can be reconciled to a holy God by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone, but inherent to that message of reconciliation is the fact that we are adopted into the family of a faithful and kind God who sees and cares about our frail condition.
As Christ says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
The gospel we preach to the nations today is an affirmation of the invitation Christ made two thousand years ago, which David alluded to a millennium before that. Come to Christ in faith and receive the rest that only comes from the kind and faithful hand of the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We are indebted to your faithfulness and kindness to us. Help us to exhibit true kindness to the world and preach the good news of true rest that is found in Christ alone.
In his name, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Tuesday: Pray for missionaries doing evangelism and church planting in Benin.
- Wednesday: Pray for missionaries involved in ABWE’s Open Initiative as they labor to reach the unreached. Pray especially for their work with Syrian refugees.
- Thursday: Pray for missionaries dealing with serious and chronic health issues that may hinder their ministry.
- Friday: Pray for missionaries working in Australia, that the Lord would grant fruitfulness to their ministry among the overwhelmingly secular and urban population.
- Saturday: Pray for wisdom for missionaries involved in counseling as they show the mercy of God to those who are falling and bowed down.
- Sunday: Pray for missionaries conducting worship services in environments hostile to the gospel to be given safety and security as they gather.
- Monday: Pray for those currently considering a call to missions, that the Lord would grant clarity and direction.
