But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! [Psalm 103.17-18]
As is common throughout the Bible, there exists a distinct grammatical pattern in its pages to make a statement, then restate it in different words, thus emphasizing its significance. Such grammatical practice is found throughout Psalm 103. In particular, "But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him," is restated in Psalm 103 as "His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!"
The "love of the LORD" is the same as "His salvation," and "those who fear him" is the same as "those who are faithful to his covenant, and those who obey his commandments."
So, what we find in Psalm 103.17-18 is a clear description of the love of God is and what it means to fear God.
No Bible verse better confirms that the love of God is His salvation better than John 3.16:
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John3.16]
Then, all God's covenant and commandments are portrayed nowhere better than in Exodus 20 (the Ten Commandments):
“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. “You must not murder. “You must not commit adultery. “You must not steal. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” [Exodus 20.2-17]
There is little (if any) contestation of God's love that is evident in His offered salvation. However, there exists today no uncertain confusion about the fear of God. This should come as no surprise to a genuine Bible student because love, in all its provision from God, is useless to the soul who refuses to submit to God in obedience. God's love has no effect on the unrepentant soul - the soul that refuses to believe.
To "believe" is to "repent." Likewise, to "repent" is to "believe." Both are words of action (not feeling). Jesus used these words as follows:
“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” [Mark 1.15]
To "repent" and to "believe" is to "obey" (remember, they are action words). To "obey His commandments" then, as established in Psalm 103.17-18, is to fear God.
While this "obedience" may seem very "Old Testament" to some, it should be understood that Jesus requires nothing less than one hundred percent obedience:
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]
The sloppy "grace" message presented by too many today is substantiated in no way by the Bible. In fact, the apostle Paul was quite clear in the relationship between "obedience" and "love":
For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. [Ephesians 5.22-29]
Somehow, the Church has failed to communicate that just because Jesus fulfilled the Law, does not mean that obedience (submission) to Him is not required to enjoy the love of God. Obedience is exactly what Jesus demanded in Matthew 16.24 above. In fact, as Jesus "fulfilled" the Law (Matthew 5.17), our being "in Christ" not only fulfills obedience to the Law, but also fulfills obedience to Him in loving others (Romans 13.8).
The singular faith and trust in Christ alone (demanded by Him in Matthew 16.24) is one and the same as the singular faith and trust in God alone found in the Ten Commandments. It is, in fact, what "give up your own way" means. This fulfills the first three "Godward" Commandments that have everything to do with singular, undivided faith in God alone and rejection of all idols. The last six Commandments are fulfilled in Jesus' demand to "take up your cross," the cross being where others' needs are placed before our own as Jesus so aptly demonstrated.
As the "Ten Commandments" go, the first three are "Godward" and the last six are "manward." It should come as no surprise that the Fourth Commandment, which stands between the Godward and manward commandments, demands observance of the Sabbath, over which Jesus claims Lordship (Matthew 12.8).
As we are "in Christ" then, every single one of the Ten Commandments are fulfilled in us. In Christ, we are empowered to be faithful to the covenant - we are empowered to obey the commandments - as is the condition of those who fear God! In Christ, we are not the same as the world, but distinctly different. If not, then we have no claim to Christ because He Himself demanded the obedience of submission (give up your own way) and the exercise of love (take up your cross) which constitutes "following Him." All His love and grace mean nothing to one who does not fear Him in submissive obedience.
This message is as heavy as it is serious. The Church's lackadaisical approach to "grace" without the proper fear of God is to blame for its prevailing condition of powerlessness. God never intended for His people to blend in with the world!
While the "sloppy grace" message wins converts to a church, it does not win souls for the Kingdom - it does not demonstrate God's power over every natural circumstance. And that is where we find ourselves looking at Psalm 103 in bewilderment. All the blessings described there are all but foreign to the "Church" today if we are honest with ourselves. Ironically, the world sees the powerlessness of the Church, but the Church is blind to its own condition - the condition of not fearing God - the condition of idolatry - the condition of trust in a plethora of other gods - the condition of not having given up our own way - the condition of not having taken up our cross - the condition of not having followed Jesus...
Father, Your Word has warned of the present condition of the Church for as long as it has been written. May we return to Your Word with a passion for its Truth (and not our self-serving, religious, idolatrous, interpretation of it). May we understand the gravity of giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it - sooner than later!
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