“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:17-20 KJV
What God Loves
Psalm 33 is a beautiful chapter of the Bible. The writer's motivation is clear: praise. Praise God for how powerful He is, how good He is, how righteous He is. Praise Him for His steady plans, His all-knowing faithfulness, His love for His people. Praise God.
Early on in this outpouring of praise, the psalmist says of God, “He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” (Psalm 33:5) He doesn’t just appreciate, tolerate, or approve of justice and righteousness. He loves them.
If we, like God, love righteousness and justice, that means we cannot also love anything that is unrighteous or unjust. The world is full of dark things that call for our attention and affection. But God, in His steadiness, never stops loving the exact same things: righteousness and justice.
Is the earth full of darkness, evil, and sin? Yes. But don’t forget, this verse reminds us of something else the earth is full of: His unfailing love.
Today, take a ...