The Love of God 6 – ready to forgive

The aim of this devotional is to reflect on God’s loving nature, which makes him “ready to forgive”.

Scripture

Psalms 86:1-7 [A Prayer of David]

1  Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

2  Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you–you are my God.

3  Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.

4  Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

5  For you, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

6  Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.

7  In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.

 

Observations

Note: In this Psalm David give a reason for every petition he prays or every phrase of praise – it is meant as an encouragement and a teaching.

1. Complete this Table by filling in the reasons or motivation (in your own words) why David petitions God for help in his troubles:

PETITION	REASON
86:1   For audience with the LORD.
86:2a   For preservation.
86:2b   For temporal salvation.
86:3   For gracious consideration.
86:4   For joy and gladness.
86:5 [following the previous petitions]
86:6   For audience with the Lord.
86:7   For help in the day of his trouble.

(table from the Believer’s Bible Commentary)

2. Focus on verse 5: “For you, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.”
   1. What do you learn about God’s character and nature in this line?
   2. Consider the Lord’s “steadfast love”, “goodness” and “readiness to forgive”
      1. What do you understand under each of these phrases?
      2. How does the Psalmist see the link between these characteristics?
   3. David wrote this Psalm. Can you think of a particular time in his life when He relied on God’s “steadfast love… ready to forgive”?

Personal reflection and prayer

1. When you become aware of your character failures or your tendency to sin, do you tend to
   1. Shy away from God or godly people?
   2. Go confidently to God in prayer alone?
   3. Pray with a godly friend or small group/ Bible study group?
2. What do you think the Psalmist did when he became aware of his sinfulness? And why?
3. Mediate prayerfully on verse 5: “For you, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.”
   1. Are there sins you need to confess to God? He is “ready to forgive!”
   2. Ask that the Lord to reveal afresh his “steadfast love” to you!