God's Love Is so Precious

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This sermon is based on the words of Psalm 36:7 in which the Psalmist declares that God's lovingkindness is precious. The message begins by giving a definition and a description of the word "precious," then presents various reasons why God's love is so precious. 

Written Excerpts:

Psalm 36:7 ^(NKJV) How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

Introduction:

Several weeks ago in a Wednesday night prayer service, I shared several different passages of Scripture that all spoke about God’s love in some way. Each passage highlighted a different aspect of His love as it is revealed and directed toward His creation and His creatures who are made in His image. One of those passages we shared was Psalm 36:7 in which the love (lovingkindness) of God is said to be “precious.”

The first part of the Psalm, King David describes the characteristics of the wicked. Then, in contrast, he describes the love and mercy of the Lord. In verse 7, he used the word “excellent” (KJV) or “precious” (NKJV, et.al.).

“Precious” (Theological Wordbook of the OT) It comes from a Semitic root which conveys the idea of "heavy," "honor," "dignity." An object is considered precious or valuable either because of its intrinsic worth or its rarity.

(The Complete Word Study Dict. – OT) An adjective meaning valuable, rare, precious. It carries the sense of being rare in some contexts (1 Sam. 3:1). It is used to describe precious and costly stones (2 Sam. 12:30; 1 Ki. 10:2, 10, 11); the valuable foundation stones of buildings (1 Ki. 5:17[31]); any expensive building stones or materials (1 Ki. 7:9-11). It is used of the Lord's lovingkindness (ḥesed̠) to His people (Ps. 36:7[8]). Wisdom is asserted to be more valuable than jewels (Prov. 3:15). It is used as an abstract collective term for that which is valuable, noble, moral, ethical, or worthy compared to what is worthless (Jer. 15:19).

(Brown, Driver, & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon) Highly valued /esteemed, costly, rare, weighty…

If I were to ask you, “What is something that you consider to be precious?” What would you say? People think of jewelry as precious because of its cost. Some things are precious because they’re so rare. Sometimes, people don’t even know how precious an item really is. I hope all of us here recognize that the most precious thing we have is life itself. Every material possession we have can be replaced with something equally precious, but nothing can replace a human life.

Here in Ps. 36, King David is proclaiming the value, worth, weightiness of God’s love.

“Lovingkindness” – I have mentioned this word a few times in the past. When I had the privilege to hear Dr. John Oswalt, OT scholar and author, he stated that this is a Hebrew word that has no parallel in other Semitic literature. No single word can adequately translate this word. It is the passionate, undying devotion of a superior to an inferior, especially when undeserved.

So David says that this undying devotion God has toward the creatures made in His image is very precious; highly valuable; & costly.

The Bible has so much to say about the love of God. There are also many passages that talk about the wrath of God. I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that I heard many more sermons about the wrath of God when I was growing up, than I did about the love of God. Believe me, it is important to know that the Bible teaches both. However, if I understand the Bible correctly, the day of God’s wrath is future. The day of His love is now. 

Yes, there is coming a time when God will release His awesome anger and punishment on all those who reject Him. But, the Bible tells me that He is “not willing that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance.” I was so afraid of God in my younger years that every time I stumbled and fell into sin, I figured God was done with me. It was hard for me to believe and accept the fact that God loved me so passionately that He wanted me. 

Now, some people preach the love of God until His wrath and judgment is never mentioned. This is not right either. I fear that there are many people who presume God is always going to condone and smile upon them because He “loves them,” and even in spite of their persistent resistance against God, they expect Him to just welcome them into heaven. 

My message today is about the love of God and why it is so precious or valuable.

I.      God’s love is precious because it’s sacrificial.

The love of God isn’t precious because of what we have to “pay” in order to get it. It is precious because of what He paid in order to give it!

Galatians 2:20 ^(NKJV) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 

I know I’ve said this before, but someone once said, God owns everything in the universe, but He only has one Son. Yet, He willingly sacrificed His own Son for our salvation. He sacrificially gave the only Son He had so we could be redeemed, forgiven, and transformed.

II.    God’s love is precious because it is covenantal.

Leviticus 26:45 ^(NKJV) But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.' " 

The word “love” is not included in this verse or the surrounding verses, but if you read the context…

(Review the context in preceding verses. God is telling them that it doesn’t matter where they may be scattered from the judgments of God, if they return to God, He will remember His covenant and will take them back. He will not completely destroy them.)

If you read the history of Israel throughout the OT, you see how often they forsook the Lord and followed pagan gods and pagan practices. God did bring judgment and He did send them into exile, but God is always wooing and calling them back to Himself because His love is linked to His covenant to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 7:8 ^(NKJV) but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Today, God’s love is linked to the new covenant provided by the blood of a new sacrificial Lamb – Jesus. It doesn’t matter how many times we stumble, or how far we stray, because of the covenant God has made through the blood of Jesus, His love is always faithful and redemptive. 

III.   God’s love is precious because it is beyond understanding. 

The Apostle Paul is describing the content of his prayers for the Ephesian believers, and one of the things he prays for is that they would know the love which passes knowledge.

Ephesians 3:19 ^(NKJV) to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

God’s love is mind-blowing; incomprehensible; and unfathomable.

(Today's Best Illustrations)

Dad Meets the Messy Baby

On a short flight, a woman sat opposite me with a darling baby. They were going home, and Daddy was waiting for them. Every time the baby cried the young mother fed her a little fruit and a little orange juice. The flight was very turbulent. Everything that had gone down came up. The carpet was a mess. The baby was crying and looked awful. Those of us across the aisle couldn't cry but looked awful.

Getting off the plane, we moved very carefully. It was really unpleasant. At the gate was a young man who had to be Daddy: white slacks, white shirt, and flowers. I thought, "He's going to run to that baby, get one look, and keep running!" As he ran to his wife, I wouldn't say she threw the baby at him, but she did leave quickly to go get cleaned up. He said, "Daddy's baby's come home." All the way to the luggage claim area, he never stopped hugging and kissing that baby, stroking her hair, welcoming her back home.

I thought, "Where did I ever get the idea that my Father God is less loving than a young daddy in white slacks and white shirt?" — Jeannette Clift George, Preaching Today, Tape No. 93, quoted in Men of Integrity, Vol. 2, no. 4.

God’s love defies human understanding. When we’re all messed up with our sin and Satan has made a mockery of us, God loves us with a love that no one understands. When the Prodigal Son comes home from the pigpen of life; covered with the filth of the world; the father grabs him and hugs him and throws a party!

Do you understand that? Is that reasonable? No! It defies reason, but that is the kind of love our God has for each one of us.

IV.   God’s love is so precious because it is universal.

John 3:16 God so loved the world…

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

Again, the word “love” is not included in this verse, but love is implied as the reason why God delays His judgment. He’s not willing that ANY should perish. That is why He sent His only Son into the world – because of His love for the whole world.

Whoever you are, you are not outside of the scope of God’s love. Wherever you go and whoever you meet, no one is outside of the scope of God’s love. We need to remember that God loves every person; no matter how messy they are (like the story we shared a little while ago about the messy baby). 

Conclusion

With a heart of worship and a voice of praise, let us join together and sing: The Love of God