Encounter the Truth

The psalmist who wrote Psalm 42 is far from home—he feels far from the people and the Lord he loves—and he is facing opposition in a hostile land. He is homesick in every way—socially, geographically, spiritually. If we have our sights set on our heavenly home—if we are longing for the day when we will see the Lord face-to-face—if we are a people who know the pressures of this world and the opposi...

We see bad people not only getting away with doing bad things, but prospering and flourishing as they do so. And if we’re honest, it gets to us at least some of the time. This feeling is nothing new. It’s what prompted King David to write this Psalm. And he has this to say about it: "Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass a...

We see bad people not only getting away with doing bad things, but prospering and flourishing as they do so. And if we’re honest, it gets to us at least some of the time. This feeling is nothing new. It’s what prompted King David to write this Psalm. And he has this to say about it: "Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass a...

David knows that the Lord is committed to protecting those of his covenant community; he knows that God is a God of faithfulness to his people; a God of mercy to those who call on him. If we are sensible and wise people, we will want to join David and cry out to the Lord as he cries out, "Keep me safe, O God."

David knows that the Lord is committed to protecting those of his covenant community; he knows that God is a God of faithfulness to his people; a God of mercy to those who call on him. If we are sensible and wise people, we will want to join David and cry out to the Lord as he cries out, "Keep me safe, O God."

Patience is vital to our understanding of who God is and what he is like. Were it not for God’s patience, you and I would not be here at all. Each one of us is the beneficiary of the extraordinary patience of God.

Patience is vital to our understanding of who God is and what he is like. Were it not for God’s patience, you and I would not be here at all. Each one of us is the beneficiary of the extraordinary patience of God.

Our God is fundamentally and in his character a generous God. His inclination is not in the direction of miserliness—but in the direction of bounty. That’s an outworking of both his goodness and his love. I hope that we will learn to trust God in his generosity—and then delight in him more as we see his abundant goodness in his lavish generosity.

Our God is fundamentally and in his character a generous God. His inclination is not in the direction of miserliness—but in the direction of bounty. That’s an outworking of both his goodness and his love. I hope that we will learn to trust God in his generosity—and then delight in him more as we see his abundant goodness in his lavish generosity.

Whereas the world’s megalomaniacs grab hold of power and glory out of an ugly selfish ambition—whereas they grasp for something that is not theirs—the Bible would remind us that the God of heaven is supremely glorious in and of himself and perfectly worthy of all honour. And so, when the Bible tells us that God is a jealous God—it is simply telling us that he has an appropriate concern—a rightful...

Whereas the world’s megalomaniacs grab hold of power and glory out of an ugly selfish ambition—whereas they grasp for something that is not theirs—the Bible would remind us that the God of heaven is supremely glorious in and of himself and perfectly worthy of all honour. And so, when the Bible tells us that God is a jealous God—it is simply telling us that he has an appropriate concern—a rightful...

If there is a distinction between grace and mercy—it is that God’s mercy speaks of his goodness to us in our misery and distress when we cannot save ourselves, while his grace speaks of his goodness to us in our guilt when we deserve only his punishment. In mercy God spares us destruction—and in grace he forgives us and makes his children, lavishing his kindness upon us.

If there is a distinction between grace and mercy—it is that God’s mercy speaks of his goodness to us in our misery and distress when we cannot save ourselves, while his grace speaks of his goodness to us in our guilt when we deserve only his punishment. In mercy God spares us destruction—and in grace he forgives us and makes his children, lavishing his kindness upon us.

God’s “righteousness” is his character of total rightness, integrity, goodness and truth—and his “justice” is his expression of that character in his governance of the universe. And the two ideas, although distinct, belong together in the Bible’s portrait of God.

God’s “righteousness” is his character of total rightness, integrity, goodness and truth—and his “justice” is his expression of that character in his governance of the universe. And the two ideas, although distinct, belong together in the Bible’s portrait of God.

There is something deeply attractive to us about the faithfulness of God. Faithfulness is something we value and long for—but so often fail to see in our society and in our own lives. As fallen people, we do not behave as we ought to behave—we don't even behave as we want to behave.

There is something deeply attractive to us about the faithfulness of God. Faithfulness is something we value and long for—but so often fail to see in our society and in our own lives. As fallen people, we do not behave as we ought to behave—we don't even behave as we want to behave.

The holiness of God is supremely important to understanding who he truly is. As some have said before me, God’s holiness is his “attribute of attributes.” It gives shape to all the others. There is a real sense in which holiness summarizes who God is.

The holiness of God is supremely important to understanding who he truly is. As some have said before me, God’s holiness is his “attribute of attributes.” It gives shape to all the others. There is a real sense in which holiness summarizes who God is.

No love is more important to us than the love of God himself. Beyond the love of spouse or parent or friend is the significance of the love of God. Nothing matters more to us than to know that the God of heaven loves us—and that in his character, he is indeed a God of love.

No love is more important to us than the love of God himself. Beyond the love of spouse or parent or friend is the significance of the love of God. Nothing matters more to us than to know that the God of heaven loves us—and that in his character, he is indeed a God of love.

Our God is always good, entirely good, uncompromisingly good in every way. And for us who long to find true goodness—to know reliable goodness—that simple but profound truth comes to us as a balm to the soul.

Our God is always good, entirely good, uncompromisingly good in every way. And for us who long to find true goodness—to know reliable goodness—that simple but profound truth comes to us as a balm to the soul.

At the most fundamental level, the term “glory” speaks of the excellence of God himself: his worth and his beauty, the perfection of his character, his holiness and his power. But this language is also used to speak of the visible display of God’s worth and majesty—the visible expression of the fact that this glorious God is present.

At the most fundamental level, the term “glory” speaks of the excellence of God himself: his worth and his beauty, the perfection of his character, his holiness and his power. But this language is also used to speak of the visible display of God’s worth and majesty—the visible expression of the fact that this glorious God is present.