Deuteronomy 7:9

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"The faithful God." Deu 7:9

Considerable instruction is supplied by noting the qualifying terms which are often attached to the divine name. We read of the living God, the mighty God, the glorious Lord God, and in the text of the faithful God. Sometimes the qualifying terms are rather repellent than attractive, as, for example, "the great and terrible God," and in Daniel we read of the "great and dreadful God." These terms do not occur in the New Testament, yet even in the later books of revelation God is described as "a consuming fire," and in the Apocalypse we read of "the wrath of the Lamb," so that there is a line of consistency in the Old Testament and the New as regards the description of the character of God. Perhaps there is no word which is more profoundly comfortable than the word "faithful" as applied to the divine Being. It would appear as if "love" were more attractive and soothing, but this is an appearance only. Faithfulness is love; without faithfulness love itself would be impossible, because it would become a mere sentiment, liable to be cooled and changed by passing circumstances. It should be observed that even in the Old Testament, in the very text in which the divine Being is described as the great and terrible God, he is further described as "keeping covenant and mercy for evermore with them that love him and observe his commandments." God is not the less loving because he is "great and terrible." The Apostle Paul is very fond of applying the word "faithful" to God and to Jesus Christ, thus: "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." "The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able." "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." The Apostle John, too, in a remarkable passage, avails himself of the same descriptive term: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." Thus forgiveness itself is an expression of faithfulness and justice, and therefore may be accepted as essential and everlasting. If God is faithful himself, he expects faithfulness in others. He praises faithfulness in those who have completed their course of life honourably: "Well done, good and faithful servant." He would see himself in others. Faithfulness means consistency, permanency, reality of thought and service, and is absolutely intolerant of all fickleness, self-regard, men-pleasing, and time-serving. "Be thou faithful unto death."