The God Who Loves

12 April 2015

Theme:“Choosing God to be

my God!”

Introduction• This morning, we will talk about one of

God’s character that David experienced in his life journey, and that is God’s love.

• In our previous lessons, we learned different characteristics of God; that He is the God who satisfies, understands, helps, calms our fears, restores and strengthens, the God who listens and gives us refuge. And now we will learn one of the most important characteristics of God, and that is His loving-kindness.

*1Loving-kindness is used as an English translation for the

Hebrew word HESED This term is used often in the book of Psalms, and refers to acts of kindness, motivated by love.

It is used primarily in reference to God, rather than people.

OutlineI.Man’s Wickedness v1-4

1.His Evil Character [Heart and Mind] v1-2

2.His Evil Conversation [Mouth] v3

3.His Evil Conduct [Works] v4

OutlineII.God’s Love v5-9

1.His Unfailing Love v5a2.His Faithful Love v5b3.His Righteous Love v6a4.His Blameless Love v6b5.His Providential Love v6c, 8-96.His Protective Love v7b

OutlineIII.Our Prayer of Dependence

v10-121.Adoration of God’s Character v102.Supplication of Man’s Needs v11-

12 (Deliverance and Victory)

Psalm 36“For the choir director. A

Psalm of David the servant of the LORD”.

“The term ‘servant’ carries an association

with covenant relationship emphasizing submission to and service

for God.”

*John MacArthur Study Bible p741

The Four Loves

1. Storge/affection love (parent-child relationship) it is a dependency based love.

2. Phila/brotherly love (friendship relationship) like David and Jonathan.

3. Eros/romantic love (husband-wife relationship).

4. Agape/God’s love (God-Man Relationship).

“Love has two distinctions; first is what we called Gift-love, a love

which moves a man to work and plan and save for the future well-being of

his family. In other words, this love desires giving

without expecting in return. God’s love is also a Gift-love, it gives

and lacks nothing.*The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

But the other distinction in the contrary is what C.S. Lewis called

Need-love. On the contrast, we humans are in this

second distinction of love. We are badly in need of love. This is a hunger

for love that needs to be filled, whether it is affection love, brotherly

love, romantic love, or God’s love. This is a type of hunger that we are desperately needed to be filled.

*The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

“When we acknowledge that we need love, it means that we are incomplete

without it.”

“Our need for love means we need people—friends, spouses, family members. However, our need for love is such that even if all those people loved us perfectly, we still

wouldn't have enough love to meet our need.”

*http://www.ivpress.com/bible/study.php?study=186

I. Man’s Wickedness v1-4Psalm 36:1-4 (NCV)36 Sin speaks to the wicked in their hearts.    They have no fear of God.2 They think too much of themselves    so they don’t see their sin and hate it.3 Their words are wicked lies;    they are no longer wise or good.4 At night they make evil plans;    what they do leads to nothing good.    They don’t refuse things that are evil.

*

OutlineI.Man’s Wickedness v1-4

1.His Evil Character [Heart and Mind] v1-2

2.His Evil Conversation [Mouth] v3

3.His Evil Conduct [Works] v4

1. His Evil Character [Heart and Mind] v1-2

Psalm 36:1-2 (NCV)36 Sin speaks to the wicked in their hearts.    They have no fear of God.2 They think too much of themselves    so they don’t see their sin and hate it.

*

CHARACTER:6“Character is what we do when no one’s looking. It is not the same as reputation – what other people think of us. It is not the same as success or achievement. Character is not what we have done, but who we are.”

* Character: Who We Are When No One’s Looking by Bill Hybels

“The assertion of original sin makes the point that we are not sinners because we sin, but rather we sin because we are sinners, born with a nature enslaved to sin.”

* Original Sin by J.I. Parker

Biblestudytools.com defines ‘wickedness’ as “The state of being

wicked; a mental disregard for justice, righteousness, truth, honor, virtue; evil in thought and life; depravity;

sinfulness; criminality… in the New Testament, wickedness is associated in the word poneria which means iniquity, malice, evil purposes

and desires.”* Biblestudy.com/Wickedness

I. Man’s Wickedness v1-4Romans 3:10-12 (NIV)10 As it is written:“There is no one righteous, not even one;11     there is no one who understands;    there is no one who seeks God.12 All have turned away,    they have together become worthless;there is no one who does good,    not even one.”

*

I. Man’s Wickedness v1-4Psalm 14:1-3 (NIV)1 The fool says in his heart,    “There is no God.”They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;    there is no one who does good.2 The LORD looks down from heaven    on all mankindto see if there are any who understand,    any who seek God.3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt;    there is no one who does good,    not even one.

*

2. His Evil Conversation [Mouth] v3

Psalm 36:3 (NCV)3 Their words are wicked lies;    they are no longer wise or good.Romans 3:13-14 (NIV)13 “Their throats are open graves;    their tongues practice deceit.”“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

*

“Graves were sealed not only to show respect for the deceased, but to hide

the sight and stench of the body’s decay.

As an unsealed grave allows those who pass to see and smell what is inside, the unregenerate person’s

open throat – that is, the foul words that came from it – reveal the decay of

his heart…”

* John MacArthur Study Bible

3. His Evil Conduct [Works] v44 At night they make evil plans;    what they do leads to nothing good.    They don’t refuse things that are evil.Romans 3:15-18 (NIV)15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;16     ruin and misery mark their ways,17 and the way of peace they do not know.”18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

*

II. God’s Loving-kindness v5-9

Psalm 36:5-9 (NASB)5 Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;    Your judgments are like a great deep.O LORD, you preserve man and beast.

*

II. God’s Loving-kindness v5-9

Psalm 36:5-9 (NASB)7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!    And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.8 And drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;    and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. 9 For with You is the fountain of life;

In Your light we see light.

*

1. His Unfailing Love v5a5 Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, “The Hebrew word for loving-kindness in v5 is the word ‘hesed’. Other Bible

translation translates it differently; NLT translates it as unfailing love; ESV translates it as steadfast love. KJV translates it as mercy; Holman’s

Standard Bible translates it as faithful love, and ISV translates it as gracious

love.”

2. His Faithful Love v5bYour faithfulness reaches to the skies.2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT)13 If we are unfaithful,    He remains faithful,    for he cannot deny who he is.

3. His Righteous Love v6a6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;

“Dictionaries define righteousness as “behavior that is morally justifiable or

right.” Such behavior is characterized by accepted standards of morality, justice,

virtue, or uprightness. The Bible’s standard of human righteousness is God’s own perfection in every attribute, every

attitude, every behavior, and every word.”* http://www.gotquestions.org/righteousness.html

3. His Righteous Love v6a“The righteousness of God is evident in the way He consistently acts in accord with His

own character. God always acts righteously; His every action is consistent with His character... God is not defined by the term “righteous,” as much as the term “righteous” is defined by God. God is not

measured by the standard of righteousness; God sets the standard of

righteousness.”

* https://bible.org/seriespage/6-righteousness-god

4. His Blameless Love v6b“…Your judgments are like a great deep…

5. His Providential Love v6c, 8-9

…O LORD, you preserve man and beast.8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;    and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. 9 For with You is the fountain of life;

In Your light we see light.* God’s providential love demonstrates His character by providing us what we need despite our sin and inadequacy.

5. His Providential Love v6c, 8-9

Psalm 36:8 (KJV)8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house…

6. His Protective Love v7b7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!    And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

Psalm 91:4 (NLT)4 He will cover you with his feathers.    He will shelter you with his wings.    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

III. Our Prayer of Dependence v10-12

Psalm 36:10-12 (NASB)10 O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.11 Let not the foot of pride come upon me,And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.12 There the doers of iniquity have fallen;They have been thrust down and cannot rise.

*

The God Who Loves

12 April 2015

Theme:“Choosing God to be

my God!”