Gary V. Smith: Unfailing love and peace

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Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

“God compares His rock-solid covenant commitment to His promises to the permanence of immovable parts of nature… The mountains and hills are as solid and unmovable as anything known on earth, but when a large earthquake hits, even the rock-solid mountains will shake and totter… Though this shaking may seem almost unimaginable, it is far more unimaginable for anything to cause God’s steadfast loving-kindness to depart, move… Equally firm is God’s absolute commitment to “my covenant of peace” which will not shake, totter… Peace and salvation will be two of the great characteristics of the kingdom of God prepared for His people. In the last line of v. 10, God assures this audience that God’s promise is based on the fact that He is the one who has compassion on you. In this passage God’s love and compassion are two of the prime motivations for His actions toward each person on the earth.”

Gary V. Smith in Isaiah 40-66 (NAC 15B; Nashville: B & H, 2009) 485-486.

My post today is in honor of my Filipino friend and brother in Christ, Kuya Anjji Gabriel, who is mourning the passing of his mother. She was mountain in his life, a rock-solid influence, and while God has removed her from his life, because God is so faithful, generous, and compassionate, He will not remove His unfailing love and peace from Anjji. God be with you, Anjji, and your whole family as you mourn. 

I echo today’s Scripture and this prayer for others whom I know or have heard in social media who have lost loved ones in this season of sickness. I mourn with you. God be with you all, surround you with unfailing love and peace. Though the whole world seems to be crumbling in unimaginable ways, may God’s faithfulness and generous compassion sustain and strengthen you with hope.