WHAT LOVE IS THIS?                                 PSALM 89:1-4; 19-37


I.  God’s Love is Covenantal


  1. God makes a commitment to His people relationally


  1. The light of God’s creation declares God’s covenantal love for His people from the beginning 
                                             Gen. 1:14-18; Ps. 36:5; Eph. 1:4-6


  1. The nature of God’s love is steadfast: unconditional and unchanging; and faithful: unfailing and reliable                         Ps. 85:35; 136:2; 146:10; Lam. 3:23 


  1. The light of God’s redemption in the coming of His Son reveals the character of God’s covenantal love
                                                                    Jn. 1:3-5; 8:12; I Jn. 1:1-7




II.  God’s Love is Established


  1. God makes a commitment to His people historically


  1. God’s covenantal love is based solely on the giver, not the recipient, thus it’s guaranteed 
                                            Deut. 31:6; Ps. 40:2; Heb. 13:5
  
  1. God’s covenantal love, established in heaven, is established on earth through David; and cannot be invalidated by David’s sin or his descendants sin
                                                       2 Sam. 7:5-16; Ps. 89:28, 29


  1. The faith and hope of God’s people (both old and new covenant) is based upon the fulfillment of God’s covenantal love in His perfect Son Jesus Christ
                                                     Isa. 28:16; I Tim. 2:19; I Pet. 2:4-6




III.  God’s Love is Eternal


  1. God makes a commitment to His people forever
                                                   Ps. 89:1, 2, 4, 28, 29, 36, 37, 46


  1. God’s faithfulness continues through all generations based upon His covenantal love.         Ps. 100:5; 103:17; Jer. 31:3


  1. God’s covenant love forgives the sins of His people based upon the new covenant work of His Son
                                                Isa. 9:7; Luke 1:32, 33; Jn. 3:16


  1. We welcome the light of God’s love by singing the psalms of God’s covenantal love through Christ our Savior
                                                              Ps. 63:2-5; 89:1; Eph. 3:17-19