How Great Is His Love
Verse 11: For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
Why is He "compassionate," "gracious," "slow to anger, "abounding in love"? Why will He not always "accuse," "harbor his anger", "treat us as our sins deserve," "repay us according to our iniquities"? The reason is: His attitude is love. His love is so great that it is "as high as the heavens are above the earth."
You will notice the Psalmist makes this stipulation that this great love is "for those who fear him."
To fear the Lord is to demonstrate in our lives the 4 R's: (1) respect for Him; (2) release to Him; (3) relate to Him; and (4) repent of our sins.
Ephesians 3:17-19: "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God" (NASB).
Verse 12:
...as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
His actions: "he removed our transgressions." Because of His great love for us He acts on our behalf.
Remember the story of Naomi and Ruth coming back to Bethlehem and meeting Boaz the kinsman-redeemer? Then Ruth comes back from the night on the threshing floor and reports to her mother-in-law the words of Boaz. Listen then to Naomi's advice to Ruth: "Then Naomi said, 'Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today'" Ruth 3:18 (NIV).
John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son..." (NASB).
He has taken the action necessary out of great love to provide for us an eternal salvation.
C. H. Spurgeon said: O glorious verse, no word even upon the inspired page can excel it! Sin is removed from us by a miracle of love! What a load to move, and yet is it removed so far that the distance is incalculable."
Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (NASB).
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