Augustine, On John 6:14

“The divine substance is not visible to the eye, and the miracles of the divine government of the world and ordering of the whole creation are overlooked because of their constancy.”

Monday: Read Psalm 52 and Matthew 5:48

The phrase, “the steadfast love of the Lord” is used in the psalms to describe the many facets of God’s continuing care for His creatures. How does His steadfast love toward those who ignore Him instruct us?

Tuesday: Read Psalm 48:9-11

To what did meditating on God’s steadfast love lead “the daughters of Judah”? What aspects of the steadfast love of the Lord seem to have been included in this meditation?

Wednesday: Read Psalm 33:13-22

How is fearing God like “hoping” in His steadfast love? Which aspects of the steadfast love of the Lord does the psalmist “fear” to think about being withheld (vv. 19, 20)?

Thursday: Read Psalm 119:121-128

Where does the psalmist expect to learn about the steadfast love of the Lord? How does the Law of God communicate God’s steadfast love?

Friday: Read Psalm 104

The specific phrase is absent, but the reality of God’s steadfast love is throughout this psalm. How many different manifestations of His steadfast love can you identify?

Saturday: Read Psalm 5

How does the psalmist want God to show His steadfast love to him here? Why do we need God’s love in order to perform this good work?

Sunday: Read Psalm 136

This psalm was meant to be sung antiphonally. How far is the reach of God’s steadfast love (cf. Ps. 36)? What is the relationship between God’s steadfast love and His providence?

Lesson for This Week

What have you learned this week about the steadfast love of the Lord? Do you think you will be more or less inclined to take His steadfast love for granted from this point forward? Why or why not?

Next steps: Make several copies of the readings for this week’s Ancient Paths. Give them to some friends. Plan to get together and share ways you have experienced the steadfast love of the Lord recently. Talk about ways of becoming more aware of God’s steadfast love, and how you ought to respond to it. Spend time in prayer together.