August 24, 2025

“May Your lovingkindness also come to me, O LORD, Your salvation according to Your word.” Psalm 119:41

Two key words in this verse are “lovingkindness” and “word.”

The first, “lovingkindness”, appears about 250 times in the Old Testament. It can be translated as loyalty, faithfulness, goodness, or steadfast love. It emphasizes kindness and is most often used to describe God’s faithful love toward His people Israel.

The second word, “word”, carries the sense of promise. We even use a similar expression today when we say, “I give you my word.”

The psalmist’s hope for salvation rests not in his own efforts, but in the steadfast love of God—love that is expressed through His covenant promises.

At the Last Supper, Jesus made this connection clear when He said:

And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:27-28

Here we see both truths in action: God’s steadfast love and His covenant promise. His love sent His Son into the world to save His people from their sins, and His covenant was ratified—not with the blood of animals, but with the very blood of His Son.

Like the psalmist, our prayerful hope for salvation is not based on what we have done, but on the unshakable love of God and the sure promise of Christ, who shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins.

This is our encouragement: God’s lovingkindness is steadfast, His word is unbreakable, and His salvation is sure.