you see the difference? It is the Lord just heaping up His goodness to us. This is the way we can look at this verse as well. God delights to do that which is exceeding abun dantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Then, notice the verse speaks of tender mercies. Why not tender justice? For after all, we deserve that. Mercy, however, implies fail ure. This is exactly the picture for we have all fallen short of God's grace. If we were to receive what we so justly deserve, we would not stand a chance. But instead of justice, He extends to us His hand of loving and tender mercy. Now in verse five we read, "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is re newed as the eagle's." The use of the word "mouth" here actually symbolizes our desires. He brings us satisfaction and contentment. Surely we do not know what is best for us, but God does. When we were growing up, one of the favorite books we loved to read as boys, especially on a rainy day, was the Sears Roebuck cata log. Do any of you have similar memories? Do you recall how the catalog was set up? It had each product in three categories: "good," "better," and "best." As you looked at the publication, the item which was least expensive, and sometimes rather inferior, was described as "good." The next best item cost a little more and was "better." Finally, the finest obtain able was listed as "best" and al ways cost more, too. Now, you see, when Cod satisfies our desires, He Page 55
as Saviour, our lives have been re deemed from sin by His precious blood. To redeem means to buy back. It is as if a slave would be purchased out of bondage and then given his priceless freedom. That is in the past tense. Then, we know, too, that Cod is going to redeem our life from eternal de struction. This is in the future. As we grow older, and I speak now from personal experience, our bodies even now groan for the re demption which shall be ours when Christ calls us to be with Him. That is the wonderful hour when we shall know, even as also we are known. But there is yet another important and vital dimension to our salvation. Right now He is re deeming our life from destruction. He is taking care of us; He main tains the oversight on our behalf. Have you entered into the fullness of joy that can come in the blessed knowledge of these three tenses of salvation? Now, the last part of verse four tells us that Cod crowns our lives with loving kindness and tender mercy. Perhaps you have heard the definition a little Sunday school boy gave of this. It may be a fan ciful illustration yet it is so perti nent and really beautiful. He said that loving kindness reminded him of his mother who, when he came home from school in the afternoon and was very tired and hungry would give him a piece of bread with butter on it. "That," he de clared, "is kindness! But when I come home another day and am so tired and hungry my mother gives me a piece of bread with butter on it, and then puts on some of her homemade strawberry jam, that is loving kindness!" Do
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