Psalm 103:17-18
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.
This is an awesome passage of Scripture and drives home some key points for us to remember. Let’s break it down and meditate on ways the words can penetrate our hearts and lives:
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him;
What does this say to us? The love of God is with those who fear Him … who show great reverence for Him. His love is faithful and everlasting to those who give unto the Lord the glory due His Name! (Cf. 1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 29:2; Psalm 96:8) Note how these Scriptures encourage us to GIVE to the Lord … to bring an offering and to worship. Showing God reverence is not just “lip service” or just the “sacrifice of praise from our lips”; rather, it is the giving of our entire beings and returning a portion of all that He has given us. As Jesus taught: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” ( Cf. Luke 6:38) This precept applies to everything; including our time, our talents, and the treasure He has entrusted us.
and His righteousness with their children’s children—
What does this say? Well, put in the context – from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s righteousness is with the children and grandchildren of those who fear Him. What an incredible promise to those who love the LORD and serve Him out of reverence and sincere love…. There is a similar Scripture that some to mind in this regard and addresses the impact of how a person lives upon the generations that come after them. Consider the second commandment recorded in Exodus 20:
Exodus 20:4-6 (NIV)
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Yes, what you and I do … how we live before God … how we demonstrate our reverence for God and His commandments … this “example” impacts the lives of our children and our grandchildren. Do not take for granted how you live as though it has no impact upon your children and future generations. It does in every way! No, our individual walks with God cannot be vicariously imputed to our children, but the influence of ungodliness will impact and influence them and their children in ways we cannot imagine. All the more reason to seek wisdom for living … to reverence God … to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ … because our children and grandchildren are impacted by our faithfulness or lack thereof….
with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.
What does this say? In context and syntax – from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love and righteousness is with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts. The keeping of His covenant and obedience to His instruction for righteous living – these draw the love and righteousness of God to us. And note, God promises that His love and imputed righteousness is eternal for those who love Him … for those who keep His covenant and obey His commands. This is foundational to what Jesus Himself taught us would be imperative to demonstrating our love for Him: “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” (Cf. John 14:15, 21; 15:10)
I pray each of us will take this passage from Psalm 103 to heart and consider how we can have the best impact on the lives of our children and their children … and the generations to come. We can facilitate blessing or cursing by how we conduct ourselves … by how sincerely we live out our faith before them … because our example can be one of the most powerful influences … for good or for evil … on our offspring and affect how they will live before their children after them…. Let’s endeavor to make our lives a blessing to the next generations for their sake and for the glory of God. Amen.
So Now You Know 