Read Psalm 85, Love Never Fails

LOVE NEVER FAILS

This phrase in 1 Cor. 13:8 is the concluding aspect of love as listed in v4-7.  But it also transitions to the remainder of 1 Cor. 13.  Let us first consider God’s unfailing love as revealed in the Old Testament.  Contrary to the characterization of many, the God of the OT is a God of great love!

1)   Definition of “fails”:

a)   To fall; "involuntary" or "unplanned".

b)   Often used of people falling to knees in worship.

c)   Lk 16:17: The Law said to fall in the sense of losing authority or ceasing to have force.

d)   Contrast this to 1 Cor 13:7 and the four “always” aspects of love.

2)   Causes of "falling"

a)   Sin. (Rom 11:11,22)

b)   Circumstances. (Mt 7:25,27)

3)   Unfailing Love in the Old Testament.

    a)   Seen in the marriage of Emmet and Checed.

This is not the marriage of a man and a woman but of two Hebrew words, used together many times in the OT.

40 times in OT: Gen 24:27,49; 32:10; 47:29; Ex 34:6; Josh 2:14; 2Sam 2:6; 15:20; Ps 25:10; 26:3; 36:5; 40:10-11; 57:3,10; 61:7; 69:13; 85:10; 86:15; 88:11; 89:1,2,14,24,33,49; 92:2; 98:3; 100:5; 108:4; 115:1; 117:2; 138:2;  Prov 3:3; 16:6; 20:28; Isa 16:5; Hos 4:1; Mic 7:20; Zec 7:9

        i)     Definitions:

            (1) Emmet = true; faithful.

            (2) Checed = loving-kindness, mercy, kindness (love).

        ii)    Illustrations (in these passages who is faithful and kind?):

            a.   Gen. 24:27: 

            b.   Gen. 32:10: 

            c.   Exodus 34:6-7(this is profound):

            d.   Used as a blessing by David upon ...

                i.     2 Sam. 2:6: 

                ii.    2 Sam. 15:20:

iii) From these Psalms meditate on God’s love and faithfulness.

(1) Psa 25:10  All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

(2) Psa 40:11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.

(3) Psa 57:3  He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness.

(4) Psa 57:10  For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. (36:5; 108:4)

(5) Psa 61:7  May he be enthroned in God's presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

(6) Psa 85:10  Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

(7) Psa 115:1  Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

(8) Psa 138:2  I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

iv)  Consider the “who” and “why” of love and faithfulness in these passages:

(1) Prov 3:3:

(2) Prov 16:6:

(3) Prov 20:28:

(4) Hosea 4:1:

Consider:

(1) Love without faithfulness is disappointing.

(2) Faithfulness without love is fearful.

(3) God has it all! And we are called to be like Him!