29 The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. 30 And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. 31 Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God. ~ Ezekiel 22:29-31
God makes a long list of wrongs and calls out the iniquities that both the people and the priests are all guilty of. But He doesn’t want to bring a swift and terrible punishment on them as He would be justified in doing. He doesn’t do it because He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Neither does He find delight in punishing the guilty.
God would rather bless than curse. Give than take. Help than hinder. Forgive than punish. Because His love is a steadfast love. Therefore, God looked for someone, anyone who would stand in the gap and intercede for those wayward people, but He could find none. His first thought was not execution of His justice, but pardon was the first thing that came to His mind. “Forgive them, for they know not what they do,” Jesus cried out from the cross (Luke 23:34).
And why is that? It is because of The Steadfast Love of God. I’m talking about the unbiased love of God that we’ve been talking about. So unbiased that He causes His sun to rise on the wicked as well as the good. And He sends His rain on the just as well as the unjust (Matthew 5:44). This word translated steadfast love also means great kindness and could also mean loyalty.
In other words, God’s steadfast love is grounded in great kindness and lathered with loyalty. He will never leave you nor will He ever forsake you. God will never leave you holding the bag, as they say, for his steadfast love is filled with mercy and grace.
Here is the good thing about it. It doesn’t matter who we are, where we came from, or what we have done. It doesn’t matter our station in life. It doesn’t matter whether we’re rich or poor, white or black, red or yellow. God’s steadfast love is poured out in abundant grace upon all.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Remember His Steadfast Love.