Love Keeps No Record of Wrong

Yesterday I commented that I so enjoy the richness of God's word.  To know that there is not one aspect of God's creation that He is not sovereign over - even names.  I ended yesterday's post with the meaning of "Araunah", the owner of the threshing floor which David bought at a cost, to be "Ark."  The Ark of our salvation being Jesus himself, sacrificed right there on the threshing floor, the cross that separates the wheat from the chaff, this foreshadowed by Abraham and Isaac and, of course, before that by Noah.  That's rich.

So today I share a new nugget with you from my reading through 1 Chronicles 21-27.  Just a little nugget amongst David passing the kingship on to his son Solomon, the instructions to the Levites, the division of Aaron's sons, musicians, porters, overseers, and the officers of the kingdom.  I might have missed it from the sheer length of names and obligations.

It's verse 27:24 of 1 Chronicles. "Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the Chronicles of King David."

Remember yesterday we spoke of sin.  Adam's, Israel's, David's.  Mine.  Why would God subsequently include verse 24 amongst a host of instructions and names?  To demonstrate his mercy and grace toward us.  

The first verse that came to my mind is 1 Corinthians 13:5 "Love keeps no record of wrongs."

Psalm 103

Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits - 

who forgives all your sins 

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit 

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

He made know his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the people of Israel:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve 

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, 

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

The life of mortals is like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

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.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding,

who obey his word.

Praise the Lord, all his heavenly host,

you his servants who do his will.

Praise the Lord, all his works 

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.