Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people
— Psalm 106.4

A godly man’s desires are unique. He does not always express them in the presence of his fellow men. However, he certainly and frequently does so when he is alone with God. In prayer he opens up his heart, and with much affection he relates the innermost desires of his life to his blessed Maker.

It is the love of God his heart is so fervently yearning for. Therefore he importunately pleads, ‘Remember me, O LORD, with the favour’, or with the love, ‘that thou bearest unto thy people’.

This love is not expressed in nature. In the created world we may see much of God’s goodness, greatness and power. His wisdom and majesty are manifest in all His works. However, the excellent love wherewith God loves His own may only be found and discovered in the Holy Scriptures. They reveal the mysteries of God’s everlasting love to a people chosen from all eternity. In the precious Word of God we see the rich manifestations of this favour of God in the Son of His love. God revealed His eternal good pleasure when His Son was laid in the lowly manger of Bethlehem. Then the heavenly, holy angels expressed their praise and adoration, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men’ (Luke 2.14).

However, the richest manifestations of God’s love are to be found in the suffering Servant of the Lord laying down His life as a ransom for many. How marvellous is the fruit of the love of God, when the Substitute for guilty sinners dies as the Just for the unjust.

Indeed, God has a people here on earth whom He has chosen from all eternity to be His own in a special manner. In time they were bought by the precious blood of God’s dear Son, and they are regenerated and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. To be loved and to be remembered by the Lord with that blessed love that He bears to His own is the foremost desire of a needy, redeemed sinner. This special, distinguishing love that the Lord has for His own people is the most precious love that can ever be known. Blessed are all who have a living desire for the indispensable riches of the favour of God. They consider it the chiefest treasure and comfort in life.

Why is this love so precious? It is on account of the purity and depth of this love. This love is superior to any creature love; it is as great as God Himself. It is like a never-failing treasure. Of this love it may be said, ‘many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it’ (Song of Solomon 8.7).

Why is this love so much to be desired? It is because this love is the only source of salvation. God loves His people with an everlasting love. Without this distinguishing love of God for His own, there is no escape from certain ruin and despair, no deliverance from the wrath to come. Saving grace is experienced as a fruit of the everlasting favour of God in Christ. It is in Christ that God loves His people. God’s love is free love; one cannot buy or merit it. True love can never be bought. ‘If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned’ (Song of Solomon 8.7).

This love is never to be viewed apart from Christ. No man can come to the Father but by Christ (John 14.6). By His eternal sacrifice, by His atoning blood, He paved the way to the heart of God. 

It is only for Christ’s sake that God can and does love His people. There is no other foundation. It is on the basis of Christ’s righteousness wrought at the cross of Calvary that the love of God rests on His own and will continue to do so forever. This is according to the counsels of God from all eternity.

This love never changes. The love of God’s people is like the sea that flows and ebbs, but the love of God is like Himself. ‘For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed’ (Malachi 3.6).

God’s love in Christ is the only love that takes away the distance between a holy God and sinful man. It is the only love that leads to God Himself. No other love can do it. Without it there can be no rest or hope. How valuable is this love!

Remember me, Lord, with that love
which thou to thine dost bear;
With thy salvation, O my God,
to visit me draw near:

That I thy chosen’s good may see,
and in their joy rejoice;
And may with thine inheritance
triumph with cheerful voice.
Psalm 106.4,5

The Psalms of David in Metre