04.014. The Faithful God
The Faithful God Know, therefore, that Jehovah, thy God, He is the Faithful God-- Deuteronomy 7:9.
Here for the first time appears that new name of God, The Faithful One. Beautifully is this word framed--faithful--to remind that He is the natural and perfect object for faith fully to find its ground of rest and trust; and that He keeps faith with us in all His covenant promises and obligations.
God’s faithfulness combines in itself at least six other attributes, like a dome surmounting and crowning a structure, and supported on six pillars: namely: His Truth, which makes it impossible for Him either to be false or faithless; His Righteousness, which makes Him infinitely sensitive to any obligation that He assumes; His Power, which is the eternal guaranty of His ability to do as He promises; His Love, which assures us of His tender sympathy for all our needs; His Omniscience, which devises such wise methods for working out His gracious ends; and His Unchangeableness, which forbids any forgetfulness of His promises, or alteration in His plans.
Careful study of the Word of God will reveal at least seven forms in which stress is laid upon His Faithfulness:
As a Pardoner (1 John 1:9). Faithful and just to forgive, and cleanse those who confess and forsake their sins (Proverbs 28:13). He was under no obligation to forgive till He had promised. Then faithfulness to His word was at stake, comp. Hebrews 2:17.
As a Protector (1 Corinthians 10:13). God is Faithful in Protecting the tempted soul, making a way to escape, that sin may not be irresistible. If there were no possibility of escape, would not the sinner become irresponsible? But God opens the door of flight.
As a Provider. This thought abounds especially in the Psalms, comp. Psalms 92:2 and Lamentations 3:23. Every night and every morning we may find proofs of his faithful provision for us--in waking and sleeping hours alike (Genesis 22:14). One of God’s titles, Jehovah the Provider.
As a Promiser (Hebrews 10:23). He is faithful that promised (Hebrews 11:11). She judged Him faithful who had promised. The former text reveals His faithfulness, and the latter, faith as counting upon it. These are two beautiful companion texts.
As a Purifier (1 Thessalonians 5:24). The reference here is to the sanctifying work of the Faithful God, who calls us to Holiness, and also will purify us from all iniquity, comp. 1 Peter 4:19 where He is called the Faithful Creator, perhaps because He has such skill in adapting the means to the ends.
As a Preserver (1 Corinthians 1:8-9). Here His faithfulness appears in confirming the believer unto the end (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Here similarly, in establishing us and keeping us from all evil. Having begun a good work, He faithfully perfects it.
As a Performer (Romans 4:21). Abraham was fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able also to perform. The emphatic word is perform. The contrast is between saying and doing, and in this case the doing involved a miracle.
Mark 11:22 may be freely rendered Reckon on God’s good faith (2 Timothy 2:13). If we believe not (are faithless), yet He abideth faithful; He cannot deny Himself (Micah 7:20). What was covenant mercy to Abraham became truth to Isaac. God was not bound to extend mercy to Abraham’s seed until He had entered into covenant. Then what was at first Mercy became Truth.