I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord
These are the words of the prophet, as Jarchi and Kimchi observe;
who, having heard what the Lord would do for his church and
people in later times, by avenging them on their enemies, calls
to mind the favours bestowed on Israel of old; and determines to
make mention of them, and put the saints in mind of them, as
types, earnests, and pledges of what would be done for them; and
to encourage their faith and hope in the performance of what was
promised them: these he calls "the lovingkindnesses of the Lord";
meaning not only the instances of his providential goodness in
bringing them out of Egypt, leading them through the Red sea and
wilderness, and settling them in Canaan's land, after
particularly mentioned; but also those of his special grace and
goodness to the chosen of God among them; called in the plural
number "lovingkindnesses", being the acts of all the three
Persons displayed in election, redemption, and sanctification;
and because these are many and various, and an abundance of grace
and love is manifested in them: and the praises of the
Lord, according to all that the Lord hath
bestowed on us;
which are due to him from all creatures, angels and men, and
especially the saints; and which belong to each divine Person,
according to the various gifts of grace freely bestowed by them;
such as the gift of God himself to his people; the gifts of his
Son, and of the blessed Spirit, with all his graces, faith, hope,
love, repentance, &c.; and all the blessings of grace; as
pardon, justification, adoption, and eternal life; a right unto
it, and meetness for it all which call for praise and
thankfulness: and the great goodness towards the house of
Israel, which he hath bestowed on
them according to his mercies, and according to the
multitude of his
lovingkindnesses;
the gifts of grace are bestowed, not according to the merits of
men, for then they would not be free grace gifts; and, besides,
there is no merit in a creature; the best works of the best of
men are not meritorious, of anything at the hand of God; but all
they have flow from mere sovereign mercy, pure grace, and free
unmerited love, which is abundant, yea, boundless, and even
infinite. A heap of words is here made use of, and all little
enough to express the wonderful kindness of God in the acts of
his grace and goodness to his church and people; which ought
always to be had in sight and mind, and to be remembered and
spoken of in private and in public.