But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to
everlasting
upon them that fear him
In opposition to the frailty of man, the stability and duration
of the mercy of God is observed. This reaches from one eternity
to another; it is from everlasting in the heart of God: it
appeared in the choice of the vessels of mercy; in the covenant
of grace, which is founded upon it, and filled with it; every
blessing of which flows from it, and therefore are called the
"sure mercies of David". And it appears in time in the
regeneration of God's elect, which is according to his abundant
mercy; in the forgiveness of their sins, which is according to
the multitude of his tender mercies; and in their whole
salvation, which is by that, and not by works of righteousness;
and will endure for ever, for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
is unto eternal life. It reaches from the world past to the world
to come, as the Targum; and it is so "upon them that fear" the
Lord; not with a servile, but a filial fear; a fear of the Lord
and his goodness; which only is consistent with the grace and
mercy of God, and a sense of it: not that the fear of God is the
cause of mercy or grace; but, on the contrary, grace and mercy
are the cause of the fear of God; which is a blessing of the
covenant of grace, and one of the first things which appear in
conversion; but this properly describes the persons who openly
and manifestly share in the grace or mercy of God, and to whom he
manifests it yet more and more; nor have any reason to believe
they are the objects of it, until the true fear of God is wrought
in their hearts; and, besides, this character may be given to
show that the mercy and grace of God are not limited to the
Israelites only, but belong to such of all nations that fear the
Lord.
And his righteousness unto children's children;
not the essential righteousness of God, but rather his
faithfulness in the performance of his promises, which he will
not suffer to fail: the justifying righteousness of Christ is
here meant; which is an everlasting one, and is unto and upon all
them that believe, in all successive generations; which is meant
by the phrase of "children's children", even the spiritual seed
of Christ, the seed of the church, the seed of Israel; to all and
each of which, in every age, the word of God comes, and his
promises are fulfilled; and who are justified by and glory in
Christ, their righteousness; and who are further described in the
next verse, which shows that not the carnal seed of them that
fear the Lord are meant.