“For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds.”
Psalm 57:10
We praise the goodness and faithfulness of God.
The divine service for the departed is a celebration for the church, both here on earth and in the beyond. We praise the goodness and faithfulness of God, who pursues His work of redemption untiringly.
This Bible text appears several times in the Psalms (Psalm 36: 5; 57: 10; 108: 4). Depending on the various translations, it evokes the goodness or grace of God, as well as His truth or His faithfulness.
The goodness and the grace of God reach into the heavens
God is good. He does only good things. His actions upon human beings are characterized by kindness, care, and mercy. He gives us what no human being could ever deserve or acquire.
In the Bible, heaven is the place where God dwells (Psalm 20: 6) and where His throne is established (Psalm 11: 4). Jesus Christ reigns at His side (Mark 14: 62). The goodness of God consists of His offer of salvation to us. He gives us the opportunity to dwell with Him, to become like Jesus Christ, and to reign with Him. Only He can do this. No human being can reach heaven. (cf. the tower of Babel). No one is able to live without sin as the Lord did.
God grants grace and forgiveness to all human beings, even those who were far away from Him (Isaiah 57: 19). His goodness extends beyond our horizon. It is at work here on earth as well as in the realms of the departed. Today, we cannot yet see the greatness of the salvation He offers us. His goodness and His grace are much greater than our afflictions.
The truth and faithfulness of God reach into the clouds
God is true and faithful. He does not change. He is absolutely reliable. His law is the same for all human beings, irrespective of their backgrounds or conditions or whether they are alive or dead: in order to be saved, they must believe in Christ and follow Him. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4: 12).
God is faithful. He keeps what He promises. Jesus promised salvation to the poor, the humble, the afflicted, and the persecuted who follow Him (Matthew 5: 3–11). He has promised to be with His Apostles until the end (Matthew 28: 20) and to defend His church (Matthew 16: 18).
We can also see the clouds as an image for our afflictions. God looks after us when we are in distress, even if we do not always see Him. Our Saviour is greater than the evil that causes us to suffer.
How to benefit from the grace and faithfulness of God
In order to benefit from these, human beings must:
- truly believe in Jesus Christ, that is, trust and obey Him,
- recognise their faults, repent sincerely, and be determined to make amends,
- remain faithful until the end.
Because we benefit from these gifts, we praise God and testify of our gratitude by:
- serving Him;
- being merciful to others;
- contributing to the unity of the church.
In His goodness and grace, God grants us access to eternal fellowship with Him. Being faithful and true, He keeps all of His promises. In order to be saved, we must believe, repent, and remain faithful. We express our gratitude by serving God and our neighbor, and by contributing to the unity of the church.