Psalm 106:3 says: “How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times.” If only we did! Unfortunately this rules out every one of us: NONE of us practices righteousness at ALL times! “There is NONE righteous; not even one”! (Romans 3:10)

This is why the grace of God is so important

— and the writer mentions that very thing earlier in the Psalm, in :1, “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” The word “lovingkindness” there is the Hebrew word “chesed”, which is a rich word, hard to translate into any one English word (which is the reason for so many varied translations of it!). But it carries the idea of grace; of showing loving favor and kindness to one who does not particularly deserve it.

This is one reason why the Psalmist was so effusive in his praise to God. Yes, those who practice righteousness at all times would be blessed — but none of us do that! But thanks to God that He shows His “chesed”; His lovingkindness; His grace to us — and thus we are saved.

Each one of us who realizes that we are not among those who “practice righteousness at all times” should join the Psalmist today in praising God for His undeserved goodness to us, which brings us salvation: “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting”!