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I. THEIR CHARACTER.

1. They fear Him. By this we are to understand obedience to all the duties of religion.

2. They keep His covenant. This implies that they walk agreeably to their baptismal and Lord's Supper engagements; that they resist the devil, the world, and the flesh.

3. They remember His commandments to do them.

II. THE PRIVILEGES OF GOD'S PEOPLE are innumerable, and are almost all summed up in this one word mercy. They are all summed up in Christ.

1. Original mercy. This, in God, is like a fountain that runs night and day — that is never diminished or dried up.

2. Communicative mercy. It is over all God's works. Since the earth was created, it has been full of temporal and spiritual mercies.

3. Tender mercy coming from the heart. It is exercised towards miserable objects, immediately and in the very time of need.

4. Free in its exercise towards us, without any deserving on our part.

5. Great mercy. God is "plenteous in mercy; rich in mercy"; abundant in mercy; He has manifold mercies; He keeps mercies for thousands (Exodus 34:7).

6. Infinite mercy. Far above the heavens (Isaiah 55:7, 9). Deeper than the sea (Micah 7:19).

7. Eternal mercy. His compassion fails not; "His mercy endureth for ever."

III. IMPROVEMENT.

1. Those who have experienced this mercy are happy. Finding the end of this mercy is like finding the end of a ring — impossible.

2. Those who have never experienced this mercy are truly miserable.

(James Kidd, D.D.)

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KJV: But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

WEB: But Yahweh's loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children's children;