Faithfulness is one of the virtues that must be cultivated in a relationship. In faithfulness lies a willingness to give oneself wholly and completely to another person. Love is manifested in tangible, day-to-day commitment. However, we must realise that no matter how hard we try to live out perfect faithfulness, it is God’s faithfulness alone that is perfect in this life. 

In the passage we are reading today, God reaffirms and reminds us of His faithful love. God begins His statement very plainly and firmly. The god Bel has been subdued and the god Nebo has been laid low. Both were the principal gods in the Babylonian faith; what the people of Babylon regarded as mighty turned out to be nothing more than lifeless objects. When Babylon fell, they were merely idols weighing down the animals that carried them (v. 1). These powerless idols are then contrasted with the presence of the living and eternal God. 

God affirms His faithfulness through the sovereignty of His plan. From the very beginning, God knew Israel, and even in the end, God remains with Israel. With such tender imagery, God affirms His purpose: “Even to your old age I am the same, and even when your hair is white I will carry you” (Isaiah 46:4). From the time they are in the womb until their old age, God is with His people. That faithfulness is God’s grace, which calls people into the embrace of His love. This even includes those who still harden their hearts. 

The truth revealed in His Word in chapter 46 is deeply comforting, especially in these turbulent times. The bitter realities of life often challenge our faith and trust in God. Is He still with me, and when will He help me? These questions are a natural response from someone who is feeling overwhelmed. Yet may His Holy Spirit remind us once more of His unfailing love, which will never change, no matter what. From the moment we came into this world and were in our mother’s womb, right through to old age, God remains a faithful Lord who even carries us.