What do you think of when you think of a “multitude”? What sorts of things come to mind when you think of a “multitude” in the Bible? “A multiple of people” (Gen. 48:4). “A multitude of years” (Lev. 25:16). “A multitude of livestock” (Num. 32:1). “The multitude of Israel” (2 Kings 7:13). “The multitude of words” (Prov. 10:19). “The multitude of their transgressions” (Psa. 5:10). “The multitude of counselors” (Prov. 11:14). “The multitude of all the nations” (Isa. 29:7). “The multitude of fish” (John 21:6). “A multitude of sins” (Jas. 5:20).
When we think of a “multitude,” we think of a large number of something, but usually that number, while quite large, is still finite enough to count (people, years, words, fish, etc.). Here’s an interesting phrase regarding our God that occurs in the Old Testament – “the multitude of Your tender mercies” (Psa. 51:1). How many tender mercies does God have? The same number as “the multitude of His lovingkindnesses” (Isa. 63:7). There is no number that can be assigned to that! God’s mercies and lovingkindnesses are an infinite multitude!