Reading: psalms 132-138
Ogive thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for His mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for His mercy endureth for ever. To Him who alone doeth great wonders: for His mercy endureth for ever. To Him that by wisdom made the heavens: for His mercy endureth for ever (Ps. 136:1-5). Who remembered us in our low estate: for His mercy endureth for ever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for His mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for His mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for His mercy endureth for ever (Ps. 136:23-26).
God is eternal, existing without beginning or end. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty (Rev. 1:8). God is good; evil does not exist in Him. This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (I John 1:5). God is true to His nature; He will not act outside of it. God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good (Num. 23:19)? God is love, and only love can live in His presence. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (I John 4:7-8).
These are the truths around which the psalmist composed the 136th Psalm. He opens by offering thankful praise for God’s nature, O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good. The psalmist is praising the very essence of God. Although later he cites specific actions and accomplishments, in these first three verses, he is marveling over God Himself, not anything He has done or will do.
He then sings praises to God the Creator, To Him that by wisdom made the heavens. Once again, it is God he is praising – the Creator, not the creation. God’s wisdom, His creativity, His attention to detail, all of it is honored by the psalmist.
Next, he focuses on God the Savior. To Him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for His mercy endureth for ever: And brought out Israel from among them: for His mercy endureth for ever (136:10-11). He recounts how God drew Israel out of Egypt, established her in the land He had prepared for her, and protected Her from her enemies.
Finally, He praises God the Provider. Who giveth food to all flesh: for His mercy endureth for ever (136:25). A land to call home. Food. Shelter. God provided for every need His people had, and for this, the psalmist raises his voice in thanksgiving.
Woven throughout the entire psalm is the phrase for His mercy endureth for ever. With this repeated phrase, the psalmist acknowledges the ultimate truth. God’s unending, all-encompassing, unconditional love is the thread that ties it all together, God, King of kings and Lord of lords, Creator, Savior, Provider, and Friend.
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away (I Cor. 13:7-8).
Thought For Today:God’s actions and intentions are free of sin; His perfection cannot be measured by human standards.
Christ Revealed: As the Descendant of David, who would sit upon David’s throne (Ps. 132:11).
Word Studies:132:6 Ephratah = the district in which Bethlehem was located; 132:11 fruit = offspring; 132:17 horn = authority, power; bud = flourish; 135:4 Jacob . . . His peculiar treasure = the people of God are God’s own possession.
Pray For Radio:Sponsored by James & Ila Drost • Government Officials: Rep. Katherine Clark (MA) • Country: Tajikistan (8,051,512) Central Asia • Major Languages: Tajik, Russian • Almost entirely Muslim • 90% Muslim; 10% Other (Russian Orthodox, Baptists, Roman Catholics, Seventh-day Adventists, Lutherans, Korean Protestants, Bahais, Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses) • Prayer Suggestion: Seek the Lord in times of trouble; He will shelter you (Ps. 27:5).
Optional Reading: II Timothy 2