“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;……It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.“
What is something you need to hear over and over again?
Parents repeat things to their children because they’re important. Teachers review lessons because we forget. Even as adults, we set reminders on our phones because knowing something once doesn’t mean we’ll remember it when we need it.
Psalm 136 repeats the same words twenty-six times:
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
After every single statement about what God has done, the people respond with that same refrain.
God created the heavens.
His steadfast love endures forever.
He rescued Israel from Egypt.
His steadfast love endures forever.
He led His people through the wilderness.
His steadfast love endures forever.
He remembered them when they were brought low.
His steadfast love endures forever.
Twenty-six times might seem excessive. We understood the point after the first few, right?
But perhaps that’s exactly why the repetition is there.
We forget.
When life is going well, God’s love can seem obvious. Yet, even then, we can forget it’s coming from God. But when something goes wrong, a prayer isn’t answered the way we hoped, someone we love suffers, or we make a mess of things through our own sin, suddenly, what seemed so certain doesn’t feel certain anymore.
So God gives His people a refrain to come back to.
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Notice that the psalm doesn’t base God’s love on our circumstances or our faithfulness. It looks at what God has done.
That’s where Christians look too. We look to Jesus. We look to the cross.
If you ever wonder whether God loves you, you don’t have to search your feelings for the answer. How well you think your life is going isn’t a good measure either. You don’t even have to ask whether you’ve been a good enough Christian lately.
Look at Jesus.
God sent His Son for sinners. Jesus took our guilt upon Himself and suffered the judgment we deserved. Then, He rose from the dead, defeating death and securing eternal life for everyone who trusts in Him.
That’s what God’s steadfast love looks like.
There will be days when you feel close to God and days when you don’t. There will be days filled with joy and others filled with disappointment. Your circumstances will change.
Your circumstances and emotions will change. God’s promise does not.
Maybe that’s why we need to hear it twenty-six times.
His steadfast love endures forever.
Let’s pray…
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your steadfast love that never comes to an end. When my circumstances or feelings cause me to doubt Your love, turn my eyes again to Jesus and the cross. Help me remember all that You have done for me and trust Your promises in every season of life.
Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
