Give Thanks to the Lord…He is Good!
Hello friends, I pray you are well and blessed and enjoying the beauty of spring! As we prepare to exit April and welcome May, I am keenly aware that one third of the year has already passed! In consideration of the consistent goodness of God through the passing months, I was prompted to reflect upon a familiar scripture verse in gratitude for the time that seems to have passed all too quickly. After I located the verse, I began reading, and I then recited it aloud….
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Psalm 136:1 ESV
Declaring this verse is incredibly uplifting to the soul! The opening line of this celebrative chant is truly a call to worship and gratitude for God’s goodness is the foundational theme throughout Psalm 136. Permeating the entirety of this song, the consistent reverberation of Give thanks to the Lord is echoed twelve times followed by the continual, solidifying refrain of His steadfast love endures forever restated a total of twenty-six times! The repetition of these declarations serve as a reminder of two incredible eternal truths:
1.God is good; He’s consistently, completely good.
And
- His steadfast or hesed (Hebrew) love is unchanging, immovable, unshakeable, never-ending!
Remembering, recounting, and reciting God’s extraordinary goodness and magnificent works fuels faith, instills peace, and sustains hope. Imbedded within this psalm are major themes of God’s character that invoke praise. The recitation begins with gratitude for God’s goodness, recognition of His Lordship, and acknowledgement of His miracles.
“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;”
Psalm 136:1-4 ESV
Next the psalmist continues by recognizing God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
“to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;”
Psalm 136:5-9 ESV
And this is followed by a condensed, and simultaneously thorough history review as the psalmist rehearses God’s mighty hand, miraculous deeds, and saving power through the Exodus.
“to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Psalm 136:10-22 ESV
The psalm concludes with vivid descriptions of God’s tender mercy, total protection, and faithful provision for His people.
He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever
Verse 23 NLT
He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.
Verse 24 NLT
He gives food to every living thing, His faithful love endures forever.
Verse 25 NLT
As I read through these verses, I am drawn to the words, He, His and love, as the work is God’s alone! He remembers, He saves, He gives, and everything He does is because of who He is, He is love. His faithful love endures forever
He is worthy of our highest praise and our endless gratitude!
Intentionally taking time to acknowledge and rehearse the goodness and grace of God in our lives, results in an increasing awareness of His Presence in our daily circumstances. The God of the Universe is with us! He is working behind the scenes of our stories. He is fighting our battles. He goes before us. He is providing for us. He is lighting our path. He is healing our brokenness and He is making a way for us! This is cause for great joy, wholehearted worship, abiding peace, and continual gratitude!
As I begin a new month and the second third of the year, I am inspired to quiet my heart in personal reflection listing the countless ways God has been so amazingly faithful to me. In the highs, lows, and the “in betweens,” He’s always with me, He never fails me, and His love continually overwhelms me! His mercy and grace are new every morning. He is faithful in all of His ways. He is a good, good Father!
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His faithful love endures forever!
God bless you my friend!
You are precious in the sight of God…You are a child of the Most High God…You are loved!
Carol
Personal Reflection
- Read through Psalm 136 underlining any verses or words that specifically speak to your spirit. Ask God in prayer what He may be saying to you personally through His revealed Word.
- Spend time considering the many ways God has been faithful to you in this past month, or if you want to go back further, the first third of this year. Record your gratitude in your journal. Recite your thanks out loud as a prayer to God.
