Give Thanks to the God of Heaven
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Psalm 136
1. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever. 2. O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures for ever. 3. O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 4. to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 5. to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 6. to him who spread out the earth upon the waters, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 7. to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 8. the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 9. the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 10. to him who smote the first-born of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 11. and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 12. with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 13. to him who divided the Red Sea in sunder, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 14. and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 15. but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 16. to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 17. to him who smote great kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 18. and slew famous kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 19. Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 20. and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 21. and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 22. a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures for ever. 23. It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 24. and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures for ever; 25. he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures for ever. 26. O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
In my bible, each of these verses is set up like a litany, with “His love endures forever” as the response. So it looks like this when you read it:
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
For his steadfast love endures for everEtc.
I’ve heard and read this psalm before, but this morning it reached me in a new way. Maybe because of the holidays, this psalm made me think of my children and how much I love them.
I would throw myself in front of traffic to save their lives. I would work three jobs to feed and clothe them. I would do anything within my power to keep them safe. My love for them certainly endures forever! I got pretty pensive as I pondered this scripture. I thought of each pregnancy, and how much I absolutely loved being pregnant! I really did! I thought of each of my children when they were infants and of the sleepless nights I sat up rocking them and singing to them, comforting them and holding them close to me. It almost makes me cry to think of them so small and fragile and sweet.
And then my mind returns to the pages of my bible. For his steadfast love endures for ever, is more than a declaration of the love God has for each of us. It is a promise and a hope and comfort for all generations. I will take the memories of my children to the grave with me and into eternity. I will long to be reunited them in heaven and will wait with joyful anticipation for that reunion. And to think that God loved me and you and them long before any of us existed! He thought of each of us eons ago – before the first star was placed in the sky, or the first raindrop fell to form the oceans. And he waits for us in heaven. He longs for us with the same longing I imagine!
But God’s love is a hundred, million, billion times deeper and stronger than I could ever muster! That is a love that deserves abject humility and constant thanks and praise! Wonders, signs and miracles. Love and comfort. Eternal life through God’s grace. A savior on a cross—a child loved just as much as I love my children. It is unfathomable and I am so filled up this morning with the magnitude of it all! God loves me more than I love my own children. He saves and protects, sustains and loves me beyond time and space. I am filled up to overflowing!
I hope today you spend some time pondering a love beyond description or imagination. And that you lift a hymn of praise to the God who sacrificed his precious baby boy that we might believe and gain eternal life with him in heaven.
Mary
