Forever
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Psalm 136:1-9
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;
Notice the recurring theme of this psalm? One phrase is repeated 26 times in all by the end of the psalm. Verses 10 - 22 relate the God of history in the lives of his chosen people -- the Israelites escaping from Egypt and the battles fought and a heritage preserved. Through it all, “his steadfast love endures for ever.”
Yes, God is great and mighty and has the power to create the universe. He orders the stars and causes day and night and the oceans and the mountains and every living thing. He killed the wicked and spared the weak and provides for all of creation. More important than any of that: his steadfast love endures for ever. Even if he had never even thought up the earth, even if the Israelites had remained in slavery another thousand years, even if things in our life aren’t going the way we would have hoped. His steadfast love endures forever.
The under-girding of our faith, the underlying theme of our lives, the hope and the promise of our future all hang on that one statement of fact. And that is what it is. Not an ardent hope, but a firm assurance. Not a prize to be won, but a gift to all who believe. The same God who made the oceans made you and me. The same God who breathed the universe into existence and made man from dust of the earth loves us.
That pretty much puts everything in perspective when we stop to take in the enormity of that truth. His love endures for ever. His love for us endures forever. His love for me endures for ever. His love for you endures for ever. His love endures forever.
My prayer is that you remember the transcending, transforming love of God today. And that you revel in that love, which endures for ever.
Mary
