Psalm 136 - Love Endures

Psalm 136:1-2, 4-11, 16-17, 21, 23-26 NIV

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.

He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

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Let the mantra begin! Say it with me, "His love endures forever!" Psalm 136 is clearly a call and response kind of worship liturgy. The leader calls the gathered worshipers to give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. The people respond in unison with, "His love endures forever."

The leader tells of the many ways God has shown His goodness. God is creator. God is powerful and has full understanding on universe creating. God is deliverer, setting the Hebrews free from slavery in Egypt, defeating kings who opposed them as they took possession of their inheritance, the Promised Land of Canaan. God is a promise keeper. He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He brought Israel into the land He promised to them. The animals within the land are fed by the goodness of the creator. His love does all these wonderful things and more. His love endures forever.

This psalm recounts the history of Israel from its creation story to its deliverance from slavery in Egypt to its possession of the Promised Land. But what of your history? If you were to recount your story of God's goodness to you what would you say?

Mine would give thanks for my creation, for my life, for my family. I wanted for nothing. I would thank Him for the sunny days spent swimming in ponds and walking barefoot in grass. I would praise Him for forests and trees, for blackberries and apples, for pie and ice cream. I would praise Him for laughter and love, for games and family movie nights.

My story would give thanks for my deliverance from slavery to sin and the fear of death. Death itself is conquered in the work of my deliverer, Jesus Christ. I am saved and I and being saved. I am free and I and becoming freer. He has defeated fears, addiction, and other brutal taskmasters. He has lead me from isolation to friendship. He has restored my sanity and returned to me the joy of His salvation. He has filled me with the promised Holy Spirit as a sign of heaven to come. He has helped me to live comfortably in my own skin. He has imparted to me peace that passes understanding. Though I am far from the perfect love of Christ, God is faithful. He will complete the good work He began in me. His love will continue to transform my soul. His love endures forever!

Our stories move in similar patterns as that of Israel's story: Creation (birth and beginnings), Deliverance (from what keeps us from our fullest life), and Promise (our hope in heaven and the healing of creation).

Recount the ways God has revealed His goodness to you through your journey. Give thanks for He is good. His love endures forever.