Psalm 136 opens with these words: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”
What an uplifting thought to keep in the forefront of our mind every day — The Lord is good and his love endures forever!
Although only 26 verses long, this psalm is packed with profound meaning for people in all generations and circumstances of life. It’s a song that instructs and guides anyone who takes time to meditate on its message.
Most likely a leader would recite the opening line of each verse which would be followed by the people responding: “His love endures forever.” Imagine that choir of voices repeatedly expressing such powerful truth about God’s love.
Through generations, the annual celebrations which had begun thousands of years earlier, reminded worshippers that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. In the best of times and through stressful, anxious, and dangerous times, these words reminded them that they could count on God’s love and faithfulness.
Today, in our world of so-called progress, it seems that people of all ages around the world are stressed to the breaking point and experiencing hopelessness and despair.
I would like to suggest that as people of faith in the God of gods we regularly take time to include this psalm in our prayer time. It would be reassuring and good for our souls in these trying days. It would also be a witness to be known for our gratitude to God for all of the reasons stated in this Psalm.
No matter how perplexed we may be with the pressures and sufferings we face in this life, we can always ask the Lord to remind us of all the things we can be thankful for along our journey.
The sincere expression of thanks has great value for our spiritual life of faith, our emotional stability, our physical health, and our relationships.
A number of nations have a day built into their calendar called, Thanksgiving Day. The holiday was initially a day set aside to pause from our work and give thanks for the autumn harvest.
Perhaps in these troublesome days we would do well to take time each day to review Scripture passages like Psalm 136. It could serve as a prompter to help make a list of how much we have to be grateful for, even in the midst of our challenges and hardship.
For our own sake, we must take time to remember that God is with us and that he is faithful no matter what comes our way. Let’s also be generous in expressing appreciation to those who participate in our lives in small and big ways.
Thanksgiving is not only a day on the calendar but also a way of life.
Please know that not a week goes by that I don’t sincerely give thanks to the Lord for your partnership in making known the gospel of salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, here and around the world!
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.
Psalm 136: 1-3, 26