His Love Endures Forever

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. 5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. 6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. 7 who made the great lights— His love endures forever. 8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. 9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever. 11 and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever. 12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever. 14 and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever. 15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever.

17 to him who struck down great kings, His love endures forever. 18 and killed mighty kings— His love endures forever. 19 Sihon king of the Amorites His love endures forever. 20 and Og king of Bashan— His love endures forever. 21 and gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever. 22 an inheritance to his servant Israel. His love endures forever.

23 He remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever. 24 and freed us from our enemies. His love endures forever. 25 He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

Psalm 136 is a beautifully written Psalm of simple, yet deep gratitude and declaration of God's everlasting love.The first three verses mirror each other in their beginning by saying "Give thanks." Following the gratitude found in every verse, comes a statement resounding in truth: "His love endures forever." Without even studying any commentary on this Psalm, one can see that it is a declaration of God's goodness throughout all of time. Within these 26 verses, remembrance and reflection take place as the phrases declare all God has done to create wonder and deliverance for His people.

The word "forever" in this context is encouraging. It provides HOPE that no matter WHAT our circumstance may be, good or bad, God's love endures forever.

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, the word "endure" means:

1: to continue in the same state : last

2: to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding

Wow. God's love endures...it "lasts" and "continues" in the SAME state...an unyielding state. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The word "endure" also, to me, represents the fact that God sent His one and only son, Jesus, to die on the cross for me and for you. For each of us. He endured the suffering because he knew the will of His Father in Heaven to bring us life and freedom through his sacrifice, endurance, and his resurrection three days later. Hallelujah!

Although it's necessary and actually vital to have vision for the future, it's important also to look back. Being in a state of remembrance activates a gratitude when remembering all Christ has done for us and how "good" He is.

If you feel so led, please join me in the exercise of writing your own Psalm of remembrance and gratitude. First, write a line of something God has done for you and then underneath, write "His love endures forever." Once finished, I encourage you to read over it and allow God's love to pour into your heart all over again.

Here is a song called "Remembrance" by Hillsong Worship that is resonating in my spirit at the moment and I pray you are also blessed by it's words and devotion.

https://youtu.be/U9kbdFCSrFU