The way I see it, every time a man gets up in the morning he starts his life over. Sure, the bills are there to pay, and the job is there to do, but you don’t have to stay in a pattern. You can always start over, saddle a fresh horse and take another trail.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Proving Trail)
“Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; For You are God, gracious and merciful.”
–Nehemiah 9:31(NKJV)
———————————
My wife’s church, when she was growing up, had what we would call responsive reading. The chapel services at the college I attended practiced it as well. I like it, for it gets the congregation into the Word, some of whom might be the only time they read the Scriptures. Psalm 136 is a psalm of responsive reading. The leader, maybe a priest, would read the first part of each verse, then the people would respond with their praise. This is a psalm that makes us respond and look to the majesty and character of God. Steven Lawson proclaims, “The love of God toward His saints is higher, deeper, wider, and longer than anyone can comprehend.”
1 — Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 — Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.
3 — Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever.
4 — To Him who alone does great wonders, for His mercy endures forever;
5 — To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, for His mercy endures forever;
6 — To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, for His mercy endures forever;
7 — To Him who made great lights, for His mercy endures forever–
8 — The sun to rule by day, for His mercy endures forever;
9 — The moon and stars to rule by night, for His mercy endures forever. (NKJV)
The word, “mercy,” has been translated in other versions as “faithful love” (CEB, NLT), “steadfast love” (ESV), “lovingkindness” (NASB). Whichever term used, know this, that “God’s covenant love for His people, like a mighty river, will be flowing as strong in eternity future as when it first began in eternity past. This is the awe-inspiring wonder of being the special object of His everlasting love.” (Lawson) This phrase, “His love/mercy endures forever” is repeated twenty-six times in this psalm. The psalmist wants it to sink in for this is an eternal truth. God’s loyal love, His mercy, His lovingkindness will never fail or falter.
We, His children, are the special objects of His special love. God takes time to care for us in the large overwhelming things of life as well as in the small, seemingly mundane things of life. His love is as Elizabeth Barrett Browning put it, “the nameless unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” (Wood) When I read that, I wondered just how many acts of God’s love toward me I had forgotten, and I had to shake my head.
God is good! George Wood declares that there is “Not a shadow of evil or wrongful intent toward you resides in Him.” He is love, and His love endures forever. His love is the love that Paul writes about, “Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:8) J.B. Phillips said, “God’s love can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else is fallen.” God’s love was so great that He sent His Son to die for our sins to bring us back to the Father–this love endures forever.
But, we must remember, that this love is only towards those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their life. Unbelievers do not have this love/mercy forever for in eternity they have lost the chance, the love, and the expression of God’s great love. His grace will no longer be extended beyond the grave no matter how many candles are lit, no matter how many prayers are said, the invitation is now, today. In the darkness of Hades and the future lake of fire, God’s mercy will be absent. Now is the day of acceptance! Now is the day of rejoicing for His mercy/love endures forever to those who put their trust and faith in Christ.
“Let us with a gladsome mind,
Praise the Lord for he is kind;
For his mercies aye endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.”
–John Milton
———————————
My wife’s church, when she was growing up, had what we would call responsive reading. The chapel services at the college I attended practiced it as well. I like it, for it gets the congregation into the Word, some of whom might be the only time they read the Scriptures. Psalm 136 is a psalm of responsive reading. The leader, maybe a priest, would read the first part of each verse, then the people would respond with their praise. This is a psalm that makes us respond and look to the majesty and character of God. Steven Lawson proclaims, “The love of God toward His saints is higher, deeper, wider, and longer than anyone can comprehend.”
1 — Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 — Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.
3 — Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever.
4 — To Him who alone does great wonders, for His mercy endures forever;
5 — To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, for His mercy endures forever;
6 — To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, for His mercy endures forever;
7 — To Him who made great lights, for His mercy endures forever–
8 — The sun to rule by day, for His mercy endures forever;
9 — The moon and stars to rule by night, for His mercy endures forever. (NKJV)
The word, “mercy,” has been translated in other versions as “faithful love” (CEB, NLT), “steadfast love” (ESV), “lovingkindness” (NASB). Whichever term used, know this, that “God’s covenant love for His people, like a mighty river, will be flowing as strong in eternity future as when it first began in eternity past. This is the awe-inspiring wonder of being the special object of His everlasting love.” (Lawson) This phrase, “His love/mercy endures forever” is repeated twenty-six times in this psalm. The psalmist wants it to sink in for this is an eternal truth. God’s loyal love, His mercy, His lovingkindness will never fail or falter.
We, His children, are the special objects of His special love. God takes time to care for us in the large overwhelming things of life as well as in the small, seemingly mundane things of life. His love is as Elizabeth Barrett Browning put it, “the nameless unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” (Wood) When I read that, I wondered just how many acts of God’s love toward me I had forgotten, and I had to shake my head.
God is good! George Wood declares that there is “Not a shadow of evil or wrongful intent toward you resides in Him.” He is love, and His love endures forever. His love is the love that Paul writes about, “Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:8) J.B. Phillips said, “God’s love can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else is fallen.” God’s love was so great that He sent His Son to die for our sins to bring us back to the Father–this love endures forever.
But, we must remember, that this love is only towards those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their life. Unbelievers do not have this love/mercy forever for in eternity they have lost the chance, the love, and the expression of God’s great love. His grace will no longer be extended beyond the grave no matter how many candles are lit, no matter how many prayers are said, the invitation is now, today. In the darkness of Hades and the future lake of fire, God’s mercy will be absent. Now is the day of acceptance! Now is the day of rejoicing for His mercy/love endures forever to those who put their trust and faith in Christ.
“Let us with a gladsome mind,
Praise the Lord for he is kind;
For his mercies aye endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.”
–John Milton