I want to come out of a morning and look up at those hills and know nothing can be very wrong as long as there’s something so beautiful. My pa used to say that when corruption is visited upon the cities of men, the mountains and the deserts await him. The cities are for money but the high-up hills are purely for the soul.”
–Louis L’Amour (Galloway)
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
–1 Chronicles 16:34 (NKJV)
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This morning we’ll finish up with Psalm 136. Do not forget the concept of this psalm: “For His mercy endures forever!” or “His faithful love endures forever.” I like the words of William Gurnall, “The birds rise in the morning and are saluting the rising sun with their sweet notes on the air. Thus, should we strike up our harps in praising God at the first appearance of mercy.” Almost every morning I hear the sound of the birds as they rise with their chirping to meet the new day. How much more should we lift our voices for the mercy and love of the Lord is there for us every morning.
17 — To Him who struck down great kings, for His mercy endures forever;
18 — And slew famous kings, for His mercy endures forever;
19 — Sihon king of the Amorites, for His mercy endures forever;
20 — And Og king of Bashan, for His mercy endures forever–
21 — And gave their land as a heritage, for His mercy endures forever;
22 — A heritage to Israel His servant, for His mercy endures forever,
23 — Who remembered us in our lowly state, for His mercy endures forever;
24 — And rescued us from our enemies, for His mercy endures forever;
25 — Who gives food to all flesh, for His mercy endures forever.
26 — Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever. (NKJV)
Who or what has God defeated that was in your life? Instead of His wrath and His anger being poured out upon us, His mercy comes forth, His love covers us, not just today, but forever. Think of your past and the victories. Some of which you might not even have known about at the time. They come about because of God’s great mercy. It is God’s faithful love for each of us that He moves on our behalf.
Because of His mercy we have an inheritance. This is not only for the future but for this life as well. I recall in the Gospels how Jesus explained that the Father clothes the grass and that we should not worry, for He is a loving Father who will take care of His children. Why, His love and mercy endures forever. He delights in giving His children gifts and blessings. Even as we stumble He is there with His mercy. When we were away from Him, He had His arms outstretched holding forth mercy and love.
Note that not only does He give us mercy in forgiving our sins, but that He gives us food, a roof over our head, and clothes on our back. These things all come from the hand of the Lord. And, though the world doesn’t realize it, He does the same for them, drawing them if they would only turn to His mercy. “His unconditional, loyal love is everlasting, never to be extinguished, ever to be expanding.” (Lawson)
Spurgeon wrote, “God is good beyond all others; indeed, He alone is good in the highest sense: He is the source of good, the good of all good, the sustainer of good, the perfecter of good, the rewarder to good. For this, He deserves the constant gratitude of His people. It is this divine goodness that has been showered upon us.” Therefore, “give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.”
“Things future nor things that are now,
Nor all things below or above,
Can make Him His purpose forego
Or sever my soul from His love.”
–Augustus Toplady
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
–1 Chronicles 16:34 (NKJV)
——————————–
This morning we’ll finish up with Psalm 136. Do not forget the concept of this psalm: “For His mercy endures forever!” or “His faithful love endures forever.” I like the words of William Gurnall, “The birds rise in the morning and are saluting the rising sun with their sweet notes on the air. Thus, should we strike up our harps in praising God at the first appearance of mercy.” Almost every morning I hear the sound of the birds as they rise with their chirping to meet the new day. How much more should we lift our voices for the mercy and love of the Lord is there for us every morning.
17 — To Him who struck down great kings, for His mercy endures forever;
18 — And slew famous kings, for His mercy endures forever;
19 — Sihon king of the Amorites, for His mercy endures forever;
20 — And Og king of Bashan, for His mercy endures forever–
21 — And gave their land as a heritage, for His mercy endures forever;
22 — A heritage to Israel His servant, for His mercy endures forever,
23 — Who remembered us in our lowly state, for His mercy endures forever;
24 — And rescued us from our enemies, for His mercy endures forever;
25 — Who gives food to all flesh, for His mercy endures forever.
26 — Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever. (NKJV)
Who or what has God defeated that was in your life? Instead of His wrath and His anger being poured out upon us, His mercy comes forth, His love covers us, not just today, but forever. Think of your past and the victories. Some of which you might not even have known about at the time. They come about because of God’s great mercy. It is God’s faithful love for each of us that He moves on our behalf.
Because of His mercy we have an inheritance. This is not only for the future but for this life as well. I recall in the Gospels how Jesus explained that the Father clothes the grass and that we should not worry, for He is a loving Father who will take care of His children. Why, His love and mercy endures forever. He delights in giving His children gifts and blessings. Even as we stumble He is there with His mercy. When we were away from Him, He had His arms outstretched holding forth mercy and love.
Note that not only does He give us mercy in forgiving our sins, but that He gives us food, a roof over our head, and clothes on our back. These things all come from the hand of the Lord. And, though the world doesn’t realize it, He does the same for them, drawing them if they would only turn to His mercy. “His unconditional, loyal love is everlasting, never to be extinguished, ever to be expanding.” (Lawson)
Spurgeon wrote, “God is good beyond all others; indeed, He alone is good in the highest sense: He is the source of good, the good of all good, the sustainer of good, the perfecter of good, the rewarder to good. For this, He deserves the constant gratitude of His people. It is this divine goodness that has been showered upon us.” Therefore, “give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.”
“Things future nor things that are now,
Nor all things below or above,
Can make Him His purpose forego
Or sever my soul from His love.”
–Augustus Toplady