God’s Faithful Love Endures Forever.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:1
Psalm 136 perspective produces gratitude and the realization that God’s faithful love is eternal and it will outlast any challenge we face.
This song responds to who God has described Himself to be. “Behind the music”, this is who I am. Self-description found in Exodus 20:6; 34:6-7, and repeated in Deuteronomy 5:10. “showing checed olam to thousands who love me and keep my commandments.” “Abounding in checed olam, endlessly patient, so much love, so deeply true, loyal in love for a thousand generations.”
Over the years, they watched God’s actions and found that this characterization of who God is, was proven true. God’s faithful love became one of the primary ways that they would describe God. In 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, Solomon dedicates the new Jerusalem Temple to the worship of Yahweh. The manifest presence of God fills the Temple and the priests are overwhelmed. The immediate response of the people is to quote Psalm 136, declaring God’s faithful love.
God’s Faithful Love Endures Forever. Let’s reflect on this truth. What does that mean?
Past: God’s faithful love predates me and the problems of this world. God our Creator is prepared. God has provided for us. God created us by design, with faithful love.
Present: God’s faithful love is with us now, whether we see it or not. Nothing is too hard or too complicated for God’s faithful love. God is not now overwhelmed. God has a plan, a hope, and a future.
Future: God is looking forward to the future in His faithful love, namely the return of Jesus and the joy of Heaven.
What should we do?
- Memorize Psalm 136:1
- Allow God to speak to us through it (meditate, consider, reflect).
- Give thanks!
- Allow God to change our perspective.
Perspective:
Mourning loss – God’s faithful love is with you and will be with you through eternity.
Financial challenge – God’s faithful love will be your provision and help you overcome.
Stress – God’s faithful love can become your peace in a place of pressure.
Adjustments:
Make time for your spiritual connection with God’s faithful love to be the biggest influence in your life.
Give thanks. Make lists of all kinds. Express it.
Want to feel less stressed, healthier, and more energetic? Research shows that people who wrote down 5 things that they were thankful for, once a week for 10 weeks, experienced less stress and felt happier as a long term life change.