Psalm 136

A Bible Devotion from Psalm 136

God's Steadfast Love Endures Forever

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

23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136 verses 1-3 and 23-26, NKJV

The 136th Psalm is a Psalm that the Israelites used in their worship; two groups of Levites would stand on opposite sides. The first group would sing the first line, and the 2nd group would respond, For His steadfast love endures forever. As you follow the message of the Psalm, it begins with the truth, Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. Verses 1-3 introduce this topic. Verses 4-22 then give examples of how God manifest His love to them.

I find it very interesting that we live in a time when God is seldom given honor or praise for His protection from the elements around us and our enemies who would overtake and oppress us. Because of the innate sin of man, he does nothing but evil continually - how little we realize how bad life would really be if God did not restrain that sin. Sometimes we get a glimpse of it when something especially heinous happens, but even then, we have no idea what our life would be if God abandoned all of mankind.

Eternity, however, will totally bear out the love of God whose steadfast love endures forever. At the end of time all mankind will experience and understand this truth. Those who have never become believers in Christ will experience an eternal Hell totally devoid of God, when the complete depravity of the Devil and man will be lashed out upon all those who are there with no hope of escape. Those who are Christians, however, will dwell with God forevermore. God will remove Satan and the sin from their own heart so that they will live a life of perfection in the presence of God forever.

Pray that, along with the Psalmist in Psalm 136, you would Give thanks to the God of Heaven, for His steadfast love endures forever.

Next: Psalm 137 - No Songs of Joy!

More Devotions on the 136th Psalm from my blog, Daily Bible Devotions.

He Is Good, verses 1-3

Creation Proclaims, verses 4-9

A Look into the Past, verses 10-15

To Him, verses 16-26