I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds. (Psalm 77:11-12 NIV)
I recently came across an article that referenced Psalm 136. It’s a psalm I’ve read many times, but the author of the article was focusing on how the repetition of “His love endures forever” is intentional because we need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness. Then I looked at the rest of the psalm. If you take out the refrain, the rest of it reminded Israel – and reminds us – of how God had intervened in their history.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
to him who alone does great wonders,
who by his understanding made the heavens,
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
who made the great lights—
the sun to govern the day,
the moon and stars to govern the night;
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
and brought Israel out from among them
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
and brought Israel through the midst of it,
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
to him who led his people through the wilderness;
to him who struck down great kings, and killed mighty kings—
Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan—
and gave their land as an inheritance,
an inheritance to his servant Israel.
He remembered us in our low estate
and freed us from our enemies.
He gives food to every creature.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
Today I invite you to take a few moments to remember how God has intervened in your history. Maybe write down 5-10 examples of instances of his faithfulness, rescue, or provision. Then write your own mini-psalm, including the line “His/your love endures forever.” Here’s my example:
You created me into a good family and gave me a good inheritance.
Your love endures forever.
You led me through seasons of learning and growing, whether I recognized you or not.
Your love endures forever.
You showed and show me your continually developing purpose and plans for my life.
Your love endures forever.
You gave and give me family, friends, and a church body to comfort, encourage, and build up.
Your love endures forever.
You walk with me through valleys, through storms, through endings and beginnings.
Your love endures forever.
Your mercies are new every morning
Your love endures forever.
Your faithfulness will bless me, my children, and generations to come.
Your love endures forever.
God,
Thank you that in all ways, your faithful, loyal, and devoted love endures forever. Help us to recognize the ways you have been a part of our past and present, and how you continue to write our future stories. Bless us and keep us, we pray in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-26 NIV)