Give Thanks To The Lord

Psalm 136 instructs us to GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD. The Psalmist gives us 26 statements describing God’s character and His attributes. Verses 1-4 tell us which God we are thanking. This God is Yahweh, the God above every other god. He alone does mighty miracles. In verses 5-9, He is the God, who created the earth and the universe. In verses 10-22, the Psalmist recounts the events of Yahweh God, delivering the children of Israel from Egypt and bringing them into the Promised Land. The final four statements tell us that this God, Yahweh, watches over us, provides for us, and He is the God of heaven.

After each statement, the Psalmist gives the reason we should give thanks to the Lord: “For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Lovingkindness refers to God’s “hesed” love. God will never wash His hands of mankind. His faithfulness to establish a relationship with mankind will never change regardless of our unworthiness and defection. Paul prayed that the church in Ephesus, along with all the saints, would come “to grasp how wide, long, high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:14-19). Nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)! This is why we give thanks to our God.

Just like God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, God has delivered us from our “Egypt” and brought us out in freedom into the promised land of eternal life. Here is my adaptation of verses 10-22, which will allow us to GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD!

To Him who sent His Son to save us, (John 3:16)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

And called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

To Him who redeemed us through His blood, (Ephesians 1:7-8)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

giving us forgiveness of our sins, (Ephesians 1:7-8)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

and redeeming us from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3:15)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

To Him who set us free from the law of sin and death, (Romans 8:2)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

And made us alive together with Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:5)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

He has caused us to be born again, (1 Peter 1:3)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:3)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

He made us the righteousness of God, (2 Corinthians 5:21)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

and a new creation in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

To Him who has given us everything we need for life and godliness, (2 Peter 1:3)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Even the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Giving Thanks, Pastor Tom


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