“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of Lords. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights— His faithful love endures forever. the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever. and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever. He brought Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever. He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever. He led Israel safely through, His faithful love endures forever. but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings. His faithful love endures forever. He killed powerful kings— His faithful love endures forever. Sihon king of the Amorites, His faithful love endures forever. and Og king of Bashan. His faithful love endures forever. God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance— His faithful love endures forever. a special possession to his servant Israel. His faithful love endures forever. He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever. He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.”
Psalms 136:1-26 NLT
God’s faithful love endures forever. His works are an aspect of his person and his person is not like ours. His character has always been and always will be. Everything is the imprint of his thoughts. Everything that happens bears some echo of his being. The psalmist in reflecting on the large events of Israel’s history with God constantly affirms that his love is faithful and endures. This is true, even in things that are not universally appealing. We must remember that when the Red Sea opened to dry land for Israel, it also swallowed Pharoah’s army. Likewise, when the Jews escaped Egypt, it happened after the death of her first born children. Therefore, it should be noted that though God’s faithfulness endures forever, it is not a universal love. In application. Some will be immediately hurt in its wake. The claim of equal outcomes is not necessitated by the recognition of his character. However, if one thinks that God’s loving kindness is only for those at the center of his actions, I would be remiss to point out that God’s enduring faithfulness may leave an immediately destructive wake to those who stand against him, but it is also their only hope of salvation. If they give in to the wake of judgment, they will be saved. This is the mystery of Jesus. He saves those who betrayed him, if only they will turn to him.
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