Confidence in God
OPENING PRAYER:
Almighty One, let the joy of Your being live in me today. Through all the ups and downs of life, I gladly sing Your praise.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
17 to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever. Psalm 136
REFLECT:
Reflect on these words: ‘the substance of hope lies in the knowledge that God has given – and will give – again’ (David Bentley Hart).*
This psalm is liturgical in nature. Traditionally sung at the end of the Jewish Passover meal, it was probably also prayed by Jesus at the Last Supper celebrated with his disciples (Mark 14:26). It is unique in its refrain: ‘His love endures forever.’ The Message translates this phrase as ‘His love never quits.’ Thus, God’s ongoing love is the motif that unifies this entire psalm.
The first verse of the psalm reminds us of something we should never overlook: we worship a God who is good (v 1). He has shown his love in a multitude of ways, beginning with the creation of the world. With his creation, God breaks through disorder and darkness, showing himself in all his goodness and beauty (vs 5–9).
With the Exodus, God shows his ‘mighty hand and outstretched arm’ (v 12), overcoming powers that seem invincible (v 15), and providing a home for a people previously in bondage and slavery (v 21). We are reminded of similar ideas in Romans – how God has revealed himself in history and how, in his ever-widening work of grace, he has included the Gentiles to create a people of his own.
*David Bentley Hart, The Beauty of the Infinite: The Aesthetics of Christian Truth, Eerdmans, 2003, p 268
APPLY:
Reflect again on what you have learned through this series in Romans, then use this psalm to help thank God for his goodness and generosity.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear God, I am amazed to think that Your love is forever. In a world of constant change, You are my rock!
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