Giving Thanks

This weekend I a got a thank you note from a friend and she had written at the bottom several verses from Psalm 136. I looked the verses up and was gripped by the message of this Psalm. It is a long list of things the LORD had done for the Israelite nation.  They would have sung it as a hymn of thanksgiving to the LORD. After each line of thanks the reader is reminded that “His steadfast love endures forever.” This is a powerful reminder that God is motivated by his great love for us.   Unlike earthly love, God’s love is eternal and boundless and because God is immutable he will not change his mind about loving us.  That is an assurance we can count on for eternity.

I pray that the words of the psalmist will encourage you and broaden the scope of your thanks, especially during this season of Thanksgiving. They are words that cross time and are as meaningful today as they were when King David penned them.

Psalm 136      verses 1-9 and 23-26
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever.
To him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever.
to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever.
to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever.
the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever.
the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever.

It is he who remembers us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever.
and rescues us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever.
he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.  (NIV)

Read this Psalm out loud and let the words sink into your soul.  God is indeed good and his steadfast love never ends.  Praise Him!

Blessings,
Linda