PSALM 136

[Psa 136:1-26 NKJV] 1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for [He is] good! For His mercy [endures] forever. 2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy [endures] forever. 3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy [endures] forever: 4 To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy [endures] forever; 5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy [endures] forever; 6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His mercy [endures] forever; 7 To Him who made great lights, For His mercy [endures] forever– 8 The sun to rule by day, For His mercy [endures] forever; 9 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy [endures] forever. 10 To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, For His mercy [endures] forever; 11 And brought out Israel from among them, For His mercy [endures] forever; 12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy [endures] forever; 13 To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, For His mercy [endures] forever; 14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His mercy [endures] forever; 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His mercy [endures] forever; 16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His mercy [endures] forever; 17 To Him who struck down great kings, For His mercy [endures] forever; 18 And slew famous kings, For His mercy [endures] forever– 19 Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy [endures] forever; 20 And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy [endures] forever– 21 And gave their land as a heritage, For His mercy [endures] forever; 22 A heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy [endures] forever. 23 Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy [endures] forever; 24 And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy [endures] forever; 25 Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy [endures] forever. 26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy [endures] forever.

PSALM 136:1-26

HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER

I love this Psalm. So often we are caught up in what we might call doctrine or theology (truths that the scripture teach us about God) and we treat this like information we are just supposed to know. But these truths we learn about God aren’t just facts we are suppose to learn about God, but they should provoke a response in us. Because these things are true about God, we should praise Him. Bible doctrine calls for application!

I imagine two voices when I read this. One voice is calling out truths about God and how He has been there for the nation of Israel in the past. They are yelling at the top of their lungs, “remember when God…” and they finish with some sort of well known deed or act like parting the Red Sea (v.13-15). But a second voice speaks up to say “For His Mercy Endures Forever.” The responsibility of the second voice is to repeat this line anytime in the story that we should be provoked to praise. And so even the telling of the Red Sea incident has to be told in smaller parts because this second voice keeps interrupting reminding us that the act of deliverance from Egypt was God’s Mercy. The act of the Red sea opening was God’s mercy. The act of Israel walking on dry land was God’s mercy and the act of drowning the Egyptian army is God’s mercy.

I don’t know what you have going on today, but try looking for places to show gratitude to the Lord. I went through my morning routine and just added the line God’s mercy was already there and it humbled me and helped me realize just how much of God’s mercy we need.

• I woke up this morning, God’s mercy was already there.
• I sat down for breakfast, God’s mercy was already there.
• I got to go up to a meeting. God’s mercy was there.
• I got in the truck, God’s mercy was already there.
• I pulled onto the highway, God’s mercy was already there.
• I waved to the police officer, God’s mercy was already there.
• I bought a coffee, God’s mercy was already there!

I was floored by how much I have been walking by the mercy and love of God and didn’t even know it. This Psalm has been a game changer in my thought process this morning as I praise God for things he has done and the things he is doing.

PRAYER

Father, I woke up this morning and your mercy was already there. Every thing I did and every where I went, your mercy was ahead of me. I’m amazed at how easy it is to see your hand at work when I pause to notice! I am grateful that theology and doctrine are the foundation of praise. We praise you because you are worthy of Praise. Thank you for your grace in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.