1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever.
4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever.
5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever.
6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters. His faithful love endures forever.
7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—His faithful love endures forever.
8 the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever.
9 and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever.
10 Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.
11 He brought Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.
12 He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm. His faithful love endures forever.
13 Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever.
14 He led Israel safely through, His faithful love endures forever.
15 but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever.
16 Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever.
17 Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings. His faithful love endures forever.
18 He killed powerful kings—His faithful love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites, His faithful love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan. His faithful love endures forever.
21 God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—His faithful love endures forever.
22 a special possession to his servant Israel. His faithful love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.
24 He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.
How long is forever...actually?
If I read this Psalm correctly, that is how long God's love endures.
At the very least, I'd say "forever" is as long as I need it to be...and more.
And, on what basis do we say "His love endures forever"? Well, it's simply based on what God has done so far.
1. God has altered the course of natural history for our benefit.
He does mighty miracles.
He made the heavens so skillfully.
He placed the earth among the waters.
He made the heavenly lights—the sun to rule the day,and the moon and stars to rule the night.
2. God has altered the course of human history for our benefit.
He killed the firstborn of Egypt.
He brought Israel out of Egypt.
He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
He parted the Red Sea.
He led Israel safely through,
He hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
He led his people through the wilderness.
3. God has altered the course of personal history for our benefit.
He killed powerful kings—
He gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—
He remembered us in our weakness.
He saved us from our enemies.
He gives food to every living thing.
We have only a few possible responses to God's activity through history.
1. I don't believe any of that stuff
2. None of that has anything to do with me.
3. The past is no indicator of the future.
4. OK, I'm convinced. I will be more thankful.
And...three of the choices aren't so great. I'm regularly amazed that since the only logical answer is #4, people still take positionis #1-#3 regularly. It seems as though when it comes to acknowledging God, we want to make decisions that truly are NOT in our best interests. After all...how are we better off when we deny God's role in our lives?
Except for our insistance on marginalizing God...we can be counted on to make pretty solid decisions. We eat, we sleep, we pay our bills, we raise our children (or, at least agree we should) in the best way we know how...to benefit ourselves and our families.
Now really...what more could God do to get our attention? Maybe come down and confront us face to face? Oh, yeah...He did that too.
God is very very good. He's proven it again and again. Is He good enough so you can give thanks?
Live boldly out there today...
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