“His Love Endures Forever”
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, For his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
February has arrived, and with it, the Feast of St. Valentine. Across town, we have seen shelves in stores emptied of Christmas stars and ornaments, and then filled with Valentine hearts and other ornaments: tokens of affection that we can purchase in order to show our love for those we love. Pink and red greeting cards are emblazoned with sappy, cute sayings and poems that suffice as a message of love given and – hopefully – reciprocated.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for he is good, For his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:3
Throughout Holy Scripture, God proclaims his love for all of mankind. The Bible is truly the greatest love story ever told. God’s Word describes how he lovingly created man and woman to be in relationship with him, and how he has continually sought to reconcile those he loves through his son, Jesus Christ.
In particular, the 136th Psalm reassures us of the depth and the breadth of God’s love. This Psalm is deeply liturgical in nature, with its verses structured in a call-and-response pattern that the people of Israel spoke and sang together in worship. The Psalms were not merely words to be read, but to be used as public praise and declaration of who God is, and all that he has done for those he loves. Psalm 136 can also be viewed as a love letter, as we respond in gratitude to the love that he first showed us.
God is the Creator who loves us:
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; Psalm 136:4-5
God is our Strength and our Shield who loves us:
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever; Psalm 136:10-11
God is our Guide and our Protector who loves us:
to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; Psalm 136:13-14
God’s love for us was made manifest among us as he sent his only Son into the world, that we might live through him. God’s love for each of us is proclaimed throughout his Holy Word, which was written down for all the church by a saint named not Valentine, but John:
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:13-15
God’s love does, indeed, endure forever. And as we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:26
In Christ Alone,
Pastor Shaun