Come Learn Rest Ministries

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;
~Psalm 136:1-3

In this beginning of Psalm 136, we read that the the steadfast love of the Lord who is good endures forever.  That the steadfast love of the God of gods endures forever.  And that the steadfast love of the Lord of lords endures forever.

In each verse, the psalmist recounts God’s enduring love throughout Israel’s history. There are 26 verses. I wonder if I could recount 26 times when the Lord’s steadfast love has so endured that I would never doubt God’s goodness again.

Recently, I either read somewhere or heard someone say: trust is a commitment of the heart. I wonder if the psalmist is committing his heart to trust God each time he declares: for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136 ends as it began: give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. In these last few days of November, may we give thanks that in God’s goodness we are loved with a steadfast love that endures beyond today.

Blessed are You, O Lord, whose steadfast love endures forever.

O God, save me by your name,
and vindicate me by your might.
O God, hear my prayer;
give ear to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen against me;
ruthless men seek my life;
they do not set God before themselves.
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of my life.
He will return the evil to my enemies;
in your faithfulness put an end to them.
With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
~Psalm 54

Every November, I try to make thanksgiving a month long event rather than a 3rd Thursday event. I want the thanks I offer to God to be spontaneous not perfunctory. I want to be like the psalmists who is so overwhelmed with gratitude to God for deliverance from evil that thanksgiving is offered at a moment’s notice.

It is that moment in worship when “amen” is easily said in response to God mysteriously working all things together for good. It is that momentary awareness of being followed by God’s goodness and mercy. This kind of thanksgiving happens on the spur of the moment…when there is no doubt that goodness must be ascribed to God’s name alone.

I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
~Psalm 69:30

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, may our sacrifice to God include spontaneously blessing God’s good name.

Blessed are You, O Lord, whose name is Good.