When we try to explain how someone's life has affected ours, we usually resort to a narrative of some kind, to telling stories from the past. These stories remind us of what the person did that made such an impact on our lives.
The refrain, "His love endures forever," is key to this psalm and is repeated after each line of the psalm. The call of the psalm is to "give thanks to the LORD, for he is good" (v. 1). The remainder of the psalm provides reasons for why God ought to be given thanks.
When we look at the shape of these reasons, we see that the psalmist has arranged these things in a narrative form, in the shape of a story. Specifically, the story is Israel's history! We see the wonders of God in creation (vs. 4-9), the wonders and presence of God in the exodus and wilderness wandering (vs. 10-16), and the wonders, power and glory of God in the conquest of the promised land (vs. 17-22).
The entire psalm tells the story of God's goodness, how his love endures for Israel, by reciting and recounting God's history with Israel! For these reasons God is to be given thanks.
But there is more. The psalmist then goes on to show how God's love continues to be with his people in the present and into the future. In verses 23-24, which possibly describe the time after Israel was returned from exile, the psalmist points to God's remembrance of his people, to his freeing of them, and to his provision for them. The conclusion is to give thanks to God! His love endures forever!
God's love for us continues to endure. The story is the same. From creation, to deliverance, to redemption, God's love endures forever. We have his provision for us now, and we await the day when he provides for us eternally. His love endures forever!
How is God worthy of your thanks? What stories can you share with others about the love of God that endures forever?
- at funerals, we testify about the good life of the deceased through stories, often humorous
- at family reunions, we tell stories about family members as a way of keeping continuity within the family
- in marriages, we remind our spouse of shared memories by sharing stories of past events such as the honeymoon or an anniversary celebration
The refrain, "His love endures forever," is key to this psalm and is repeated after each line of the psalm. The call of the psalm is to "give thanks to the LORD, for he is good" (v. 1). The remainder of the psalm provides reasons for why God ought to be given thanks.
When we look at the shape of these reasons, we see that the psalmist has arranged these things in a narrative form, in the shape of a story. Specifically, the story is Israel's history! We see the wonders of God in creation (vs. 4-9), the wonders and presence of God in the exodus and wilderness wandering (vs. 10-16), and the wonders, power and glory of God in the conquest of the promised land (vs. 17-22).
The entire psalm tells the story of God's goodness, how his love endures for Israel, by reciting and recounting God's history with Israel! For these reasons God is to be given thanks.
But there is more. The psalmist then goes on to show how God's love continues to be with his people in the present and into the future. In verses 23-24, which possibly describe the time after Israel was returned from exile, the psalmist points to God's remembrance of his people, to his freeing of them, and to his provision for them. The conclusion is to give thanks to God! His love endures forever!
God's love for us continues to endure. The story is the same. From creation, to deliverance, to redemption, God's love endures forever. We have his provision for us now, and we await the day when he provides for us eternally. His love endures forever!
How is God worthy of your thanks? What stories can you share with others about the love of God that endures forever?
