# 15 2022 Dev. Psalm 136:1. God Love! Read all of Psalm 136 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect your story? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Psalm 136:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”
Intro. Ps. 120-137 is a series of Psalms that include 15 “songs of ascents.” Songs of ascents were sung at the temple by the Priests walking up the 15 steps entering the sanctuary, also sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the three feasts required, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, as well as during the return from Babylon back to Jerusalem. Ps’. of ascents ended with Ps.134.
Psalm 136 a liturgy of praise to God as the Creator and as the Redeemer, the Savior of Israel and the Savior of mankind. God’s love is highlighted: “His love endures forever.” Repeated 26 times. God Love Never Stops! The call to worship, 3 verses, thanks for creation, 6 verses, God saves, 6 verses, God leads, 1 verse, the struggles on the way to the promised land, 6 verses, a summary, 4 verses.
Vs.1-3 “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.” The call to thanksgiving is repeated three times for emphasis.
Vs.4-9 praises God, “who alone does great wonders,” God’s glory, His power, His infinite wisdom is on display all around us day and night. God’s great love is on display to us from creation into eternity, “His love endures forever” Take the time to sit and ponder God’s love, soak in God’s grace, feel his care, the sun the wind, thank God for his creation.
Vs.10-15 displays God as the Redeemer of Israel from Egypt, but this has historical implications for the redemption of mankind and for our personal redemption. Israel is rescued from the slavery of Egypt; people are recued from the slavery of sin today. There was great opposition from the Egyptians; we are in a battle with the evil powers of this world, but Jesus says: “take heart! I have overcome the world!” “His love endures forever.”
V.16 give thanks “to him who led his people through the wilderness;” Jesus is leading us today, on our way to the promised land: The New Heaven and the New Earth.
Vs.17-22 Israel is out of slavery but not out of the wilderness, there are those who oppose them, there are temptations. We are out of the slavery of sin; we are forgiven but we are not out of the woods. Satan throws obstacle’s in our way: temptations, illnesses, pandemics, mandates, shutdowns, masks, vaccines and therapeutics, some good, some bad, some supported by government, some are not. Think of the chaos in Ukraine, the lock down in Shanghai, some are innocent victims, some of it self imposed. Jesus said: “In this world you will have trouble.” What is the answer? Well, we must not depend on ourselves or on the government, we must put our trust in Jesus and in Him alone. Amen!
Vs.23-26 four verses that tells us of God’s care but in the reverse order of how God cares for us in the above verses. “He remembered us… He freed us… he gives food… His love endures forever.” Verse 26 start back at the beginning and sums up for us that God loves us: “Give thanks to the God in heaven. His love endures forever.” Amen and Amen!
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Heavenhigh 