Forever; Psalm 136, Proverbs 27

May the mumbling commence!

Give thanks for the marvelous mercy of our Lord.  That is the recurring refrain in Psalm one-hundred thirty-six.  Read a portion of it:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord,

for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever. 

Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!

For His mercy endures forever. 

Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!

For His mercy endures forever:

To Him who alone does great wonders,

For His mercy endures forever; 

To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,

For His mercy endures forever; 

To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,

For His mercy endures forever; 

To Him who made great lights,

For His mercy endures forever –  

The sun to rule by day,

For His mercy endures forever; 

The moon and stars to rule by night,

For His mercy endures forever. (Verses 1-9)

How can we miss the refrain?  It is repeated every-other line.  God’s mercy endures forever.  The psalmist leaves no space for questions.  I wonder if that refrain set to music would be like an earworm…  You know, something you just cannot get out of your head.

I can think of a contemporary Christian song that repeats the phrase “His love endures forever”.  That one sticks in my mind.  God’s mercy and love endures forever.  Those are truths that we should never forget.  We need reminders of God’s love and mercy when times are terrible and when times are mundane and when times are terrific.  God’s love and mercy covers all times in our lives – forever, in case you forgot.

Our God is deserving of our praise.  Let us spend our time praising God – regardless of where we think we stand at the moment.  Praise God and the things our Creator does through creation.  Praise and encourage the work of Christ that other people do.  Praise them. 

Do not spend time praising your own efforts.  Do not allow other peoples’ praise to derail you from the praise of our Lord.  To focus on one’s own efforts is to lose sight of the goal of godliness in the reflection of Christ Jesus in our lives.  Read from Proverbs chapter twenty-seven:

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;

A stranger, and not your own lips.  (Verse 2)

Praise God in full voice.  Praise God in high definition.  Praise God, for His love and mercy endures forever.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out