◄ What Does Psalm 136:1 Mean? ►

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 136:1(NASB)

Verse of the Day

Gratefulness of heart to the Lord God almighty is like a golden stream that threads its way through this wonderful song of praise. We have a repetitive chorus that rehearses the truth of God's goodness. It is the recurring reminder, that God's love and grace touches every facet of our lives, "O give thanks to the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures forever."

The repeating, melodious heartbeat, that caresses every part of the created universe, rejoices that His loving-kindness is everlasting, His steadfast mercies endure forever, His faithful love is never-ending, and His unwavering goodness, stretches into the furthest extremities of eternity.

"O give thanks to the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures forever," is the insistent drumbeat that is designed to grab our attention in every verse of this glorious song of praise, which proclaims the never-ending truth that God is good, and the mercies of the Lord are everlasting, forever and ever, Amen.

As all the deeds and misdeeds of Israel are pronounced and publicised throughout this hymn of praise, the tender loving-kindness and great compassion of the Lord continues to be shed abroad. Mercy and grace, along with goodness and faithfulness, are some of the eternal attributes of our heavenly Father - and the regular rhythm and insistent beat of this joyful chorus, echoes the joyful refrain, "O give thanks to the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures forever. O give thanks to the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures forever."

The wonderful certainty that the loving-kindness of our heavenly Lord is everlasting, and that His truth endures from one generation to another, should permeate every fibre of our being and thrill the heart of every believer with the fullness of His joy and a heart of gratitude.

The Lord rescues the perishing, pardons the guilty, protects the weak, and fills the hungry with good things. He comforts the sorrowing, heals the broken-hearted, gives His all-sufficient grace to help the needy, and fulfils all His precious promises. He is worthy of all praise and deserving of our grateful thanks. He alone is the God of all gods for His love is eternal, His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever, and He is faithful to fulfil all that He has said.

Should not we, who are His blood-bought children, rejoice to hear such worthy instructions on praise and thanksgiving? Indeed, worship and reverent homage is often the central ingredient adopted by God's people in honouring the LORD - as directed by David, Solomon, and other great kings of Israel. Should we not take up the Palmists refrain and give our most grateful thanks to the LORD, for He is good, and His lovingkindness is everlasting.

The wisdom of Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, similarly reminds us that rejoicing in the Lord is our worthy calling, for His steadfast mercy truly does endure from generation to generation. His faithful love is never-ending, and His unwavering goodness stretches into the outer limits of the universe and the furthest extremities of eternity.

Let us endeavour to give thanks to the Lord and be glad in Him! Let all who are saved by grace and morally upright, shout for joy to the God of our salvation! Let us glory in the name of the LORD, for "praise is pleasant and lovely" and praise is "comely for the upright." May we rejoice in the Lord and delight, day by day, in His gracious deliverance.

Let us give thanks to the LORD, in remembrance of his holiness. Let us give thanks for the LORD as we commemorate the glory in the Holy One of Israel. Let us give praise to His name together, for sending Jesus to be our kinsman-Redeemer and to die on the Cross for our sake, and may we never cease to give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

My Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for all Your loving-kindness towards me and I join with the Psalmist in giving grateful thanks to You, for You are good and tender, gentle and faithful, upright and true. I thank You for Your daily mercies and rejoice for all the kindness You show towards me. I too give thanks with my whole heart and proclaim with my mouth, 'the Lord is good and His mercies endure forever'. Thank You, Heavenly Father, and in Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.