Psalm 136:
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
To Him who alone does great wonders, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
To Him who made the great lights, For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
The sun to rule]by day, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And brought Israel out from their midst, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
To Him who smote great kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And slew mighty kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
Sihon, king of the Amorites, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And Og, king of Bashan, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And gave their land as a heritage, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
Even a heritage to Israel His servant, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Who remembered us in our low estate, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And has rescued us from our adversaries, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
Who gives food to all flesh, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Many of us woke up yesterday morning to the shocking news that Israel had been attacked in the early morning hours by terrorist forces from Hamas. Many hundreds have been killed, kidnapped and countless injured as the government of Israel determines the next steps in responding to this act of war. It may have been a surprise attack upon the nation of Israel, but none of this caught the Lord God by surprise.
In the “no coincidence” department, my daily devotion directed me to these verses from Psalms morning which caught my attention and prompted me to do some further study. Known as an “Inclusio” this particular Psalm is bracketed by the same wording at the beginning and the end, forming bookends of sorts. The purpose is to explain what is written in the middle and, in this case, the bookends declare: “Give thanks to the God of heavens, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
How does this relate to the news of war in Israel? The beginning of the Psalm gives thanks to our God of heaven who is good; He is God of gods, Lord of lords, creator of the earth and all that is in it, above it, around it, and below. And then it speaks of His mighty hand, laying out His plan, provision, deliverance, heritage, and home for Israel. Not once does God indicate He has given up or forsaken His people. He established a covenant with Abraham and demonstrated His steadfast commitment to provide a place for them, a promised land. Today we need to be reminded that this promise hasn’t changed, it still holds and is secure with His faithful, steadfast love. Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Hallelujah! And please pray for the peace of Israel.
Dear faithful, everlasting God, we plead on behalf of the nation of Israel that you would intercede on their behalf to cease the conflict upon Your people. We ask that peace would be restored, that the kidnapped would be found and that the injured would be attended to. Above all, we pray fervently that a great awakening would break out, and that “the hopes and fears of all the years would be found in Thee tonight,”* this pivotal moment in history. We take comfort in Your Word that testifies to the promises You have made to Your chosen people. You provided a land to be a heritage for them, and promised rescue from their adversaries. May Your will be done, O God! For Your sake and Your glory, Amen.
*portion of a lyric from “O, Little Town of Bethlehem” by Phillip Brooks
