“…for his steadfast love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:1
Recently, I was realizing how much I long to feel steady love in relationships. As in all human relationships, there are ups and downs, joys and sin, and sometimes misunderstandings and unmet expectations. God brought to mind this psalm, and reminded me of how God’s love for me (because of Christ’s righteousness now being counted on my behalf!) doesn’t change.
This psalm is unique because it repeats “for his steadfast love endures forever” after EVERY line. As I came back to this psalm over the next week, I noticed how there were three different sections with different themes: God’s creation, God keeping his promises to deliver his people, and promises to continue to sustain his people. It seems like the psalmist is saying, “Look! THIS is the track record of the God who is promising to love you for eternity! This is what his character is like! This is what he is capable of making out of nothing! THIS is the love that you should desire above everything else!” Lord, help me to desire your love above all else!
I was also mulling over the phrase “his steadfast love endures forever” in my mind. I have to slow down and really think about the implications of that phrase. Unchanging love…lasting…until the end of time. Unchanging love that does not depend on my strength or weakness, my success or failure. Lord, help my heart to be changed by this good news!