Daily Dose of the Word of God - Psalm 136

Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship

Transcript

Erin Pacheco 0:07  

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s Daily Dose of the Word of God. Today is Friday, May 2 and Sunday is coming!  I’m Erin Pacheco.  It’s the season of Easter, and we have the blessed opportunity to respond to the reality of Jesus’ resurrection life. Today’s Bible reading is from Psalm 136. Before I read it, here are a few things to notice about this psalm. First, it begins and ends with the words, “Give thanks to the Lord.” This is a song of thanksgiving, essentially listing a bunch of reasons for thanking God – for who he is, for his creation, for his acts of salvation toward his people – setting them free from slavery and bringing them safely to the promised land, and his provision for every creature.   And every other line – like a call and response – reminds us that God’s love is forever. Everything God does flows from his hesed, his steadfast love that doesn’t change and always pursues us. Here’s Psalm 136:

Erin Pacheco  1:21 

 
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.  who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. who made the great lights— His love endures forever. the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever. and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever. with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever. to him who divided the Red Sea His love endures forever. and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever. but swept Pharaoh and his army into the sea; His love endures forever. to him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever. to him who struck down great kings, His love endures forever. and gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever. an inheritance to his servant Israel. His love endures forever. He remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever. and freed us from our enemies. His love endures forever. He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

Erin Pacheco  3:31  

Let’s pray. Thank you, God, for every good and perfect gift — for the beauty of creation, for all the hard times you have brought us through, and for sending Jesus to set us free from sin and death. Thank you for your never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love. Amen.