Twenty-six verses, twenty-six times. Throughout Psalm 136, in every other line, the anthem rings: “for his steadfast love endures forever.”
The psalm may very well have been sung “responsively” throughout Israel’s history, with a priest or king singing the first line of each verse, and the congregation responding as one—“for his steadfast love endures forever”—back and forth, over and over again (2 Chron 7:3, 6; Ezra 3:11).
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psa 136:1-3)
As the hymn unfolds, the psalmist leads the congregation to reflect on four manifestations of God’s enduring, steadfast love: the creation (136:4-9), Israel’s deliverance from slavery (136:10-16), the heritage of a promised home (136:17-22), and his gracious, ongoing provision for their daily needs (136:23-25).
What a powerful framework of praise to adopt as our own on this first day of the week! Our God is good and we will “give thanks” to him on this, the Lord’s day. His steadfast love continues to surround, define, and transform us. He is the Creator of the world and everything in it. He is the Savior of slaves in bondage to sin. He is the Designer and Builder of a promised home—a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. He is the gracious Provider of our most basic, daily needs. All around us, in every direction we look, his steadfast love endures forever.
May this ancient anthem inspire our worship together today. May it fuel your spirit and echo in every corner of your heart this week.
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever. (136:26)