At the sound of this next verse, my mind immediately breaks out in song, thanks to the Michael Smith song, “His Love Endures Forever.” We used to sing this at church all the time, but I didn’t realize the lyrics of the song were straight out of Psalm 118 until many years later.
Psalm 118:1-7 says this: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let Israel say: ‘His love endures forever.’ Let the house of Aaron say: ‘His love endures forever.’ Let those who fear the Lord say: ‘His love endures forever.’ When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.”
I’m not sure how many times the phrase “His love endures forever” is repeated in the Bible—one website I found said 41, but I’m not sure whether or not that’s true. Either way, we see those words a lot in God’s word. We’ve already seen them a few times in our little thankfulness series; Psalm 100 and 1 Chronicles 16 both boldly state that “His love endures forever” as well.
That statement is bold. Very little things endure forever. Some things last for quite a while, but for all of eternity?
And love that endures forever is an even bolder claim. Love is a sensitive thing. Is there a love strong enough to bear all, endure all, cope with all, power through all, regardless of circumstances?
We all probably want to claim that we can love like that—and I think we’re called to work toward that kind of love in Christ. But there’s only one love that really meets those standards: the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. We have free access to that love. It’s openly offered to us at this very moment.
So let’s give thanks to the Lord. He is so good. He is with us always. As the psalmist writes, what can mere mortals do to us? God is on our side! He stands with us!
And His good and perfect love does, indeed, endure forever.
Let’s be thankful for that today. Let’s be thankful that there is a perfect love, and love that knows no end or limits. Love that is infinite. And love that is ours.
God, thank you for your forever love. Thank you for perfect love. And thank you for sharing that love with all of us, even though we don’t deserve it by anything we could ever do by our own strength. We praise you for that love that endures forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
And friend, never forget… you are onederfully created by the God of love that endures forever.
Love,
Becca
