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Tag: Psalm 136

Thanksgiving Series: God of Heaven, Above All

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On January 15, 2016

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives, Thanksgiving

Psalm 136 can be touted as the “The Psalm of Thanks” or the “Thanksgiving Psalm.” It is a Psalm that is rich in content, apropos the character of God and since each verse in the Psalm is suffixed with “For his mercy endures forever”, it is a Psalm that is easy to read and memorize as well.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, giving thanks for the ultimate reason of sending us his only begotten Son, we will be looking at each verse in Psalm 136 and glean out the character of God from these verses, which would be reason enough to be grateful and give thanks to our LORD God.

Today we look at final verse – verse 26.
O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

The final verse in this thanksgiving song, seem to be not much, other than a summation of the Psalm and an assignment of the known title to God – the God of heaven. But closer scrutiny reveals, that God is the God of heaven. Though no one alive knows of the exact location of heaven, it can be deduced that heaven is above our realm – for when Jesus ascended to God the Father, he went ‘up’ in a smoke. Furthermore, the Bible describes heaven to be God’s throne and earth his footstool (Acts 7:49) indicating that heaven is above the earth. And if God is God of heaven, he is above all.

Points to ponder:
On Christmas, Jesus left his heavenly abode and came to dwell among men, becoming one of us. After his death and resurrection, he ascended to God the Father. Being made ruler over all things (Ephesians 1:22), he is now seated at the right hand of God, the Father in heaven (Hebrews 12:2). He is above all things – but the most important question is – “Have you let God to be the ruler over you?” Jesus is the God of heaven, but what is important to answer is “Is God in your heart?”. Have you believed in Jesus as your Savior, Lord and King – for he is above all and his mercy endures forever.

Psalm 136:26 (KJV)
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Thanksgiving Series: God, The Giver of Food to all Flesh

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On January 14, 2016

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives, Thanksgiving

Psalm 136 can be touted as the “The Psalm of Thanks” or the “Thanksgiving Psalm.” It is a Psalm that is rich in content, apropos the character of God and since each verse in the Psalm is suffixed with “For his mercy endures forever”, it is a Psalm that is easy to read and memorize as well.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, giving thanks for the ultimate reason of sending us his only begotten Son, we will be looking at each verse in Psalm 136 and glean out the character of God from these verses, which would be reason enough to be grateful and give thanks to our LORD God.

Today we look at Verse 25.
Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

This verse indicates that God is the giver of food – not just to a select few, but to all. The simplest explanation of this can be that God takes care of providing for all of his creation – sea creatures, beasts, birds and man. Jesus himself eludes to the fact that God the Father knows of the needs of even the sparrows and not one of them fall to the ground without his will (Matthew 10:29). The book of Jonah ends with God posing a question “Should he not spare the people of Nineveh and its cattle?” (Jonah 4:11). Thus all flesh here could very well mean, all living things. All flesh could also be extrapolated to refer to those who are in a relationship – a relationship as that of a husband and a wife. When Adam saw his wife Eve, he described her as bone of his bones and the flesh of his flesh (Genesis 2:23).

And God is the provider of food for all.

Points to ponder:
On Christmas, the Spirit of God was cloaked by flesh for the Bible says that Jesus, the Word of God became flesh and dwelt amongst men (John 1:14). Those who believe in Jesus, become part of his body – and in that sense – his flesh, as if Christ, the bridegroom is lovingly expressing of his bride (the Church) that we are flesh of his flesh.

Jesus also expressed that to do the will of God the Father was his food (John 4:34).

While man may think that it is his or her job or work that provides for his family, it is God and God alone who is the provider of food – both physical food and spiritual food (doing God’s will). There is no reason for anyone to starve – for everyone who comes to Jesus Christ, shall never hunger nor thirst (John 6:35). God is the provider of food for all flesh. Are you hungry?  Will Christ be able to describe you and me as flesh of his flesh? Are you in a love relationship with Jesus Christ?

Psalm 136:25 (KJV)
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Thanksgiving Series: God, The Redeemer

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On January 13, 2016

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives, Thanksgiving

Psalm 136 can be touted as the “The Psalm of Thanks” or the “Thanksgiving Psalm.” It is a Psalm that is rich in content, apropos the character of God and since each verse in the Psalm is suffixed with “For his mercy endures forever”, it is a Psalm that is easy to read and memorize as well.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, giving thanks for the ultimate reason of sending us his only begotten Son, we will be looking at each verse in Psalm 136 and glean out the character of God from these verses, which would be reason enough to be grateful and give thanks to our LORD God.

Today we look at Verse 24.
And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

This verse starts with the word “and” implying that God not only remembered his people (as the previous verse stated) but also redeemed them from their enemies. God is not only a God, who remembers his people and leaves them in their low estate. Instead, God is an Action God who acted on the situation that his people were subjected to, due to their own disobedience, and redeem them for their enemies.

Points to ponder:
On Christmas, God acted on the situation of hopelessness that was the outcome of man’s disobedience and sin, and sent his son to redeem us, whom he remembered in our state of being slaves to sins. Man was made (deemed) upright when God created him (for he was created in the image of God), but man sought to follow his own downward path  (Ecclesiastes 7:29; KJV & NLT) and disobeyed God, which warranted God to send us his son, to Re-Deem us worthy of being upright before God. Jesus redeemed us from the enemy – Satan and his power, which is death – for everyone who believes in Jesus shall have eternal life. Are you redeemed? In other words, do you believe in Jesus as your Lord, Savior, King and Redeemer?

Psalm 136:24 (KJV)
24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Thanksgiving Series: God, who Remembers us

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On January 12, 2016

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives, Thanksgiving

Psalm 136 can be touted as the “The Psalm of Thanks” or the “Thanksgiving Psalm.” It is a Psalm that is rich in content, apropos the character of God and since each verse in the Psalm is suffixed with “For his mercy endures forever”, it is a Psalm that is easy to read and memorize as well.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, giving thanks for the ultimate reason of sending us his only begotten Son, we will be looking at each verse in Psalm 136 and glean out the character of God from these verses, which would be reason enough to be grateful and give thanks to our LORD God.

Today we look at Verse 23.
Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

This verse establishes the fact that God remembered his people when they were in their low estate. The people of Israel were subject to physical bondage and slavery in the hands and lands of their oppressors. As slaves they were in real low estate. But God did not forget them and remembered them.

Points to ponder:
Charles Haddon Spurgeon writes, that God’s covenant is an everlasting covenant because it does not hinge on our remembrance of him, but instead it relies on his remembrance of us. When we were still sinners and enemies of God, sinking in the horrible pit of sin (Psalm 40:2), subject to spiritual bondage, God remembered us in that low estate, and sent us his son, Jesus Christ, the Rock of our Salvation, on whom he set our feet on (Psalm 40:2), so that we would not drown. He remembered us in our low estate as he did the Israelites.

You may have forgotten God and about God and gone your wayward ways like the prodigal son, but you can be assured that God does not and will never forget you. He remembers you even today, seeking for you to remember. Remember, Repent and Return to God (Revelation 2:5), who like the father of the prodigal son is ever willing to accept you back, no matter what. (Luke 15:11-32).

Psalm 136:23 (KJV)
23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Thanksgiving Series: God, the Strong Armed One

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On January 4, 2016

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives, Thanksgiving

Hand of God

The Creation of Adam

Psalm 136 can be touted as the “The Psalm of Thanks” or the “Thanksgiving Psalm.” It is a Psalm that is rich in content, apropos the character of God and since each verse in the Psalm is suffixed with “For his mercy endures forever”, it is a Psalm that is easy to read and memorize as well. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, giving thanks for the ultimate reason of sending us his only begotten Son, we will be looking at each verse in Psalm 136 and glean out the character of God from these verses, which would be reason enough to be grateful and give thanks to our LORD God.
Today we look at Verse 12.
With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

When visiting the Vatican City, we were blessed to see the wondrous work of Italian Renaissance artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Between 1508 and 1512, Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with a series of frescoes, portraying several biblical stories. One central painting which is commonly misnamed as the Hand of God, but which is correctly named The Creation of Adam, depicts God giving life to the first of his creation, Adam (man). In this painting, Michelangelo puts the viewer’s attention on the two outstretched arms – one that is of Adam, limp with drooping fingers as if without any energy, resting upon one bent knee as if it is too heavy for him to hold it up without support, and the other, the assertive strong powerful hand of God himself, reaching out and ready to discharge the vital spark of life.

God does not just have an outstretched arm, but a strong outstretched (reaching) arm.

Points to ponder:
Just as God rescued the Israelites with his outstretched arms from their enemies, he continues to reach out to us today. Like Adam, by ourselves, we cannot hold ourselves up. Without God’s Spirit in our lives, we are languid and limp. When Jesus came into this world, it was God’s strong outstretched arm, reaching out to all of mankind, to give our limp lives, the vital spark of eternal life. We thank God for the outstretched strong Hand of God – yes, his mercy truly endures for ever.

God is reaching out to you! Accept Jesus by acknowledging him to be your Lord and Savior and get life – eternal life – by become a living soul (Genesis 4:7).

Psalm 136:12 (KJV)
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Be ye Steadfast :: In your belief in God

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On July 16, 2012

In Be ye steadfast, Christian

The Bible counsels us to be steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58). Recently, after my beloved wife, Sangeetha checked the weight of our darling 6 year old firstborn son, Reuben’s, she was concerned as he had no change in weight for a considerable period of time. Out of love and concern, she was counseling him that he ought to eat well so that he can grow physically. When they were sharing the constancy of his weight with me, I used the opportunity to jokingly express to Reuben, that when we teach him, that he ought to be like Jesus, the same yesterday, today and for ever, the matter of his weight is not what we were talking about. Reuben asked me, “Really, Jesus is the same yesterday, today and for ever?” and I responded affirmatively and assuredly, “Absolutely!”

The Bible teaches us that Jesus is stedfast; the same yesterday, today and for ever (Hebrews 13:8). He is good and his mercies are stedfast (endures for ever) (Psalm 136). Even Darius, a foreign king, recognized this, when Daniel, was miraculously saved from the lions, by God, who sent his angel to shut the mouth of the lions, because Daniel believed in God (Daniel 6:22-23). And when Darius recognized this, he made a decree that in every dominion of his own kingdom, men should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. Why? Because God is a living God and stedfast for ever and God’s kingdom is one that shall not be destroyed and his dominion shall be unto the end (Daniel 6:26).

Points to ponder:
God is a good God and his mercies endures for ever. He is a living and stedfast God. Do you and I tremble and fear before this living and stedfast God, who is the same yesterday, today and for ever? Are we stedfast in our belief as was Daniel? Is our belief so stedfast (unmoveable) that the kings (rulers/powers/authorities) of this world would recognize the indestructible nature of God’s kingdom and his very own nature as Sovereign (ruling over all), Stedfast and Living?

Daniel 6:22-23…26 (KJV)
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
…
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever [is stedfast].

Psalm 136:1-26 (KJV) 
1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth [is stedfast] for ever.

Give Thanks – For enduring mercy

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On November 25, 2011

In Christian

When a prisoner on death row was brought before the judge for trial, he was extremely afraid, regarding the verdict he was to receive. The judge perceiving his anxiety tried to alleviate his fear by saying, “Don’t worry young man, you will be tried fairly and will have justice today!”. To this the prisoner responded, “It is not justice that I need, it is mercy.”

Many of us like this prisoner, who have been in the bondage of sin, and on death row (Romans 6:23), don’t need justice, but Mercy. Thanks be to God, who remembered us in our low estate and redeemed us (Psalm 136:23-24) for His Mercy is everlasting; it endures forever. The vilest offender and the greatest sinner in the world, is not out of the scope of God’s mercy as long as they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, on whom God’s wrath and justice was poured so that we all could receive God’s mercy. It is because of God’s mercy that we don’t get what we rightfully deserve and consumed (Lamentation 3:22).

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer, the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

It is not justice, but mercy we need and we need to Give Thanks to God for His mercy is not only new every morning (Lamentation 3:22-23), but that it endures forever (Psalm 136). O Give thanks to the LORD, for his mercy endures for ever, Give thanks to the God of gods, for his mercy endures forever, Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his mercy endures for ever … (Psalm 136:1-3)

Psalm 136:1-26 (KJV)
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever.
20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

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