Happy Thanksgiving!! 🦃

23 November 23

Psalm 136

“

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.

— Psalm 136:1-3

This is such a wonderful Psalm, especially today.

I'm sure I could spend time (and much digital ink) on the common refrain, "His Love Endures Forever." Instead, though, I would like to meditate on some of the pieces of this Psalm and how they apply to us directly.

Verses 4-9

to him who alone does great wonders, who by his understanding made the heavens, who spread out the earth upon the waters, who made the great lights—the sun to govern the day, the moon and stars to govern the night;

The big obvious here is creation. First article stuff. God not only created everything around us, but He created us and gives us everything we need for life and the body, because His love endures forever.

Verses 10-12

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt and brought Israel out from among them with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;

In His lovingkindness and infinite mercy, the Lord saw fit to strike down our slaver and enemy: Sin and death. For us and for our salvation, Jesus came down from Heaven and by the Power of the Holy Spirit, was incarnate and made man. He took upon Himself all our sin and drug it kicking and screaming into the grave. By His precious suffering and death, our sin was also put to death.

But our Lord Jesus Christ, on the third day, rose from the dead, leaving sin and death behind in the grave, defeating them forever, and becoming the first fruits of the resurrection and life to come.

Verses 13-15

to him who divided the Red Sea asunder and brought Israel through the midst of it, but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;

Baptism. That's it, that's the thing. Our Lord freed us from our sin and we were born again in the holy waters of Baptism. Like Israel being freed from bondage, and their persecutors drowned forever, we ourselves were freed from our sin, and our sinful nature was drowned forever in the waters of the font.

Verse 16

to him who led his people through the wilderness;

Our Lord guides us through this life by His Holy Ghost. He leads and directs our paths, making sure that all things work out for our good and the good of His Kingdom. He is truly, as St. John tells us, ruling and reigning over all things, even now.

Verses 17-22

to him who struck down great kings, and killed mighty kings—Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan—and gave their land as an inheritance, an inheritance to his servant Israel.

There is nothing in this world that Christ will not redeem and make new and holy. At the new creation, all sin will be finally destroyed and we will be perfect; living in unity with God and perfect peace with one another. The meek will inherit the earth, as our Lord tells us. Truly He has gone before us and prepares a place for us, that we may dwell in His holy house forever.

Verses 23-25

He remembered us in our low estate and freed us from our enemies. He gives food to every creature.

The Lord knew you by name even before you were born. He never once forgot you and you never once left His mind.

Knowing you and knowing all things, He sent His only Son Jesus in the fullness of time to redeem you. He saved you for Himself, by Himself.

Take comfort in knowing that the Lord sees you as you are, knew you in the depth of your sin, and chose to reach down and rescue you from that sin. He chose to pull you out of your sin, forgive you by His grace, and redeem you.

He loves you.