Do you know anyone who likes to start things, but rarely finishes them? Well, if a blog is not the very worst display of that characteristic, then I don't know what is. So, sorry there hasn't been a post in about a month, but better late than never. My summer has been going very well. The Lord has graciously supplied a full time job for my sister and I, and it is going great.
I am teaching a Sunday School class in our church; I am praying and expecting the Lord to work in the hearts of the few guys that attend. We are studying Psalm 136, and what a theme - His mercy endureth forever! It is so exciting simply because it is so personal. The Lord whose mercy enureth forever is the very God who loves me, and out of His ever-enduring mercy saved me. I hope that anyone who reads this will be encouraged in the goodness of the Lord, as I have been.
Exploring the subject of God and His mercy will prove to be a never-ending study, for His mercy endureth forever. The author of this Psalm is not recorded, but it is likely that he was a recipient of much of God’s mercy. Though we fail to give it great consideration, we are all recipients of the mercy of God.
Following the Phrase
The first occurrence of this phrase, “His mercy endureth forever,” is found in I Chronicles 16:34. What a scene is described! The ark, representing God’s presence and power, has entered into the Tabernacle in a great processional, a great sacrifice is offered to their God, and a great choir is formed by David to sing praise to the God of Heaven. David hands Asaph a psalm he has previously written and he instructs the singers to sing it. Their singing is climaxed by one grand and unified “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for His mercy endureth forever.”
Now, after the death of David, we see these words repeated by David’s son, Solomon. It was Solomon that had been given the responsibility and privilege to build the temple for the Lord. Upon its completion, Solomon assembled a great choir, much like his father, and again this song of David is sung to the Lord, “He is good for his mercy endureth forever (II Chronicles 5:13).”
Years later, Jehoshaphat, one of Judah’s eight good kings, appoints singers to praise God’s mercy that endureth forever (II Chronicles 20:21). The scene is one of anticipation of the ensuing battle with the children of Ammon and Moab. As their praises continued, the very God whose mercy they were praising, set ambushments against their enemies, and thus, delivered His people from their attack.
Finally, this phrase appears in the prophetic message to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 33:11). God promises that his people will not always be in captivity. He promises that they will once again have the opportunity to praise their God, and exalt His ever-enduring mercy, and everything God foretells, He fulfills. We hear the praises of God’s people again after their delivery in Ezra 3:11.
Each that uttered these legendary words were partakers in God’s mercy. David knew God’s mercy in His salvation, Solomon saw God’s mercy in his enablement, Jehoshaphat knew the mercy of God in His protection, and Jeremiah learned of God’s mercy in his deliverance. This same mercy that endureth forever, has been extended to each of our lives, and how great a debt we owe to it.
