Psalms 136:17-26: a reflection

17to him who struck great kings, for his loving kindness endures forever; 18and killed mighty kings, for his loving kindness endures forever; 19Sihon king of the Amorites, for his loving kindness endures forever; 20Og king of Bashan, for his loving kindness endures forever; 21and gave their land as an inheritance, for his loving kindness endures forever; 22even a heritage to Israel his servant, for his loving kindness endures forever; 23who remembered us in our low estate, for his loving kindness endures forever; 24and has delivered us from our adversaries, for his loving kindness endures forever; 25who gives food to every creature, for his loving kindness endures forever. 26Oh give thanks to the God of heaven, for his loving kindness endures forever.

This psalm recounts God's mighty acts, and after each one comes the same refrain: for his loving kindness endures forever. Through the striking down of kings, the giving of the land, and on to the tender line, who remembered us in our low estate, and who gives food to every creature, the refrain repeats: his loving kindness endures forever. The steadfast love of God, unchanging and unending, runs like a thread through all his acts, from the great deliverances to the daily feeding of every creature. His love endures forever.

Notice the refrain, and what it is attached to: God's enduring love, seen in acts great and small. The psalm attaches the refrain, his loving kindness endures forever, to everything God does, from striking down kings to remembering his people in their low estate to feeding every creature. God's steadfast love is behind it all, enduring forever, unchanging through all his acts. And it is love that stoops: he remembered us in our low estate, when we were brought low, and his love reached us there. The enduring love of God is not distant but reaches down to us in our lowest place.

That enduring love is worth resting in, for it means God's love toward us does not fail, and reaches us even at our lowest. We can fear that God's love might run out, or that in our low estate we are beyond it; but the psalm declares that his loving kindness endures forever, and that he remembered his people in their low estate. God's love toward you endures forever; it does not run out, and it reaches you even in your lowest place, as God remembered his people in their low estate. When you are brought low, do not fear that you are beyond God's love; his loving kindness endures forever, and reaches down to remember you in your low estate. Rest in the enduring love of God, which does not fail and reaches you even at your lowest, as the psalm declares over all God's acts, his loving kindness endures forever, and remembers us in our low estate.

Lord, this psalm recounts your acts, and after each one comes the same refrain: for his loving kindness endures forever. Through the great deliverances, the giving of the land, and on to the tender line, who remembered us in our low estate, and who gives food to every creature, the refrain repeats: his loving kindness endures forever. Your steadfast love, unchanging and unending, runs like a thread through all your acts. Show me the refrain, and what it is attached to: your enduring love, seen in acts great and small. The psalm attaches the refrain to everything you do, from your great deliverances to remembering your people in their low estate to feeding every creature. Your steadfast love is behind it all, enduring forever. And it is love that stoops: you remembered us in our low estate, when we were brought low, and your love reached us there. Let me rest in that enduring love, for it means your love toward me does not fail, and reaches me even at my lowest. I can fear that your love might run out, or that in my low estate I am beyond it; but the psalm declares that your loving kindness endures forever, and that you remembered your people in their low estate. Your love toward me endures forever; it does not run out, and it reaches me even in my lowest place. When I am brought low, keep me from fearing that I am beyond your love; your loving kindness endures forever, Lord, and reaches down to remember me. Help me rest in your enduring love, which does not fail and reaches me even at my lowest.