Thanks for the Lord’s Goodness to Israel.
136 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
4 To Him who alone does great [a]wonders,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
5 To Him who made the heavens [b]with skill,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
6 To Him who spread out the earth above the waters,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
7 To Him who made the great lights,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
8 The sun to rule [c]by day,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
9 The moon and stars to rule [d]by night,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
In the first portion of this psalm, we see an emphasis on the work of creation. There is more to come, but this is quite stunning already. Look around, take in the miracle of all that God has created. Now, maybe if you’re in the middle of a city, you might find that less stunning. And yet, if you look at all the people around you, they are a “very good” creation also. The diversity and uniqueness of each individual is stunning.
Still, in the middle of this, in every single verse, is a phrase that speaks to a greater miracle, “For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” It doesn’t end, it won’t end, and His lovingkindness is directed towards each of us and all of creation. When He made the heavens with skill, He did it for love.
When God made the oceans, seas, the continents, islands, and more, He did it for love. When He made the sun, the moon, and even the stars, He did it for love. He could have done it all for himself, but He did it also so we would have no doubt that there is a God. His works that followed began to show us His love, but first and foremost, He declares to us, “I am here, and I made all of this for you to see…”
You cannot look at creation, study it, dive deep into its intricacies, and come to any other conclusion. Yes, you can be angry at God, shake your fist at Him, maintain the illusion of stubborn disbelief, but you cannot truly deny He exists. I didn’t make that up, God said so, and I’m inclined to believe the one who made such wonders, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
Again we return to the greater truth, why does God care so much that we know He exists? Because His lovingkindness is everlasting, and He doesn’t desire us to wander about in ignorance. Rather, He wants us to know Him, as He truly is, “for He is good…” Nothing and no one else compares, to the One who calls your name. Yes, He knows your name, in all the expanse of the Universe, He knows you and loves you.