February 3rd | "God's Enduring Love"

How has God's enduring love shown up in your creation (your very existence), your deliverance (times He rescued you), or your daily provision? In a world of change and uncertainty, this truth anchors us—His love endures forever.

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Today's devotion centers on Psalm 136, often called the Great Hallel in Jewish tradition. "Hallel" is the Hebrew word for "praise," and it's the root of "hallelujah," meaning "praise the Lord" (or "praise Yah," a shortened form of Yahweh). The "Great Hallel" highlights this psalm's profound, extended song of praise, distinguishing it from the standard Hallel psalms (113–118).

This beautiful chapter contains 26 verses, each one ending with the powerful refrain: "His love endures forever" (or "His steadfast love/mercy endures forever," translating the Hebrew chesed, God's loyal, covenant-keeping love). The Book of Psalms is some of the most exquisite poetry ever written, full of raw emotion, vivid imagery, and deep truth. What makes Psalm 136 stand out is its deliberate structure: the number 26 matches the gematria (numerical value) of Yahweh (YHWH) in Hebrew—where each letter has a number: Yod (10) + He (5) + Vav (6) + He (5) = 26. So, the psalm offers exactly 26 declarations of praise tied directly to God's sacred name. I know that is a little bit in depth, but I thought it was cool to see another aspect of God's inspiration inside the Bible.

The chapter unfolds in four main themes, each building on God's unchanging character:

1. Praise God as good and mighty — He is the supreme Lord of lords, the God of gods, who alone does great wonders (verses 1–4).

2. Praise God as the Creator — He made the heavens, spread out the earth, formed the great lights (sun, moon, stars), and rules over all creation (verses 5–9).

3. Praise God as the Savior and Deliverer — He brought Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand, parted the Red Sea, led His people through the wilderness, and defeated kings like Sihon and Og to give them the Promised Land (verses 10–22).

4. Praise God as the Redeemer and Provider — He remembers us in our low estate, rescues us from our enemies, and gives food to every creature—extending His care to all (verses 23–26).

This psalm was likely sung responsively: a leader would declare God's mighty acts, and the people would respond in unison, "for His love endures forever." Imagine the power of that repetition—26 times!—hammering home the truth that no matter the season, trial, or triumph, God's faithful love never fails.

Today, as you read or pray through Psalm 136, let the refrain sink deep into your heart. Reflect on your own story:

How has God's enduring love shown up in your creation (your very existence), your deliverance (times He rescued you), or your daily provision? In a world of change and uncertainty, this truth anchors us—His love endures forever.

This same love is what the New Testament reveals fully in Christ, where God's sacrificial giving reaches its climax. I think Love has seven main traits:

1. Unconditional

God's love isn't earned or influenced by our worthiness—it's poured out freely. In Psalm 136, He chooses to act as Creator, Deliverer, and Provider not because Israel (or we) deserved it, but because of who He is. This mirrors Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." No matter our failures or feelings, His love remains fixed—enduring forever, even when we wander.

2. Sacrificial

Love that costs nothing isn't love at all. God gave His only Son, Jesus, to die for us (John 3:16)—the ultimate sacrifice. In Psalm 136, we see foreshadowings: God "struck down the firstborn of Egypt" and parted the Red Sea at great cost to display His power, all to redeem His people. This sacrificial pattern culminates at the cross, where God's love endures forever by bearing the penalty we deserved.

3. Eternal

His love has no beginning or end. He knew us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and will love us into eternity. Psalm 136 spans from creation ("who made the heavens... who spread out the earth") to future provision ("who gives food to every creature"). The refrain hammers this home 26 times: His love isn't temporary—it's everlasting, bridging eternity past to eternity future.

4. Patient and Kind

God is slow to anger and abounding in kindness (Exodus 34:6). In the psalm, despite Israel's grumbling in the wilderness, He led them with patience, providing manna and water, defeating their enemies. His kindness shows in daily mercies—patient with our doubts, kind in our weaknesses. As 1 Corinthians 13:4 echoes, love is patient and kind; God's version never runs out.

5. Forgiving

When we fail, He doesn't hold grudges forever. Psalm 136 recalls God's deliverance despite Israel's history of rebellion—He remembered them in their low estate (v. 23) and rescued them. This forgiving love is seen supremely in Christ, who prayed, "Father, forgive them" from the cross. His mercy triumphs over judgment, enduring forever.

6. Faithful

God keeps His promises. In Psalm 136, every historical act fulfills covenant vows—to Abraham, to Israel in Egypt, through the wilderness to the Promised Land. He is faithful even when we aren't (2 Timothy 2:13). The repeated refrain is a declaration of reliability: no circumstance can break His faithfulness—His love endures forever.

7. Holy and Righteous

God's love is pure, never compromising His holiness. Because He is righteous, His love sometimes includes discipline—for our good, to refine us (Hebrews 12:6). In Psalm 136, His judgments on Egypt's oppressors and defeated kings show holy justice protecting His people. Yet this holiness doesn't diminish love; it purifies it. His righteous love guards us, corrects us, and ultimately conforms us to Christ's image—all while enduring forever.

As you meditate on Psalm 136 today, let the refrain wash over you: "His love endures forever." In every season—joyful or painful, faithful or faltering—God's love remains firm, fixed, and constant. It's unconditional in its reach, sacrificial in its depth, eternal in its scope, patient and kind in its expression, forgiving in its mercy, faithful in its promises, and holy.