Psalm 136
My pastor (Tez Andrews of Connect Church - http://connectchurchatl.org/) teaches an early morning bible study class. Each week we are given homework assignments to help us deepen and understand our faith. Today, I wanted to share mine with you.
Homework Assignment
Read Psalm 136 and find the emphasis of the passage. What does the author want to convey? What is the true message of the text? What does the text mean to you personally?
My Assignment Answers
Emphasis … for His mercy and loving kindness endures forever
Message … Everyone needs to give thanks to the Lord… because His mercy and loving kindness endures forever
Who is the Lord?
The one and only the supreme High God (Alpha and Omega)
He is good
He is the God of gods
He is the Lord of Lord
What has He done?
Alone He has done Great Wonders (providing examples of God’s miracles and miraculous feats)
How God created the Earth
How God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt
How God won battles against famous Kings and Nations (and gave the land to His people the Israelites)
Describe His Grace:
He remembered us in our lowly state
Rescued us from our enemies
Provides us with Food and Shelter
How long will His mercy last?
Forever
He will never stop loving us, forgiving us, trying to save us, teach us, protect us, provide for us
His grace and mercy endures forever, even in our lowly state (when we sin, when we are depress, when we pull away from Him)
He is stable and faithful not just yesterday or today, but tomorrow and Forever
If this was my sermon… I would call it “He’s already done enough”
If God never did one more miracle for me in this life, it would already be enough. I would thank Him for a Life Time…For His mercy endures forever.
The miracles I have seen in my own life. All areas such as: sickness, financial, marriage, friends, family, church, job and the miracles I witnessed with others just keep coming… there are too many blessings to count. I can see the path He has taking me in my own life. The more I surrender… the closer I get and the more I understand His ways and His grace. Yet ultimately, the best gift is that I am saved. John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Had God stopped there it would have already been enough for me… For His mercy endures forever. Amen!
My pastor talked about “Jesus Wept” John 11:35
I sometimes forget God feels our pain and He understands the pain. It’s nothing to small or too large for Christ. When we pray, do we always remember to thank Him and do we remember to thank Him properly. In the mist of the trial we are focused and determined, but after the storm, when all is calm, where do you stand? Do we pray with the same intensity or do we simply say Amen! Do you give Him the honor and the respect due Him or does He go back into your closet.
Your Action Item: Today … gives thanks to the Lord in every thought and action. Remember to tell Him why you love and trust Him. Take a deep breath and look around you. Be content and secure in His love for you.
Our Prayer today
Father God, thank you for who you are. For Your mercy endures forever. You are the God of Gods and Lord of Lords. El Echad (The One God) You are the beginning and the end. For Your mercy endures forever. You are kind and gracious. You are strong and soft, you are my peace of mind and my energy to produce and create. For Your mercy endures forever. The bible says, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits (Psalms 106.1-2 KJV) I love you Jesus and I am grateful you first loved me. Jesus, I am here because of you. I soar above, because of you. For Your mercy endures forever. Daily, you pick me up and dust me off, you hold me tight, and help me to sleep safely throughout the night. For Your mercy endures forever. Because of you my burdens are lite. Blessed by Your name. For Your mercy endures forever. Thank you for who you are and thank you for caring and helping me to become the person you would have me to be. For Your mercy endures forever. Teach me Father how to give thanks always in all things and how to honor your sacrifice by not forgetting the gifts of Your death and resurrection. I give my thanks ALWAYS to you Lord, because your mercy endures forever. Amen!
