If you were going to write a prayer of thanksgiving, what would you include? Psalm 136 mentions how God rescued His people, first from bondage to slavery in Egypt (v. 11), and throughout their history from other enemies (v. 24). Surely, we could also make mention of how many times God has protected us and our loved ones during past sicknesses, or has kept us safe through many dangerous situations.

And I hope we would remember to thank God for creating life, the universe, and everything we see. For no matter how great our learning may be, all we can do is alter or rearrange the matter and energy that are already in existence. But God made the heavens with skill (v. 5) and spread out the earth (v. 6). God made the sun and the moon (vv. 7-9), without which life on earth would not be possible. Yes, in His creation God has provided everything we need (v. 25).

But none of these things are on the top of the Psalmist’s list. Instead, in every verse of this psalm he gives thanks to God not so much because of what He has done but because of Who He is – because His lovingkindness is everlasting (vv. 1-26). Moreover, the Psalmist clearly implies that God has done everything mentioned in this psalm just because of this lovingkindness.

And that’s also our greatest reason for rejoicing and giving thanks, isn’t it? For the Hebrew word hesed, translated as steadfast love, or lovingkindness, or mercy, goes far beyond mere sentiment. It includes the idea of faithfulness to one’s promises, of loyalty to one’s family and friends. Because it carries a sense of obligation, this is the kind of love you can always depend on.

And it is this kind of love that God has shown to us most clearly on the cross of Christ. For there, God kept the promise He made to Eve that the Seed of the Woman would crush the head of the serpent, destroying the power of sin (Genesis 3:15). There, God kept the promise He made to Abraham that through his Seed, all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 3:12). There, God fulfilled the entire meaning of the Law of Moses, as the Perfect Sacrifice was made to pay the penalty that all our sins deserve. And through the victory of the cross and the empty tomb, the Son of David earned the right to rule and reign over all the world for all time, fulfilling the promise God made to David (II Samuel 7:16).

And it is because God’s love is faithful and true that we can be certain of His forgiving, cleansing power in our own lives. It is because God always keeps all His loving promises that we can be sure that all who trust in Christ as Savior and bow the knee to Him as Lord will in fact be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God. It is the hesed of God that is the only basis of our Blessed Assurance, our certainty that Christ will never turn anyone away who comes to Him (John 6:37).

So, let’s give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His hesed endures forever!

Psalm 136 (NASB)

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 wonders, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
5 To Him who made the heavens 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 by day, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
9 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
10 To Him who smote the Egyptians in their first-born, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
11 And brought Israel out from their midst, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
12 With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
13 To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
15 But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
17 To Him who smote great kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
18 And slew mighty kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
20 And Og, king of Bashan, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
21 And gave their land as a heritage, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
22 Even a heritage to Israel His servant, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
24 And has rescued us from our adversaries, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
25 Who gives food to all flesh, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.