Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good

Psalm 136 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

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 firstborn,
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.

Do we, like the psalmist truly believe that the lovingkindness of the Lord God is everlasting? Even if we could not list the reasons, as the psalmist does, should we not give thanks that He is the Lord of Lords and the God of heaven.  Could we and should we not give thanks :  To Him who made the heavens with skill, to Him who spread out the earth above the waters, to Him who made the great lights, the sun to rule by day; the moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.  If we would acknowledge God, even if only for creation: the marvel, the vastness and the intricacies, we would give thanks. In Romans 1:19-22 it says:   That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 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. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.    So, then given the choice would we be thankful or foolish?  Today and every day:  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. Give thanks to the God of gods. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Even if we cannot quickly list the many things He has done for us, as the psalmist does, we should give thanks to: Him who alone does great wonders. Perhaps God has never delivered us from an enemy army, maybe He has not parted a sea before us or led us through an actual wilderness, yet if we will think carefully and remember, we too would recognize times that He made a way where there seemed to be no way. If we will look to the God of heaven with hearts of thankfulness, we will recognize that He has in fact led and guided us and provided for us.  Each of us has experienced the hand of protection of the Lord, the near misses when we drive, the times when others around us have suffered with sickness and we’ve been spared. Every new day, every breath is a gift. We often are quick to ask why me, when bad things happen. But, do we as an old Kris Kristofferson song that says ask :  “Why me Lord, what have I ever done To deserve even one Of the pleasures I've known Tell me Lord, what did I ever do That was worth loving you Or the kindness you've shown.”   Do we recognize that we should question why we receive His goodness rather than why some bad things happen?  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

If you never have before, then I encourage you today, like the psalmist, why not give thanks to the Lord God. Lamentations 3:22-23 says:  The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.   If we will give thanks today, we will find that there are new things to give thanks for tonight and tomorrow. Great is His faithfulness. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.   Amen.   Thank You heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit. Amen.