His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

Psalm 136 “His Steadfast Love Endures Forever” BIG IDEA: God constantly pours out his steadfast love in our lives. PRAY 1) INTRO • Worship/singing…repetition • We repeat to remember…b/c worth remembering • Benefits of repetition – on the conscious & unconscious level • “Practice makes perfect”…21 days to form habit • Aristotle – “It is frequent repetition that produces a natural tendency.” READ PSALM 136 2) “HESED” • Repetition here?? 41x…26x • “Steadfast love” / “hesed” - “love, kindness, mercy, loyalty…” • Love & loyalty combined • Our hesed vs God’s “hesed” • “Never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love” • It’s a promise-keeping love…God’s faithful • Psalm 136 shows God’s continuous involvement in redemptive history, in particular pointing out the exodus & conquest • As NT people, we see this most clearly in the cross • Psalm 136 remembers back of God’s faithful/loyal love for his people…reminder to God’s people – past, present, and future – of God’s constant hesed • His forever hesed…to all God’s people in all time 3) vv1-3 – goodness, God of gods/Lord of lords • Symmetry…call to praise the Lord • God’s goodness – why we praise God…for his good acts • He’s a good God who acts in good ways toward his people • God’s enemies know his wrath vs. knowing his mercy/love • God of gods & Lord of lords • Not other gods…HBW superlative, Most High God and Lord • Sovereign over all • Nothing ever happens outside of his control/plan • God’s not remote…he’s personal & good • Do we pay attention to God’s goodness? 4) vv4-9 - universe • The first of his acts – he’s the Creator of all…and sustainer • Focus on his work in space…great lights…Gen 1 • Ex Nihilo…he spoke...and created…out of nothing • God’s work in space has overwhelmed people in all ages • He created it all • Telescope • Moon – 239,000 mi at closest point • Mars – 34 million mi at closest point • Jupiter – 365 million mi • Saturn – 746 million mi…oval shape • Antares – red supergiant star, 15th or 16th brightest star, 619.7 light years away • Light-year is distance light travels in one year, 5.88 trillion mi/9.5 trillion km • God created it all…and sustains it/upholds it • Mighty and great…and personal • Who shows his hesed love to us • The God who created universe shows continuing commitment/promise-keeping love to his people/children • The God who sets the planets and stars in place, ordains every event of our day and cares about everything that happens in our day • He’s the same God who desires our hearts and time • Devoted time in Word, prayer, communion w/ HS • Daily worship of God…ongoing & set-aside times 5) vv10-16 – out of Egypt, Red Sea, wilderness…slaves to sin • Another of God’s acts – the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt • Slavery to Egypt…but God rescued • God provided them with a rescuer/redeemer to save them • Not complete events, but show a few themes • God’s strength • He’s the Divine Warrior in Egypt & at the Red Sea • God showed his steadfast love by saving his people • And leading them in the wilderness • The Creator of the universe (vv4-9) is the same God who saves his people (vv10-16) • In the OT, a strong connection between creation and salvation b/c the OT shows salvation as a new creation • 2 Cor 5:17 – we are new creatures b/c of JC and his rescuing us from our slavery to sin • Praise God for his steadfast love in saving and rescuing us, slaves to sin • People’s conversion stories are exciting 6) vv17-22 – defeat of enemies, promised land/eternity • God’s acts – he’s a mighty warrior who fights on behalf of his people • Defeating Sihon and Og • The conquered land became Israel’s inheritance – the Promised Land • Sihon and Og attacked though Israel promised to pass through their lands peacefully • Israel’s under the care of the Creator-Redeemer who exercises his power for their sake • As God’s people the same is true of us! • We’re under the care and protection and guidance of our promise-keeping Creator-Redeemer • God defeats our enemy – Satan and his servants • They don’t have any power over us • God defeats sin’s power over us when we surrender to him • Crush shackles & wipe out armies! • JC did this for us! While we were yet sinners! (Rom 5:8) • JC came to earth – left his throne in heaven – to come and take our sin on himself, defeat the enemy, and give us HS, & the promise of eternity w/ him forever! 7) vv23-26 – praise God for his work now • When Israel suffered, God’s redemption work continued • Egypt, in the wilderness, and in the conquest of the land • God remembers his cov people in their distress • God’s actively faithful to his promises • These final vv emphasize the personal application of God’s salvation to us now too • God works just as he’s worked in the past to save his people 8) CONCL • God’s “hesed” will NEVER let us go • In life’s trials & tragedies, we can cry out to our loving Lord in confidence • God remembers you, God’s shows you his steadfast love • And, his greatest act in history to show that was on the cross • In JC’s saving/redeeming/rescuing/life-give work on the cross