His Love Endures Forever

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Nov. 24, 2014 Monday Message:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His Love endures forever.” Psalms 136:1 NIV

This Thursday, Nov. 27, we celebrate Thanksgiving in the US. Psalm 136 is about giving thanks to God for a variety of things. It’s sung responsively, with the leader detailing many good things about our God, and the congregation responding, “His love endures forever.”

In Jewish tradition, this psalm is called ‘The Great Hallel,’ the supreme praise & worship song about the awesome nature of God.

In a word-for-word translation, “Give thanks,” would read, “Give God a hand!” Not like applause, but it means to worship with gusto, hands in the air, dancing, shouting – all-in praise for our Lord, just like David! And “Lord” is actually God’s covenant name, the name he said to use when he agreed to be our God and we agreed to be his people.

“His love” is hesed, God’s unconditional love for us, which the King James translates as “everlasting lovingkindness.”

How long is “forever?” Eternal is a good answer. But most people look at “forever” and “eternity” as moving forward in time, forever into the future. But the Bible’s “forever” extends in both directions - past, present and future. God wanted to redeem you before you were even born. His desire is that no one would perish.

Have a good Thanksgiving, a great holiday, thank God and remember his everlasting lovingkindness! His love endures forever!

Norton Lawellin

Every Sunday Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Nov. 30, Pastor Michael Pilla begins our Advent journey.