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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever (v. 1, ESV).
Say, “His steadfast love endures forever,” 26 times.
You will do this if you read Psalm 136, as every verse ends with His steadfast love endures forever. If you believe that God doesn’t love you, that God has forgotten you, or that a recent stumbling has caused God to reject you, read Psalm 136 and listen to the Spirit say 26 times that His steadfast love for you endures forever.
This Psalm is about Israel being surrounded by enemies and God bringing deliverance. It can be your Psalm for freedom as well.
Psalm 136 has four sections …
God is Creator (vv. 1-9)
To God who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever (v. 5).
God our Redeemer (vv. 10-16)
To God who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever (v. 16).
God of Victory (vv. 17-22)
To God who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever (v. 17).
God Who Rescues (vv. 23-26)
It is God who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever (vv. 23-24).
In reading this Interruption you have said His love endures forever 10 times so far. Go ahead and read Psalm 136 in its entirety and say His love endures forever 26 times. (The count is now at 11 times!)
Recent studies show that the brain literally lays neural pathways that become more and more rooted when we think and say something over and over. Thoughts of despair fortify hopelessness.
Our brains will layer frustration upon anger upon doubt upon discouragement upon depression just by allowing our brains to dwell on the negative.
We can change by praising.
As we praise over and over … repetition … over and over … we again become hopeful and thankful. Psalm 136 foreshadows modern brain science by teaching us to praise God repetitively,
His steadfast love endures forever!
We are now at 13 times with His steadfast love endures forever (including this one!).
Let’s go ahead and finish …
His steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever. His steadfast love endures forever.
That’s 25. But when we read the last verse of Psalm 136 …
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever (v. 26).
We are now at 26 times unless I miscounted, which is entirely possible! Count them and let me know.