Psalm 136 - God Interrupts Life with His Love & Mercy
Psalm 136 is a joy! There is no other way to put it. As it rehearses the history of God’s work in history and specifically Israel, each thought is derailed before getting to the next. In the reading process, this can be … annoying. However, when you consider the greatness of the interruption, how wonderful it becomes! “His mercy endureth forever.”
A few things to notice about this Psalm quickly. The first thing is that it seems evident that this Psalm would be read responsively, with someone leading reading the historical fact and the congregation echoing, “His mercy endureth forever.” each time.
Secondly, the idea that God’s love or mercy “endureth forever.” There are 2 truths here that work together to make His faithfulness even greater. 1 - Actually His love and mercy IS forever. No start, no end … forever. AND 2 - His love and mercy do “endure,” they keep coming. He repeatedly shows them to be true. These 2 things only amplify the truth that His interrupting love and mercy is something we can count on!
Now, let’s think about the main word, translated “mercy” or “love” or “lovingkindness” in different translations. The word in Hebrew is HESED [or chesed] and is difficult to directly translate. In a sense, “Lovingkindness” is both the best and the worst translation. It is the best, because the word seems to include both the idea of love, but not without action. It isn‘t just a feeling, for sure. So, lovingkindness is a good translation. However, who uses the word lovingkindness? It sounds much too fluffy to even come close to the genuine care of this word and thereby is NOT a very good translation.
Let me add to this that often this word carries with it the idea of a stronger one caring for a weaker one. When this practically happens … loving action displayed from a stronger one to a weaker one … it is explained best with the word “mercy.” So, even though this isn’t a direct translation, it can be a really good translation of the word.
So which is it? I have thought about this several times (as I love this passage) and even delayed writing this blog throughout this week in order to have some sort of answer for this question. However, I’m not content constraining it to any particular of these options. Also, it is plainly true that His love, lovingkindness, and mercy all endure forever. So I’m choosing to simply rejoice in these truths and be ok with the challenge of the translation.
How beautiful it is that God has stepped into history repeatedly with His love and mercy. How faithful He has been as He interjected Himself in the ups and downs of the nation of Israel with ongoing, steadfast love. How loving and merciful He has been in our lives, not only in the plain merciful verse of Rom. 5:8 (“while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”), but also in the patient, persistent love He shows as displayed in Phil. 1:6 (“He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.”).
Praise the Lord for His interruptive, faithful love and mercy!
A few things to notice about this Psalm quickly. The first thing is that it seems evident that this Psalm would be read responsively, with someone leading reading the historical fact and the congregation echoing, “His mercy endureth forever.” each time.
Secondly, the idea that God’s love or mercy “endureth forever.” There are 2 truths here that work together to make His faithfulness even greater. 1 - Actually His love and mercy IS forever. No start, no end … forever. AND 2 - His love and mercy do “endure,” they keep coming. He repeatedly shows them to be true. These 2 things only amplify the truth that His interrupting love and mercy is something we can count on!
Now, let’s think about the main word, translated “mercy” or “love” or “lovingkindness” in different translations. The word in Hebrew is HESED [or chesed] and is difficult to directly translate. In a sense, “Lovingkindness” is both the best and the worst translation. It is the best, because the word seems to include both the idea of love, but not without action. It isn‘t just a feeling, for sure. So, lovingkindness is a good translation. However, who uses the word lovingkindness? It sounds much too fluffy to even come close to the genuine care of this word and thereby is NOT a very good translation.
Let me add to this that often this word carries with it the idea of a stronger one caring for a weaker one. When this practically happens … loving action displayed from a stronger one to a weaker one … it is explained best with the word “mercy.” So, even though this isn’t a direct translation, it can be a really good translation of the word.
So which is it? I have thought about this several times (as I love this passage) and even delayed writing this blog throughout this week in order to have some sort of answer for this question. However, I’m not content constraining it to any particular of these options. Also, it is plainly true that His love, lovingkindness, and mercy all endure forever. So I’m choosing to simply rejoice in these truths and be ok with the challenge of the translation.
How beautiful it is that God has stepped into history repeatedly with His love and mercy. How faithful He has been as He interjected Himself in the ups and downs of the nation of Israel with ongoing, steadfast love. How loving and merciful He has been in our lives, not only in the plain merciful verse of Rom. 5:8 (“while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”), but also in the patient, persistent love He shows as displayed in Phil. 1:6 (“He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.”).
Praise the Lord for His interruptive, faithful love and mercy!
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