ROOTED - Monday, April 20, 2026

Psalm 136:3

3  Give thanks
to the Lord of Lords

            For his steadfast
love endures forever.

Reflection: His
Steadfast Love Endures Forever

Written By: Pastor Jesse
Caro

Psalm
136 is a unique Psalm, the Psalmist ending every stanza with the refrain, “For
his steadfast love endures forever.” Now, that is not a unique thing to say for
a Psalmist, though it is worth a moment of contemplation. Note the choice and
definitions of these words and how they all emphasize similar things. Steadfast:
staying the
same for a long time and
not changing quickly (according
to Cambridge). Endure: to remain in existence; to last (Oxford). Forever:
For all future time; for always (Oxford).          We
might now expand/rewrite the refrain like this: God’s ever existing and
unchanging love remains in existence and lasts for all future time and always.
 

The
more interesting observation I notice is that most of the verses make little
sense with the given refrain. It does make sense at first: “Give thanks to the
God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.” But does this make sense
to you: ”to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love
endures forever”? Or “to him who struck down great kings,” or (my favorite) “and
Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever”? It just seems to
me that it is odd to say some of these stanzas and follow the stanza with the
refrain. It literally makes no sense. It must be, as I think about it, that everything,
no matter how small, in God’s plan points to and affirms God’s steadfast love
for us. Everything, at least for this Psalmist, brings God’s love back into
focus. The Psalmist can’t stop viewing all these things in light of the love of
God. Yes, even thoughts about Og, king of Bashan should, somehow, bring us back
to God’s love. It is odd, of course, but there must be a lesson in that
somewhere!

Prayer

Lord, like the Psalmist we remember and affirm that you are
steadfast in your love for us, and everything keeps reminding us of your great
grace.