New Years, New Mercies--Psalm 136
Day 15
Psalm 136 as a fitting conclusion, then, to Paul Tripp’s New Year, New Mercies devotional?
I think so–even though Psalm 136 might be the most repetitive set of verses I’ve ever read.
The phrase “His mercy endures forever” is repeated 26 times. Depending on what version of the Bible you read, the word mercy is translated as “lovingkindness” or “love” or any number of adjectives like “steadfast” or “faithful” placed before “love”.
(If Tripp used the NASB version, which I normally use, the phrase would be “His faithfulness is everlasting”, but that doesn’t fit the tone, tenor, and title of his New Year, New Mercies devotional. 🙂)
The first 4 verses of Psalm 136:
Psalm 136 Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.2 Oh, give thanks unto the God of gods, for His mercy endures forever. 3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His mercy endures forever: 4 to Him who alone does great wonders, for His mercy endures forever;
(From The Rizers Psalm 136:2-4 that aims to teach children Psalm 136 and has, incredibly, over 5.2 MILLION views).
Tripp reminds me, and this is why I think Psalm 136 is a fitting conclusion to his devotional, that:
“Unlike human love, which is often fickle and temporary, God’s love never fails, no matter what.”
There really is just no accounting for us with all of our grimy thoughts and myriad moods from despair to overwhelming happiness.
Yesterday, Karen kicked a box that was in her way, out of frustration, in our tiny little kitchen space because she temporarily couldn’t find the baggie she put the cat poop in.
Let that sink in and tell me you don’t have weird moments like that–all day long.
Her frustration was like a bolt of heat lightning from a clear blue sky.
I have a dozen frustrations like that a day, especially when I’m driving, and if I decided to pay more attention to the news and the sorry state of our society, I might find myself in high dudgeon all day long.
But I don’t.
My version of “His mercy endures forever” is to learn something, anything from Scripture every day.
I need that repetition of daily reflection to squelch and squash the other darker pursuits of our popular culture.
Like Oswald Chambers states:
“Continually restate to yourself what the purpose of your life is. The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. Nowadays we have far too many affinities, we are dissipated with them; right, good, noble affinities which will yet have their fulfillment, but in the meantime God has to atrophy them.”
Oh, I’ve got some affinities to atrophy.
Don’t you?
Psalm 136 emphasizes that all blessings come from God’s grace, goodness, and mercy.
Lord, we thank you for Your daily mercies and we rejoice in the kindness You show towards me.
Lord, we remember all of Your past acts of deliverance and protection (and ask for Your protection again today as we are under a High Wind Warning), and for the provision of food and shelter
Lord, we trust in Your mercy and enduring love.
Amen.
PS. Karen, when not wrangling cat poop for the vet, holds the center of our spiritual life. When we both realized that J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was one of shared delights, she ordered Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography by Holly Ordway for both of us for Christmas. I’ve already started reading it and will share some reflections as I move through his life.
As always…
Onward!