His Love Endures Forever

Psalm 115 is what is called a "hallelujah hymn" - which is one that opens and closes with the words "Praise the Lord." This psalm contrasts the Lord's power with the heathen idols that cannot speak, hear, see, smell, feel or move. Isaiah 4:6 says, All who make idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. How true is that! We sometimes make idols of things around us - people, jobs, wordly goods, and yet what good do they do us in times of real need? They profit us nothing. Therefore, trust in the Lord and give Him glory.

Psalm 116 This is a "thanksgiving hymn" for healing of an illness from the experience of the psalmist who wrote it. Have you or someone you love ever had a serious illness and been healed? If so, you can relate to this psalm. This writer kept his faith and trusted in God even when he went through a period of depression. He trusted in God, not in man. Then he asks, what can he offer to the Lord for his bountiful blessing? He answers his own question - I will offer to thee the sacrifice of blessing (praise). Like David, who said that he would not offer to the Lord something that costs him nothing, this psalmist is offering his best - his praise and thanksgiving.

Psalm 117 Probably one of the shortest, if not the shortest psalm in the Bible! Only two verses of praise. At Passover this psalm was sung before the meal. Praise the Lord! a Doxology - an expression of praise to God.

Psalm 118 Some commentators belive that this was written by a king who is giving thanks for deliverance in battle. He comes to the temple and asks to be admitted at the gates. As he enters, he offers his thanksgiving to God. I like this picture. Perhaps as we come into our Sanctuary each Sunday, we should remember the example in this psalm. Remember the week we have just lived through - the trials and joys, the experiences with our families, our jobs, our friends, and offer up thanksgiving for God's presence and blessings to us throughout the week.

There are so many beautiful verses in this one Psalm - verses that are familiar to all of us. It was hard for me to pick out just one or two of the ones that pierced my heart:

Verse 6 With the Lord on my side, I do not fear. What can man do to me? In these troubled times in America, we often "fear" don't we? We fear losing our jobs; fear we won't have enough check at the end of the month to cover our expenses; fear that gas prices will never cease rising; fear our children or grandchildren will not make the right choices in their lives; fear of illness or of growing old. But, as the Word states, "what can man do to me? All of these fears are "wasted" energy and time. Put your hope and trust in God.

Verse 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. Jesus quoted this psalm in Matthew 21:42 after he had told the parable of the vineyard. This was a prophesy that Jesus would be rejected by the Jewish leaders. He is our Cornerstone.

Verse 29 O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for His love endures forever A beautiful verse and one that is quoted often. This phrase is mentioned 41 times in the Bible. His love endures forever. God never runs out of love for us. It is endless and boundless. Forever is a long time - we can't, as humans, even comprehend this time span. We can never do anything that will separate us from His love. He loved us so much that He gave us his only Son.

Last night I attended Shingleroof Camp Meeting in McDonough, GA (which I have mentioned before). It was hot and sticky, a full crowd of people, a wonderful sermon by a well-known pastor, but what moved me the most was the music. Beautiful old hymns, sung by fellow believers with gusto and heartfelt praise. One of the hymns we sang was an old one called - Love Lifted Me, and I thought of this verse: His love endures forever - and how my God never gives up on me. His love runs deep. Let these words fill your mind:

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore.

Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.

But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me, Love lifted me,

When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.