Give Thanks to the Lord
Today’s passage: Psalm 136
Focus verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:29)
As we covered in yesterday’s reading, we should offer God our thanksgiving for our salvation, spiritual blessings, and physical provisions.
Not only that, but we can also praise him for who he is. His character, after all, is the source that everything flows from.
Today’s focus verse tells us to give our thanks to God. One reason is because he is good. He loves us with a love that never ends. It will last through eternity. His love endures forever.
This idea of God’s enduring love repeats throughout Psalm 136. It opens and closes with commands to give thanks to God. Each of its twenty-six verses reminds us of the promise that his love endures forever.
We are to give thanks to him for he is good, the God of gods, and the Lord of lords. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:1–3).
Our God does great wonders, made the heavens, and created our world. He placed lights in the sky: the sun to give us day and the moon to guide our night. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:4–9).
In days of old, God freed his people from their captors in Egypt. He struck down the firstborn of their enemy and brought his children out with mighty power. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:10–12).
The Almighty divided the Red Sea and gave his people a path through it. He then used it to sweep away the enemy army. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:13–15).
For forty years, he led his people in the wilderness. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:16).
After that, the Lord helped his people conquer the promised land. The Almighty struck down great kings and killed mighty rulers.
God overcame the king of the Amorites and the king of Bashan. He gave his people these nations’ land as an inheritance. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:17–22).
God’s provisions continue to this day. The Lord remembers us when we are down. He frees us from our enemies, and he provides food for his creation. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:23–25).
Because of all these reasons—and many, many more—we give thanks to our Father in heaven, for his love endures forever (Psalm 136:26).
May we give him our thanksgiving and our praise.
Questions:
How can we better give thanks to God for who he is?
How should the knowledge that his love endures forever influence how we go about our life?
Prayer: Father God, thank you for who you are and all that you’ve done for us. You are truly amazing and worthy of our awe. You are all mighty, all present, and all aware. May we never forget these truths.
[This devotional is taken from the November 5 reading in Thanksgiving with Jesus.]
Thanksgiving isn’t just a day—it’s a way of life. Let the 30-day devotional Thanksgiving with Jesus lead you into it. Then you can go deeper than the holiday.
Perfect for the Thanksgiving season or anytime you want to grow in gratitude.
Thanksgiving with Jesus is part of the beloved Holiday Celebration Devotionals Series.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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