Wednesday, 16th September 2020
Title: His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
Author: Pastor Wallace Ong

Psalm 136: 1 (ESV)
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

When I read the entire Psalm 136, I cannot help but thinking that this Psalm was penned in such a special way for some reason. At the time when there were no technology- printing presses, projectors or any other tools to reproduce the copy for the usage in group reading/singing at the same time, the repeated phrases must have been intentionally used in order for the leader to read aloud and lead the group to repeat after as to respond. The selective words/phrases that they would say together must be important words that they could all learn and remember swiftly.

In this Psalm, God’s people learn and say this one very important phrase together; “His steadfast love endures forever!”

May I encourage you to read through the whole Psalm 136 today? This Psalm is a simple expression that the psalmist wrote as a responsive song of praise for who God is and of His goodness. Each time this Psalm is sung, those who are singing will be reminded of God’s creation, His power and His deliverance of the Israelites out of slavery through the wilderness into the Promised Land. The phrase “His steadfast love endures forever!” is repeated twenty-six times through the whole Psalm as to remind us over and over again of what is important and we shall not forget: God’s love will endure forever for all of us.

If we are honest, we may realize that we are the same as the Israelites in the Old Testament time that seem to forget about God and His love at times. And if we are not careful, we might wander, disobey God’s Word, and even worship other gods or idols. By repeating the same phrase over and over, we too can learn that we need to remember this truth every day – even through tough time when we face the enemy or when God seems to be silent. This truth will strengthen our faith.

Hebrews 11: 6 says; “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

God is pleased when we acknowledge who He is, His love for us, and how He’s blessed us.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for You are great and that You are the reason the believers around the world can read and sing this Psalm. We thank You each time we are reminded of Your love and goodness. We thank You that Your people for generations are able to stand together and proclaim this truth “His steadfast love endures forever!” because of your grace and mercy toward us. Please help us today, Lord, to remember and spread Your love to many others who have not yet known You. We pray in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

每日灵粮
星期三,2020年9月16日
标题：祂的慈爱永远长存
作者：王振威传道
翻译：陈健萍姐妹

【诗136:1】[和合本] 你们要称谢耶和华，因他本为善，他的慈爱永远长存。

当阅读整篇诗篇136的时候，我不禁在想，这诗篇是基于某些原因以如此特殊的方式写成的。在没有技术 – 印刷机、投影仪或任何其他工具复制副本供集体同时诵读/吟咏的当儿，反复的词句必定是刻意地运用，以便领导者大声诵读，并引导会众重复作为回应的。他们所挑选一起说的语词/短语必是他们都能迅速学习并记住的重要用语。

在这诗篇中，上帝的子民一起学习并说这句非常重要的话：”他的慈爱永远长存。”

我可否鼓励您今天诵读整篇诗篇136？这诗篇是诗人简明的表达，写为一首赞美上帝（因为祂是上帝）和祂的恩惠的回应式的诗歌。每次咏唱这诗篇时，唱诗的人就会想起上帝的创造、祂的能力，以及祂对以色列人从奴役中的拯救，且领他们经过旷野进入应许地。“他的慈爱永远长存！“ 在整篇诗篇中重复了二十六遍，反复地提醒我们重要的事情，我们将不会忘记：上帝的爱对于我们所有人将永远长存。

我们若是诚实，我们会意识到我们和旧约时代的以色列人一样，有时似乎忘记了上帝和祂的爱。如果我们不谨慎，我们可能会偏离、不听从上帝的道，甚至崇拜其他神灵或偶像。通过一遍又一遍地重复同一句话，我们也得知，我们需要每天记住这个真理——即使是在我们面对敌人或上帝似乎沉默的艰难时刻。这真理将会坚定我们的信心。

【来11:6】”人非有信，就不能得神的喜悦；因为到神面前来的人，必须信有神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人。”

当我们承认上帝因为祂是上帝，并祂对我们的爱，以及祂多么祝福我们的时候，祂会喜悦。

祷告
亲爱的天父，
我们感谢祢，因祢是伟大的；祢是全世界信徒能够阅读和咏唱这篇诗篇的原因。每当我们想起祢的爱与恩惠，我们都感谢祢。我们感谢祢，因为祢对我们的恩典与怜悯，使祢的子民世世代代都能一致地宣扬这真理：“他的慈爱永远长存！” 主阿，求祢今日帮助我们，记念祢的爱，并将祢的爱传扬给许多尚未认识祢的人。奉耶稣大能的名祈求。阿门。