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Give Thanks - His Love Endures Forever

Noble Baird · Sunday, 19 July 2026 · 44:18 · 6,654 words

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Psalm 136 is the focus, highlighting the repeated phrase “His steadfast love endures forever” and the Hebrew word chesed, which means unwavering commitment. The speaker traces this love from creation through Israel’s history to the present, showing that God’s loyalty never wavers. Listeners are challenged to remember God’s deeds, write down how His love has carried them, and share those testimonies with others. The sermon calls for a posture of continual thanks and prayer, rooted in the confidence that God’s steadfast love remains constant in every circumstance.

What this sermon is about

Ranked by keyness against every other sermon in the corpus. Each one is a word this sermon actually said — nothing here was written by a model.

steadfast 76 endure 54 unwavering 28 forever 42 love 103 israel 29 thank 46 commitment 16 continue 30 faithful 23 recounting 7 land 18

Topics

Israel 9 Prayer 2 Sin 1 Mission & Evangelism 1 Atonement & Sacrifice 1 Obedience 1 Faith 1

Scripture referenced 24

Verified against the transcript. A reference the recording does not support is never listed here.

Psalms 136 5:00 Psalms 136 5:10 Psalms 136 6:20 Psalms 136 7:28 Psalms 136:1 7:37 Psalms 136 10:44 Psalms 136:4 10:44 Genesis 1 11:56 Genesis 1 11:56 Genesis 1:9 11:56 Genesis 1:9 12:07 Exodus 1 17:12 Exodus 14 17:12 Genesis 1 17:23 Exodus 1 17:39 Exodus 1 17:44 Deuteronomy 6 22:53 Deuteronomy 6 22:53 Deuteronomy 6:22-23 22:53 Deuteronomy 6 23:15 Psalms 136:10-16 23:15 1 Corinthians 15 31:02 John 14 31:14 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 37:02

Transcript

Every word, as spoken, with the second it was said. Each word links to its own entry in the index.

Pre-service announcement — 7 lines, 0:35. Excluded from every count and search on this site, kept here so nothing is hidden.

Hey everyone, my name is Josh, and thanks for checking out one of our sermons today.

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Thanks again for joining us, and we hope you are blessed by today's message.

Well, good morning. Good to be with you.

Just have the privilege to open up God's Word together.

Again, if I don't know you, my name is Noble.

And just truly such a privilege to open up and see what the Lord is doing

as we continue in our summer series through the book of Psalms.

Before we begin, I wanted to share some updates.

For those of you who maybe came in through ourselves,

you probably saw a new building inside of our gymnasium.

And so what is going on is that we have started our phase one of our new Power of Three.

And so some of you may not know what Power of Three is.

And so several years ago, when our church had the privilege of being entrusted,

of going into many prisons throughout Ohio and here in Michigan,

an inmate one day sent us his month's worth of earnings while in prison.

And it was $3.

And so he sent us a $3 check because he wanted to be a part of what the Lord was doing here at the River Church.

And so because of just his heart for the Lord and his desire to be a part of the church,

of sharing the gospel, we have created this project called the Power of Three

across all of our locations.

And so you go to the lobbies at majority of our locations,

and you will see a banner that says Power of Three.

And the goal of Power of Three is for us to go above and beyond our giving

so that we can help to build up and expand our buildings and our properties.

And so for us here in Holly, many of you pull up under our awning.

That was our last Power of Three that was finished.

And so our...

Our new Power of Three, if you go over on that side of the gym as you leave,

you'll see that we are putting in some bathrooms.

And so that will be a facility for two bathrooms and some storage in between.

And so we have moved forward on that project.

And so our goal is to have that project finished for fall ministry kickoff.

And so if you have ever been a part of our Reach basketball

or anything on Wednesday night with our students,

it's going to be an awesome addition so that we can have bathrooms

on that side, no longer have to go back and forth for bathrooms

in different facilities.

And it's really going to give us a lot of versatility in there.

And so we're about $20,000 short of finishing that phase.

And so I want to let you know that first off, to celebrate and to say thank you.

Thank you for your faithfulness, church, and going above and beyond

so that we can continue to improve the facilities that the Lord has given us.

And thank you for your prayers.

Prayer is so essential.

It must be at the foundation of all that we do.

And I know many of you have been praying for our Power of Three.

You've been praying for those projects.

And so thank you for that.

But I also want to celebrate just us being able to see

kind of what has come of those projects and your faithfulness and giving.

So thank you for your continued giving in our Power of Three project.

It's exciting to see.

I wouldn't say run through it now because it's still a construction zone,

but go over and check it out at the end.

It's super exciting to see what's going on.

And then,

phase two will happen after we get that $20,000 to finish that up.

And phase two will be painting the gym.

And so we're going to finish painting that up.

We're going to be fixing some doors.

And also, along with phase one, I apologize, I forgot,

we're going to be moving our coffee bar and it's going to do a 180.

Did I do that right, math people?

180.

We're going to turn it and put it against that wall.

So that coffee bar is going to do a 180.

And so you're going to come in and we're going to,

I have a nice open area there for you to get your coffee and hang out.

And so it's really exciting stuff.

Just wanted to share that update and say, thank you, church.

Thank you for your faithfulness and giving, faithfulness and praying.

And it's exciting to see as our facility continues to expand,

the exciting part is seeing what the Lord will continue to do with this facility,

what he will continue to entrust with us as we continue just to try to build it.

up for his glory and for the gospel. And so this morning we are going to be in Psalm 136.

If you have your Bibles, you can open up there. We are just going to be landing in Psalm 136 this

morning. I did want to say thank you to all of you who are praying for me as I went up to high

school camp a couple weeks ago in East Jordan at Pleasant Valley Bible Camp. I had the privilege

to go up there and I spoke 10 times to 46 high school students. It was definitely something that

I never expected. It took me a bit out of my comfort zone, but it was a really sweet time.

I thank you for your prayers and had a report, you know, all glory to the Lord. One girl who

had been attending that camp for over 12 years, she came to know the Lord.

That week. And so just so incredible to see what the Lord was doing at that camp.

Yeah, it was, it was awesome to just see barriers be broken down, to see counselors having intentional

one-on-one conversations with these students. It was sweet to just be a part of that. And so I want

to thank you for praying for me during that. I did survive barely, but I survived and it was a lot of

fun hanging out with high school students. So we're going to be in Psalm 136. I want to just

open up in prayer.

And then we're going to just see what the Lord has for us this morning. So God, we come before

you. God, I thank you for this place. I thank you for the construction and, and, and seeing so many

families coming Lord, seeing so many kids go to camp, God, and just everything you are doing

in this place, Lord, it is all for your glory and it is all what you are doing, God. And Lord,

would you just continue to use this facility for your glory? Would your gospel continue to go

forth from this place?

May we continue to come here safely, worshiping you, proclaiming you, Lord. May your kingdom

continue to grow just through our obedience to your word, Lord. And just, would you just use us

today as we just open up your word, Father, would your spirit just continue to reveal things in our

hearts, Lord, to just grow closer to you, to be more effective for your gospel, to be more

obedient to you, Lord, and just to continue to show your love, to show Christ's love to all those

we come in contact with. So God, we love you. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. So Psalm 136,

beginning in verse one, David is writing and he begins with such an important phrase. He says,

give thanks to the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord. He declares for he is good for his steadfast love

endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods for his steadfast love.

Endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords for his steadfast love endures forever. Now,

some of you, you may have a different translation than the ESV. So for majority of what we do

through our devotions and our books, we use the ESV as just kind of the translation that we use,

but some translations, when we get to this phrase, his steadfast love endures forever,

some of them like the NIV says his love endures.

Or the NASB says his loving kindness is everlasting. And so looking at that phrase,

the steadfast love endures. Now, when we go back to the Hebrew, it's this word called chesed,

chesed. So C-H-E-S-E-D. And this word translates to an unwavering commitment, an unwavering loyalty.

His unwavering mercy. And so we just see that as, as David is writing this, what he is doing is he is

declaring the steadfast love of the Lord. He is using this Hebrew word, which is just so much

deeper than our understanding of the word love, because it is an unwavering commitment. The Lord's

unwavering commitment, no matter what, no matter what we do, no matter what we do, no matter what

we say. And as David is going to get into here in a few verses, as he just works through the people

of Israel's history, no matter how far astray they went, what do we see? We see that his steadfast

love endures forever. In this passage, we have 26 verses and the phrase his steadfast love endures

forever is repeated 26 times.

times and I believe it is because as David is writing this psalm as he is writing this song

he is reminding the people of what is so important to keep in the forefront of their faith to keep

in the forefront of their walk with the Lord is that he is steadfast that he endures that his love

his mercy his commitment to us is unwavering no matter what there are no circumstances

in our lives in this world that will change his unwavering commitment to you and I because truly

his steadfast love endures forever and so we continue in psalm 136 beginning in verse 4

you

David writes to him who alone does great wonders for his steadfast love endures forever to him who

by understanding made the heavens for his steadfast love endures forever to him who spread out the

earth above the waters for his steadfast love endures forever to him who made the great lights

for his steadfast love endures

forever the sun to rule over the day for his steadfast love endures forever and the moon and

the stars to rule over the night his steadfast love endures forever so here in verses 4 through

verses 9 David is recounting creation he is looking back to the creation of our world we go to Genesis

chapter 1 the very beginning and in Genesis chapter 1 starting in verse 9 we look at the account of

creation in verse 9 and God said let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one

place let the dry land appear and it was so and God called the dry land earth and the waters that

were gathered together he called the seas and God saw that it was good and God said let the earth

sprout vegetation plants yielding seed fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed each

according to its kind in the earth and it was so and the earth brought forth vegetation and plants

yielding seed according to their own kind and trees bearing fruits in which is their seed each

according to its kind and God said that it was good and there was evening and there was morning

the third day and God said let there be light in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day and

the night and let them be signs for the seasons and for the days and years and let them be lights

in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth and it was so and God made the two great

lights the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night and the stars and

so here David is looking to the Lord and he is praising God for what for the beginning for

creation just waking up and walking around and saying my goodness how blessed are we how good

is the Lord his faithfulness did not just begin when we were born his steadfast love did not start

simply with the people of Israel no his steadfast love did not start simply with the people of Israel

did not start simply with the people of Israel no his steadfast love did not start simply with the people of Israel

did not start simply with the people of Israel no his steadfast love did not start simply with the people of Israel

did not start simply with the people of Israel no his steadfast love did not start simply with the people of Israel

did not start simply with the people of Israel no his steadfast love did not start simply with the people of Israel

did not start simply with the people of Israel no his steadfast love did not start simply with the people of Israel

did not start simply with the people of Israel no his steadfast love for us his unwavering

no his steadfast love for us his unwavering

no his steadfast love for us his unwavering commitment for us began at the very

commitment for us began at the very

commitment for us began at the very beginning as he provided the earth and

beginning as he provided the earth and

beginning as he provided the earth and the waters and the Sun and the

the waters and the Sun and the

the waters and the Sun and the vegetation he was preparing a place for

vegetation he was preparing a place for

vegetation he was preparing a place for us because of his steadfast love for

us because of his steadfast love for

us because of his steadfast love for us and so David looks back to the very

us and so David looks back to the very

us and so David looks back to the very beginning and says look look what the

beginning and says look look what the

beginning and says look look what the Lord has already done look what he laid

Lord has already done look what he laid

Lord has already done look what he laid at the foundations of the earth before

at the foundations of the earth before

at the foundations of the earth before we were even born before we even

we were even born before we even

we were even born before we even existed he was already showing his

existed he was already showing his

existed he was already showing his steadfast love and his unwavering

steadfast love and his unwavering

steadfast love and his unwavering commitment to us in creation how good is

commitment to us in creation how good is

commitment to us in creation how good is he for me I got to be honest it's it's

he for me I got to be honest it's it's

he for me I got to be honest it's it's one of those things that is so easy to

one of those things that is so easy to

one of those things that is so easy to take for granted and maybe it's

take for granted and maybe it's

take for granted and maybe it's something easy to take for granted

something easy to take for granted

something easy to take for granted certainly these last several days as

certainly these last several days as

certainly these last several days as we've had to be locked down inside

we've had to be locked down inside

we've had to be locked down inside because of our air right I mean that's

because of our air right I mean that's

because of our air right I mean that's something that I've never experienced in

something that I've never experienced in

something that I've never experienced in my life it's like oh my goodness it was

my life it's like oh my goodness it was

this kind of feeling like back in 2020 where we were back down in lockdown but it's like wow i

just took for granted the fact that we can breathe fresh air from the lord that we can go out and we

could just see the sky that we can see the clouds that we can see the stars at night that he has

created it was so awesome yesterday being able to go outside and just see down the road to be able

to see the moon to be able to see the stars and just be like oh i missed it it was just a couple

of days when i missed it it's like i just take it for granted and david is just pointing back to

the lord and like look at what he's done look at his steadfast everlasting love for us even before

we were born his unwavering commitment and providing for us because he knew what we would

need as his children as his creation and so i love we continue in verses 10 through 16 10 through 16

and and here david is recounting the history

of

israel in one of their most pinnacle times ever egypt and one of the most pinnacle times of

israel's history it's during their time in the land of egypt and so he begins in verse 10 he

says to him who struck down the firstborn of egypt for his steadfast love endures forever

and brought israel out from among them for his steadfast love

endures forever with a strong hand and an outstretched arm for his love endures forever

to him who divided the red sea in two for his steadfast love endures forever and made israel

pass through the midst of it for his steadfast love endures forever but overthrew pharaoh and

his host in the red sea for his love endures forever to him who led his people through the

wilderness for his steadfast love endures forever and so what is happening here is a recounting of

exodus 1 through exodus 14 and i think it's important that we don't just open up the psalm

and we go through these verses and passages and just say well we can look back to creation well

let's look at specifically where that is right let's go back to genesis 1 9 through 16 and see

in god's word where david was pointing back to and here we are we have an account of what has gone on

with the people of israel right and we can kind of remember these stories but let's go back and

read and i'm not going to read all of exodus 1 through 14 all right don't worry i'm not going

to keep you here all morning but in exodus 1 through 14 we have that account going through

the people of israel and we remember that as moses was coming to set his people free at the firstborn

right if they did not cover their door with the blood of the spotless lamb that the angel would

take the firstborn and we see those in the land of egypt crying out and wailing for the lost

of their firstborn child and then we see as the lord rescued his people and they come to the red

and what does moses do he obediently puts down his staff and the lord parts the red sea for the

people of israel to safely go across to leave the land that they were slaves that they were captives

but the lord didn't stop there and just providing a way for them to safely get across no what did

he do within that red sea he overthrew pharaoh and his hosts protecting the people of israel

not just saying hey i have you not just saying hey if you just follow me things will be done and

things will be good no he showed them his steadfast love his unwavering commitment to them

in miracle after miracle for the people of israel and as david is again recounting what

the lord has done in the people of israel's life what does he take a break after each and every

phrase every moment

because really what could happen is if we go back to verse 10 you can read the first line of first

10 and you can read it in succession so you can leave out his steadfast love endures forever and

you can read the account of what's gone on but what happens is that these 26 times david inserts

time after time after time his steadfast love endures forever his steadfast love

endures forever. And I think David is very intentional in this repetition because he is

trying to put it into our hearts, into our minds, the unwavering love of our heavenly father. He is

trying to remind them, hey, do not forget what the Lord has done. Yeah, first off, he struck down the

firstborn so that we could finally be free, so that we would be set free as slaves. He's faithful

in that promise. He brought us out of Egypt. He is faithful. He is unwavering. He parted the seas.

He is faithful. He is unwavering. He defeated Pharaoh and his army. He is faithful and he is

unwavering. Church, if there's one thing that you get from all of this repetition,

I hope this morning that it will stir up in your heart a repetition of thankfulness,

a repetition of pausing and just saying, Lord, you are so unwavering. You are so faithful.

Thank you for your steadfast love in my life each and every, not just day, not just every week,

not just every month, but every moment of our lives that he is so steadfast.

Fast and faithful and his love for us is unwavering, just as his love for his people,

the people of Israel, was unwavering when they were slaves in Egypt and as he brought them

out of slavery. And so we continue on in verses 17 through 22. In verses 17 through 22,

David is recounting their entrance into the promised land. So we begin in verse 17,

to him who struck down great kings for his steadfast love endures forever and killed mighty

kings for his steadfast love endures forever. Sihon, king of the Amorites for his steadfast love

endures forever. And Og, king of Bashan for his steadfast love endures forever and gave their land

as a heritage for his steadfast love.

Endures forever, a heritage to Israel, his servant for his steadfast love endures forever.

And so we go to Deuteronomy 6. And in Deuteronomy chapter 6, beginning in verse 22 through 23,

we read,

And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and

all his household before our eyes. Right? So recounting.

He was just right there in Deuteronomy chapter 6. He's recounting Psalm 136, 10 through 16,

right? And the Lord showed signs, great and wondrous and grievous against Egypt and his

Pharaoh and all the households before our eyes. And he brought us out from there that he might

bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give our fathers. And again, as the people of Israel

going into the land, they're going to give us the land that he swore to give our fathers. And again, as the people of Israel going

into the promised land and even getting into the promised land, that was a bumpy road, wasn't it?

That was a rocky road for them. They had just gotten out of Egypt. They just come across the

Red Sea and then the spies go out. Ten come back, say, it's a no-go, boss. But then two, Joshua and

Caleb said, we can do it. So for 40 years, they just say, man, we can't do it. We can't conquer.

The Lord said it, we can do it. He's shown us signs and wonders,

but we can't do it. But his steadfast love endured forever, even in the wilderness,

the sandals didn't wear out. And he provided each and every day food and water. He sustained them

yet, even when they said, there's no way we can do what you say we're going to do, Lord,

what you promise you're going to give us. We can't do it. Guess what? His steadfast love

endured forever in the wilderness. And he continued to provide unwavering, faithful love.

to the people. And so then David recounts here in verses 17 through 22, he's saying, hey,

he gave us victory. Look at the mighty kings that we conquered. He still gave us victory. He still

gave us these lands. And we continue here in verse 23. And I think this is a part where

David gets real honest. And it just really, he gets so real with the reality of us as humans,

reality of our sin, the reality of our disobedience, and just calling it out. And so in

verse 23, he says, it is he who remembered us in our lowest state for his steadfast love endures

forever. And he rescued us from our foes for his steadfast love.

Endures forever. And he who gives food to all flesh for his steadfast love endures forever.

And so here in these last three verses, in verses 23 through 25, David is saying, even in our worst,

he remembered us, he rescued us, and he redeemed us. Even at our worst, we can go back to the book

of Judges alone. And it's the contentment of God. It's the contentment of God. It's the contentment

cycle of sin, the continued cycle of disobedience in the people of Israel's lives. It didn't like

magically stop after the wilderness. It continued. And even as they entered in the promised land,

their disobedience continued. And they found themselves enslaved yet again to different kings

and countries as they were conquered. Why? Because they forgot that fast love of the Lord. They took

their eyes off of the Lord. They took their eyes off of the Lord. And they forgot that fast love of the Lord.

The Lord. They neglected to worship him as the God of God, as the Lord of Lords. And so what happens

is that they would cry out, right? They would cry out in their lowest state. They would cry out

as they were being overcome by their foes. And what did the Lord do? He didn't say,

you know what? 77 strikes, you're out. All right. You guys just got a bad rap. Like,

you're out. It's done. Time out. I'm not helping you. No, time and time again, his steadfast love

endures forever. He remembered his people. He rescued his people and he redeemed them and he

saved them time and time again, just as he does today in 2026 with every single one of us. And

in the same way he began, he says these words, give thanks to the God of heaven for his steadfast

love endures forever. And so we have this, this beautiful song, this beautiful song of thanksgiving,

this song of remembrance of going through the history of the people of Israel, beginning with

Thanksgiving, going through the history of the people of Israel, beginning with Thanksgiving,

to the very beginning, going to creation, then seeing his faithfulness in one of the most pinnacle

times of Israel's history in their time in Egypt and their exile from Egypt. And then his faithfulness

in the promised land that he said would be theirs. And he did give to them. And then he continued on

through their history, through the book of judges and how they continued to neglect and stray from

the Lord.

So what does this mean for us as we go through this history of the people of Israel, as we read

this declaration for his steadfast love endures forever? Well, first and foremost, if you are

sitting here today and you feel that you have strayed too far from the Lord.

Lord, that you are undeserving of his steadfast, enduring, unwavering, committed love to you.

Know that he loves you so much. Know that there is nothing that you can do, nothing you can say,

that you are too far gone from the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In the very beginning,

as God was creating our world, he also created the plan of redemption through his son,

Jesus Christ. And that plan of redemption was fulfilled on the cross. As Jesus took

your sin and my sin, as he said, Father, it is finished, and they buried him. But as Paul writes

in 1 Corinthians 15, on the third day, he rose again. And that is the gospel.

That Jesus died for our sins, that he was buried, and that he rose again victoriously. And he is

alive at this very moment. And as John chapter 14 says, as Jesus said to his disciples, as their

hearts were troubled, as they were struggling, as they were unsure, Jesus says, I'm preparing a

place for you. And I love Thomas's question, Lord, how do we know the way? How do we get there?

And Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. And so if you are sitting here this morning

and you find yourself in a place where you are not alone, and you are not alone, and you are not

in that place of saying, I'm not good enough, I can't be rescued, I can't be redeemed, know that

you can. And all you have to do is simply confess and truly believe that Jesus is your Savior, that

you must repent of your sins. Does that mean that you're perfect? Anyone in here perfect? No. Because

guess what? You got a pastor who sins. Pastor Caleb's not here, but he would agree with me. He

doesn't have to be perfect. He's not here to serve a bunch of sinners, but we're just here to serve a

perfect Savior who loves us. And so know that you are not too far gone from the steadfast love of

our Heavenly Father through what Jesus Christ has done. Secondly, as I was reading over this passage,

I want to challenge you, church, to take some time this week. And over these last several years,

you know, Pastor Caleb and I have had such a, such a,

such a privilege in being trusted with so many funerals. It just, I sit back and it just, it just

blows my mind at like the Lord just allowing us to, to share his gospel with families who we do not

know in their time of sorrow and their time of grief. And one thing I love doing as I talk to

those families is they don't know the words to say about their loved one. It can be difficult to get

up and share what's going on. And I say, hey, write something down, write down some memories,

write down some stories. And several of them trust me in reading,

that paper. That's such a privilege to read their words about their loved one. And I tell you what,

there's something so therapeutic about writing. Nowadays, we live in a world of technology and

maybe it's typing for you, okay? But over these next couple weeks, I want to challenge you to

sit down and take some time and write out what the Lord has done in your life. What are some of those

lowest states in your life where the Lord was faithful, where his unwavering commitment to

his steadfast love to you continued to endure in those valleys in your life? What are some of the

hills of times of triumph, of, of seeing the Red Sea split, of escaping from Pharaoh, of being set

free, of conquering land? What are some of those incredible times where you look and thank the Lord

for his provision, for his care? For me, I could list off several people in my life, in the life of

my family that the Lord has used to just bless Haley and I in ways that are just so unexpected.

And the only reason that that is true is because the Lord was using those people

to continue to show me, to show us his steadfast love in both the good and the bad.

And so I want to challenge you as David is writing out this song of praise,

this song of thanksgiving.

And I would even say this song of him asking for forgiveness from the Lord.

As he talks about, he remembered us in our lowest state.

You rescued us from our foes.

There is a forgiveness of him seeking that repentance of saying,

I'm sorry for what we did.

I'm sorry for when I have gone astray, Lord.

But over these next couple of weeks, take some time and just write it out.

Type it out.

Look and see what the Lord has done in your life.

See how his steadfast love has endured in your life.

I think you'll be surprised at times when you didn't even see it.

Because I know.

I know that there's some valleys in here that didn't make sense at the time.

But now as we've gotten out of that valley, we've gotten on the hill.

We see what the Lord was doing during that time.

And you can look back and you can say, wow, thank you, Lord.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment.

There were times when I wasn't faithful.

There was times when I didn't believe it.

But your steadfast love endured.

Thank you, Lord.

And finally, this week, I want to echo the words that David began and ended.

This psalm with that we would give thanks to God.

That we would truly give him thanks.

One of my favorite passages in scripture is 1 Thessalonians 5, 16 through 18.

And Paul writes, he says,

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.

For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I love how Paul begins with praise.

He begins with rejoice always.

Because of what Jesus has done.

Rejoice that no matter what trials, what tribulations, what struggles may come into your life,

know that you can rejoice because Jesus has conquered death, hell, and the grave for you.

And no matter what this world does, no matter what hardships, what valleys, what struggles,

what opposition comes your way, we can truly rejoice because,

we have confidence not in ourselves, not confidence in a church.

We have confidence in Jesus Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection for every single one of us.

And then Paul says to pray without ceasing must be at the foundation of all we do.

To continue to go to him in prayer, prayerfully seeking him, building that relationship with him.

But then what?

But then give thanks.

Give thanks in all circumstances.

Give thanks to the Lord for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to him in all circumstances when times are tough, when it doesn't make sense,

when it is a struggle, when it hurts, when it seems like the world is closing in,

when you can't find the reasons of why, when your hearts are troubled, give thanks.

Why?

Because guess what?

His steadfast love endures forever.

And it will continue to endure in your life.

And so we can look back at that account of our lives.

We can look back at those moments.

Maybe that time in Egypt for you, where you went astray and you were bound by the things of this world.

And then look as he brought you out of that bondage, out of that slavery into the promised land and how he has so blessed you.

Give thanks and remember.

Remember his steadfast love endures forever.

And so that's my prayer for us.

I challenge that you'd simply just take some time.

next week. See what the Lord has done. Share it with one another. I would love to hear it. I would

love to hear what the Lord has done. There's so many stories and so many experiences in here of

those hills and valleys of what the Lord has done and to see how his steadfast love has endured in

your life, in your family's life. Share those with one another. Let's praise the Lord together for

that because he is faithful. He is unwavering. And may we truly give thanks. May we not just say

thank you. May we not just come here and share these words of praise and sing aloud on Sunday.

May we truly leave this place and give thanks in all circumstances. Not just today, but every

single day. Maybe this week you go out and you're like, you know what? Every day you wake up and

you read this psalm. Or you're just doing something. You're just singing to the Lord.

You just pause and say, man, God, I thank you for your steadfast love endures forever.

Because there's importance in repetition. There's importance in keeping it in the forefront of our

minds. And that's my prayer. That's our hope for us as a church. That we would continue to be

thankful in all circumstances. And that we would remember that truly it is only his steadfast love

that endures forever. Would you pray with me, church? God, we come before you. Father, I just

thank you. God, I thank you for your faithfulness. I thank you for your faithfulness. I thank you for

your faithfulness in creation, Lord. For your love for us shown in the stars above, God. Father,

I thank you for your faithfulness to the people of Israel as it is recounted as we celebrate to

see what you have done in their lives, rescuing them from Egypt, bringing them through the

wilderness, even through their groaning, Lord, that you continued to be faithful and unwavering

in your love.

Father, I thank you for your steadfast, enduring love for each and every one of us. Your plan of

redemption was created before we were even born. That you so loved us that you sent your son. And

so, Father, today, for those who have maybe not made that commitment, that you are the Lord of

their lives, may they today truly confess Jesus, the Lord of their life. Father, may we go from

this place. May we remember your steadfast love for us. God, I thank you for your steadfast,

steadfast love each and every day, not just as we read your scriptures, not just on Sunday,

not just on Wednesday, not just in growth communities, God, not just during the good

times, Lord, but may you bring it to the forefront of our minds, this passage. May you stir up in our

heart a remembrance each and every day of your steadfast love that truly endures. When we mess

up, when we fail, when we stray away from you, Father, you remain. And God, I thank you for your

steadfast love. God, may we truly pause and give you thanks. Thank you, Father. Thank you for your

faithfulness each and every day. Be glorified. We are truly thankful for what you have done and what

you continue to do and what you will do. We love you, and it's in Jesus' name we pray.

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