His Lovingkindness Is Everlasting
Psalm 136:1, 4–9
And then, in that light, we see that all creation – the sun, the moon, the stars – they all proclaim the covenant-keeping faithfulness of God.
How important for us as believers that we view the created universe aright. That we do not see it merely as some kind of mechanical force that’s at work regardless of other things. The whole creation, the universe that we see, the sun and the moon and the stars are there because of God’s covenant-keeping faithfulness. It’s His faithfulness that brought them into being; it’s His faithfulness that keeps them into being. Let’s look at them that way.
Psalm 136:1, 4–9
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good;
for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to Him who alone does great wonders,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting;
to Him who made the heavens with skill,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting;
to Him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting;
to Him who made the great lights,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting:
the sun to rule by day,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting,
the moon and stars to rule by night,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting. NASB
for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to Him who alone does great wonders,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting;
to Him who made the heavens with skill,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting;
to Him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting;
to Him who made the great lights,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting:
the sun to rule by day,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting,
the moon and stars to rule by night,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting. NASB
There's one word repeated there again and again. It’s the word lovingkindness. The Hebrew word there is chesed. That word has a very special meaning in the Hebrew language. I believe the best way to interpret it is “God’s covenant-keeping faithfulness.” God’s chesed is a particular aspect of the total character of God, which means that when God makes a covenant He commits Himself to keep it.And then, in that light, we see that all creation – the sun, the moon, the stars – they all proclaim the covenant-keeping faithfulness of God.
How important for us as believers that we view the created universe aright. That we do not see it merely as some kind of mechanical force that’s at work regardless of other things. The whole creation, the universe that we see, the sun and the moon and the stars are there because of God’s covenant-keeping faithfulness. It’s His faithfulness that brought them into being; it’s His faithfulness that keeps them into being. Let’s look at them that way.
—Derek Prince