LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
For His Mercy Endures Forever
In Psalm 136, the phrase “For his mercy endures forever” appears 26 times, alternating between phrases. To some, it may seem like a tiresome and unnecessary refrain. However, someone has said, “This phrase expresses Moses’ amazement, the sum of man's revelation and hope”. And another: “There are many good things in God's word, but the name ‘merciful’ is the sweetest word in all Scripture, and it causes David to repeat it twenty-six times in this Psalm”.
When is God's mercy appreciated? When is the God of mercy valued? This psalm not only praises God's mercy toward Israel for the many times He saved them from their enemies. God's mercies were expressed long before, in the creation of the world. Everything that exists expresses God's mercy.
But undoubtedly, where it shines even more brightly is in God's dealings with his people. And especially with Israel, the rebellious and contradictory people—a perfect picture of our own hearts. That is why, in this Psalm, at every turn, after recalling each milestone of God's salvation, it is interspersed with the most beautiful phrase a believer can say about God: ‘For his mercy endures forever.’
As C.H. Spurgeon says: “Mercy opened the way, mercy encouraged the host of Israel, mercy brought them down, and mercy brought them up on the other side. Mercy reaches to the bottom of the sea. Mercy can do it: there is no end to it, there is no obstacle in its way, there is no danger for believers when the Lord surrounds us and says, “Go forward”. Let this be our watchword, as it was Israel's, for mercy surrounds us on every side. Through the fire or through the sea, His mercy will keep us."
The difference that exists between the holy God and His sinful people, between God's goodness and man's wickedness, between God's gifts and man's lack of generosity, is so great that man should be forever deprived of all communication and contact with God, cast forever into the densest darkness that His sin merits.
However, what makes it possible for God to draw near, to seek man, to provide salvation for him, to draw him to Himself, to forgive his sins again and again, to teach him, discipline him, perfect him, honour him, and finally exalt him to dwell in the light of His presence for eternity—all this is possible only because of God's mercies. He has not dealt with us according to our iniquities, nor rewarded us according to our sins. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him (Ps. 103:10-11).
If we knew ourselves better, we would know the mercies of God better, expressed every passing day, even without our realising it. Our naive lack of consciousness, and our consequent ingratitude, are perhaps an even greater demonstration of God's mercies towards us.