Love That Never Fails

89. God's Love Endures Forever

Love is a recurring theme in most popular music and we find it to be true as we read through the book of Psalms. The difference of course is that the Lord's love is so much more consistent and while romance between people so often comes to an end, God's love for us goes on forever!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Let Israel say: "His love endures forever."
Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever."
Let those who fear the Lord say: "His love endures forever."

Even in difficult times, we can be sure to see God's foundational, ongoing love, as He ever let's us go:

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.

The psalmist knew that his only sure refuge was in the Lord! In His Name, so much could be accomplished. Notice that all success is attributed to the Lord:

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.
Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The Lord's right hand has done mighty things!
The Lord's right hand is lifted high;
the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!"
I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

We now come to a beautiful, prophetic part of the psalm:

Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter.
I will give you thanks,
for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.

It's interesting that we see this reference to Jesus in a psalm which is focussed on God's enduring love for us. What greater picture of God's love is there, than the wonderful fact that His only Son Jesus, came to earth from heaven to live and die for us? We are so blessed to live this side of the Cross where our salvation has been purchased by the blood of Jesus! This is truly marvellous and something we can forever rejoice in!

Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:1-29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You so much for Your incredible love for me! Even in the most difficult times of my life, I can rest in the knowledge that You loved me enough to send Your only Son into the world to die in my place. You are so, so good! Thank You for the salvation I have because Jesus was despised and rejected. I am righteous because He took all my sin as He died on the cross.

Nothing else seems to be important when I look at this pivotal time in history. Thank You for loving me then and loving me now.  Thank You that Your Word says You will go on loving me forever!

Amen.