A Daily Purpose

Bible Study & Devotional 351

Everlasting Mercy

By contributing writer Lindsey Capron

I liken this chapter of Psalms to a big praise break. David pens this psalm in deep worship as He remembers God’s greatness. Sure, the stanzas in the poem sound redundant. But David makes a bold point to repeat his heartfelt thanks as he reminisces on the faithfulness, goodness, and

the mercy of God, “for His mercy endures forever.”

While reading and studying this psalm, something unique stood out to me. David not only praises God for His enduring mercy but also writes in a chronological timeline of how God’s mercy has been so enduring from the beginning, now, and beyond.

Psalm 136:1-9

In verses 1-9, David magnifies and recounts the everlasting mercy of God. He describes the making of the heavens and earth in glorious detail echoing Genesis 1. God’s creativity and sovereignty over His creation highlight and celebrate, showing that He still sustains us and holds everything together by his enduring mercy.

For a God who lives outside of time yet still created time before it began for us to have a purpose in this time, His mercy truly endures forever.

Psalm 136:10-16 

David goes in deeper into God’s merciful track record. In verses 10-16, he recounts how God performed miracles, signs, and wonders in the face of bondage and oppression by Pharoah and his army. God delivered a sinful but chosen nation from slavery by parting the Red Sea, and guiding Israel through the wilderness is merciful. God’s mighty strength in taking out the armies. For a God who continues to rescue us from our sins and deliver us from oppressive bondage, His mercy truly endures forever.

Psalm 136:17-22

The reminiscent praise continues in verses 17-22 as David mentions how God took down famous kings who ruled nations belonging to the Israelites but didn’t regard the King of Kings who truly reigns. He goes as far as boldly name-dropping these fallen kings and the territories they took from the Israelites.

God fought for the Israelites in His grace and mercy and helped them get their rightful territories back. He didn’t have to do it because of the blatant disobedience and disrespect the Israelites gave to God while being delivered from Egypt and the wilderness.

 But God mercifully kept His promise.

I often wonder how many times God still keeps His promises to me despite my less-than-stellar behavior, thoughts, and attitudes I’ve had toward Him. For a God who continues to fight for us, strike down our enemies, and always keep His promises when we haven’t been faithful to Him, His mercy truly endures forever. 

Psalm 136:23-26

The psalmist brings this ultimate praise break back home in verses 23-26 by giving thanks to God for being the God of justice, providence, and the Almighty Sovereign. God is always remembering us, even in our times of waiting. He’s delivering us from our enemies and providing for us, ensuring we never go hungry.

His everlasting mercy knows no bounds. It nourishes us in the deepest, darkest valleys and fills and lifts us in the mountains. In God’s love, there is everlasting mercy because that’s who He is.

May we always take a moment to break out in praise like the psalmist David about the everlasting mercy God has shown us in the past, present, and future because his mercy truly endures forever.

The Bible In A Year Daily Reading Plan

Saturday, December 17, 2022

Nahum 1:1-3:19, Revelation 8:1-13, Psalm 136:1-26, Proverbs 30:7-9

 Download or Print the One Year Bible Reading Plan