# 376 A journey through the Psalms. Psalm 136. God’s love has no end.

Do you believe that “God’s love has no end”? Or have there been times in your life when you actually doubted that this was true and you felt like giving up on God’s love? Maybe when you lost your job? When you were diagnosed with a chronic illness? When your prayers seemed to go unanswered? When your good intentions were misunderstood and resulted in animosity? When your best friend/spouse/child betrayed you? When injustice/greed/pride seemed to triumph all around you?

These are the times when the psalmist’s words in Psalm 73 seem to be so very relevant. He wrote:

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
    I had nearly lost my foothold.
³ For I envied the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked…

[and so, he said to himself] Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure [for God] …  (Psalm 73:2-3, 13)

On the other hand, maybe you answered, ‘no,’ I really have not doubted God’s love, even in the toughest times. Instead, you have believed what Paul wrote in Romans 8:

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 37-39)

Whichever is you, then you will appreciate Psalm 136, “in Jewish tradition … often known as the Great Hallel (‘the Great Psalm of Praise’).’ (# 29)  

It is in this psalm that a key phrase concerning God’s love is repeated in each verse. It is translated as ‘for his love has no end’ (Gelineau version) or ‘His love endures forever’ (NIV) or ‘His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.’ (AMPC).

The psalm begins:

 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.’
His love endures forever.
² Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

As Kidner writes: “Give thanks is not the whole meaning of this word… it basically means ‘confess’ or ‘acknowledge’… and therefore calls us to thoughtful, grateful worship, spelling out what we know or have found out of God’s glory and His deeds. The psalm proceeds to do this, speaking here of His character (1) and sovereignty (2,3); then of what He has made and done (4ff.), and what He continues to do (25).

[God’s] Steadfast love is the word hesed, [denoting faithfulness to a covenant… with a strong element of fidelity] …” (# 29)

This psalm is also likened to a “statement of faith… [or] a confession, not of our sin, but of God’s greatness. So, we have here another creed from Bible times…”  (# 5)

And so, God’s love in this psalm is revealed in His acts in Creation (vv. 4-9):

⁴ to him who alone does great wonders…
⁵ who by his understanding made the heavens…
⁶ who spread out the earth upon the waters…
⁷ who made the great lights…
⁸ the sun to govern the day…
⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

Followed by His love as revealed in his acts of saving and rescuing (vv. 10-16):

¹⁰ to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt…
¹¹ and brought Israel out from among them…
¹² with a mighty hand and outstretched arm…
¹³ to him who divided the Red Sea asunder…
¹⁴ and brought Israel through the midst of it…
¹⁵ but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea…
¹⁶ to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.

Then His love is shown in his conquest of the land as He promised (vv. 17-22):

¹⁷ to him who struck down great kings…
¹⁸ and killed mighty kings…
¹⁹ Sihon king of the Amorites…
²⁰ and Og king of Bashan…
²¹ and gave their land as an inheritance…
²² an inheritance to his servant Israel…
His love endures forever.

His love is then revealed by his care, provision, and friendship to His people (vv. 23-25)

²³ He remembered us in our low estate…
²⁴ and freed us from our enemies…
²⁵ He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

And so, the psalmist concludes:

²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

In fact, give thanks because NOTHING will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)