By Fr. Godfrey Henwood
Psalm 36 is a magnificent litany of thanksgiving, an affirmation and celebration of YHWH’s (God’s) abiding loyalty. Hebrew word HESED which is sometimes translated as Mercy and sometimes Steadfast Love or the faithfulness is a profound expression of God’s covenant relationship with Israel. It is God’s steadfast love that endures forever and which evokes a response of thanksgiving from God’s People Israel.
Psalm 136 begins with a threefold call to thank the Lord who is YHWH – The God of God’s-The Lord of Lords-, There is no other god like Him. This call to thanksgiving lifts us up in praise of God and we are made conscious of God’s presence and God’s abiding love and mercy.
The thanksgiving is in three parts, and the prayer leads one to give thanks to God whose steadfast love is to be found in the creation – verse 4-9, in the saving history of Israel through the exodus – verses 10-12, and in the establishing of Israel into being God’s People-verses, 13-18.
We notice that each verse is celebrated with the refrain of “For his Steadfast Love endures forever”, and so we are encouraged to celebrate God’s abiding Presence and Love in all aspects of our daily lives.
The Psalm ends with a summary statement in verses 23-25 that Israel is characteristically a people who depend on God for all aspects of their living in the creation and in the daily supply of food. So may God’s name be praised because his mercy endures forever.
This psalm turns the whole of our life into a prayer, with each moment placed between the reality of God’s steadfast love.
He brought me to life: his mercy endures forever.
He placed me in a loving family: his steadfast love endures forever.
He taught me to know him as Lord of Lord’s and God of God’s: because his mercy endures forever.
He opens his Word to me in the scriptures: because his steadfast love endures forever.
He calls me to serve him: because his mercy endures forever.
He provides for my daily needs: for his steadfast love endures forever.
As he loves me so I can love him: because his mercy endures forever.
GIVE THANKS TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN: BECAUSE HIS STEADFAST LOVE IS FOREVER
AMEN.
