1Â Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
God is good. Even when we cannot understand Him, He is good. Even when we disagree with how He is running things, He is good. Even when life is bad, He is good.
This phrase "His steadfast love endures forever" probably served as a common worship refrain for the nation of Israel.
Think about the liturgy:
Liturgist: "Go in peace and serve the Lord"
Congregation: "Thanks be to God."
The word for "steadfast love" is a special word. The word used here is חַסְדּֽוֹ, from the root חֶסֶד. It is a word that conveys God's character, Israel's history, and the love story between them.
It is a word that brings to mind all of the Patriarchs, men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. It is a word that invokes the history of those men (and women) that were so vital in the story of Israel. The stories that every Israelite would have heard throughout their life. When you think of those great men and women, you should think of YHWH's חֶסֶד.
When you think of the angel staying Abraham's hand against Isaac, you think of YHWH's steadfast love, His provision of a ram.
When you think of think of Jacob and his family being welcomed into Egypt, in the middle of a famine, you should think of YHWH's steadfast love.
When you think of Moses leading Israel out of Egypt safely, you should think of YHWH's steadfast love.
All of the great men and women of Israel, their great deeds are only possible because of YHWH's steadfast love. When they stray, God chases after them. They are a people defined by their God's unchanging, resolute love for them. They are great because of their God's greatness and His great love for them.
Verses 2-22 walk us through an abbreviated account of the creation of the world and Israel's conquests. At the end of every verse in this Psalm, you read the refrain, "for his steadfast love endures forever."
His steadfast love is unchanging. It is world-making. It does great wonders, spreads over the whole earth, divides the Red Sea, and strikes down great kings. It endures through exile. It conquers sin and death, at the cross.
And verse 23 tells us, it remembers us, comforts us even in our low estate.
26Â Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.