Psalm 136:1, 13–1
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good;
for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to Him who divided the Red Sea asunder,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting
and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting
But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting. NASB
There we are exhorted to give thanks to God in all circumstances
because His lovingkindness is everlasting. That word translated
lovingkindness in Hebrew is chesed. It has a very special meaning. I
believe the best way to interpret it is “God’s covenant-keeping
faithfulness” and in every situation and in every circumstance we are
exhorted to see God’s covenant-keeping faithfulness, whether it’s in
creation, whether it’s in redemption or whether it’s in judgment. God’s
covenant-keeping faithfulness is demonstrated in all these.
Here, Israel is exhorted to give thanks because of their deliverance
from Egypt, because they had passed through the waters of the Red Sea,
because God parted the waters of the Red Sea. But they are also exhorted
to give thanks because God overthrew the Egyptians. The same water that
provided deliverance for Israel also provided judgment and destruction for
their enemies, for Egypt.
So, in every situation and in every circumstance the psalmist exhorts
us to see God's covenant-keeping faithfulness. Whether it’s in redemption
or whether it’s in judgment, all is an expression of the covenant-keeping
faithfulness of God.
