For His mercy endures forever

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever: To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever; - Psalm 136.1-5

There are a lot of critics out there about Christian songs with repetitious. There seems to almost be an attitude in some quarters that the song is disqualified because it says the same thing over and over.

I guess I see the point, but before we get too excited let’s have a look at Psalm 136. Twenty-times in as many verse we read ‘His mercy endure forever.’ After every phrase, and even mid-phrase, we read ‘His mercy endures forever.’  

Apparently there is a place for repetition. And I think I see the reason.

As a teacher I know the merit of repetition. There are times when the only way to get some things into student’s minds is to say them over and over and to drill them in class. We were at the Children’s Museum in Edinburgh one time and there was a recording of a schoolmaster drilling times tables over and over again.

That tool is not only for kids. It is something that we adults need as well. There are things that we can be fat to slow to grasp, so God just says it over and over again.

And this is a reminder that me and my thick skull need all the time. No matter what I see today, no matter where I was yesterday, and no matter what comes tomorrow, God’s mercy is still going to be there.

In the midst of Jeremiah’s lament over the state of Jerusalem he remembered something that changed everything – ‘It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.’

God’s mercies never change and the well of mercies never runs dry.

So let’s get this right Roger –

For His mercy endures forever.

For His mercy endures forever.

For His mercy endures forever.

For His mercy endures forever.

For His mercy endures forever.

For His mercy endures forever.

For His mercy endures forever.

For His mercy endures forever.

And let’s not forget when the next crisis comes.