A Word from the Word

God’s Covenant-Keeping Faithfulness

Psalm 136:1, 13–15

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.