Take Your Place in Line
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
In the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles, chapter 16, just after the ark of the covenant was restored in Israel, King David gave to Asaph and his fellow musicians a song of thanks to the Lord. Maybe Asaph helped write the music, maybe the musicians simply performed what was given them by David, but in any case it’s a beautiful psalm of praise.
Verse 34 says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
This phrase, “Give thanks to…” is repeated over and over in the life of Israel.
In 2 Chronicles 5:12, Solomon built a magnificent temple according to the plans his father David gave him. The ark was brought from the tent and placed in the Holy of Holies (the most inner sanctuary of the temple). Worshipping at Solomon’s temple were Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives. They stood on the east side of the altar dressed in fine linen and played cymbals, harps and lyres. Accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets they sang these words:
For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever,
Another example of this theme, “He is good…,” occurs in Ezra 3:10, 11. After the exiles returned from Babylon and laid the foundation of a new temple, Asaph’s descendants (the scripture says “the sons of Asaph”) played cymbals and helped lead worship just as David and Asaph had done with such joy 500 years earlier. At this worship service they sang this song with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord:
For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever,
There are other sections of scripture that repeat this couplet, especially Psalm 136.
We stand in a long line of writers, performers and musicians who throughout history have sung, said, or prayed…
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Here are a few questions you can use for self-coaching. Share your thoughts in the comments section or contact me directly.
- What do you know in your heart about God’s goodness? Describe it.
- Who are are you sharing this truth with? (Could be a friend, family member, collaborator.)
- You might be wrestling with this, as I did for years. Who will you authentically share your heart with?
I know God is utterly good even when I cannot perceive it. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD of GOD. I think that the only thing that can really teach us the goodness of God is when we go through hard things – whether we trusted Him through it or not – and then later on, as we mature spiritually, God shows us how He used those hard things in life for our ultimate spiritual good and to show us who He is. God has not left us comfortless. He provides for us both through His Holy Spirit of Truth and Comfort and also through His design of the Church – His body with whom we can have fellowship, share enlightenment and build one another up in the most holy faith. I’m sharing this truth with whosoever will. These are the easy things to share.
Thanks for that perspective and encouragement Jennifer.