219. Faithful Love is Forever
1 Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.
This is a stated truth by David about the Lord, and it contains a promise: the mercy of God toward us lasts forever. That is a promise we can live eternally with. This verse is a common refrain in the Scriptures, especially the Psalms. Christians use this formula throughout history as a common prayer. Every Christian knows this praise prayer by heart. But look at the promise it contains, and which we confess to believe: The Love of God is faithful toward us and it lasts forever. The Love of God cannot be thwarted or defeated or stopped; it will ever endure; it will withstand every power in the universe, even death. The Love of God plows right through everything, Song of Songs 8:6; “Love is strong as death…the very flame of the Lord.”
The word in Hebrew is “chesed.” This word is untranslatable into direct English. The KJV uses “mercy” and “lovingkindness.” Other version us “steadfast love” or “love that is faithful to the covenant.” It means God made a promise to love us and He will absolutely, unconditionally, and for sure do so forever and ever, world without end. This is how God is good: He loves you and you can live and die in that love. This is how God loves us: He gave us His Son that by faith in Him we have eternal life.
Do not just lightly and blithely let this prayer roll off your tongue. Think about its deeper and eternal meaning. Let the weight of its truth sink into the depths of your soul. God is good, and He loves you forever.