Thursday... 26 times we are reminded.

How did your Valentine's Day go? That is a day that we reinforce, we express our love to others. We do it by giving cards, candy, gifts or even by going out for a meal and for some by giving them a kiss. I hope it was a very special day for you but for some it was a very lonely day. They had no one to tell them they were loved. But Psalm 136 is a reminder of a love that is everlasting to everyone. 26 times we are reminded that we are loved.

The Amplified Bible sets this chapter up by saying, "The ancient rabbis said that the twenty-six verses of this Psalm correspond to the twenty-six generations from Adam to Moses. They maintain that since these generations were not given the Torah (Law), they could not earn merit and were sustained by God's 'lovingkindness'"

Now 26 times a statement is given and then another statement is repeated 26 times, a statement of which we all need to be reminded.

Verses 1-4 in the NIV says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever."

Now the NLT says, "His faithful love endures forever." The ESV says, "for his steadfast love endures forever." The Message says, "His love nevers quits." It never does and this Psalm reinforces that fact 26 times. "His love never quits." It never has and never will.

Now the Amplified Bible in verses 2-25 says, "For His lovingkindness endures forever" but verses 1 and 26 says, "For His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever."

Some people on Valentine's Day did not get a Valentine. They had no one tell them that they are loved. But let me tell you that no matter what you do or have done, no matter how tall you are, or how you look, or the color of your skin, whether you are male of female, you are loved. You are loved and it never quits. It never quits. His love never quits. It is everlasting, it endures forever, it is steadfast, it never quits. No matter what it never quits. Valentine's Day is everyday. You are loved! The writer of Psalm 136 just thought you needed to be reminded of that fact 26 times.

So let's "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever." Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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