Guest Post by Jodi Swanson
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His steadfast love endures forever” Psalm 136.
This entire Psalm is a call to remembrance… to remember who God is and what he has done for his people. He is the God of Gods, (v.2-3), he set the order of creation (vs. 4-9), he delivered Israel out of Egypt (v. 10-16), he gave the promised land to Israel (17-22). And finally, the recipient of his goodness turns personally to the reader/listener. Verses 23-26 say, “He remembered us in our weakness…He saved us from our enemies… He gives food to every living thing.”
With each remembrance, the audience joins together, saying, “His steadfast love endures forever.” The participants in worship are called to remember all that God has done; they are explicitly called to give thanks 12 times in this Psalm. Giving thanks is the response to remembering all that God has done.
Facing many challenges, big and small, here in Tanzania, where I serve with my husband in the health care field, it is good for us also to remember and give thanks.
“We came here from Minnesota 8 years ago with 3 children. His steadfast love endures forever. The neonatal death rate was 25% in the unit. It is now 7%. His steadfast love endures forever. Our youngest daughter was evacuated to South Africa and later to Pittsburg for life-saving operations, and she is well. His steadfast love endures forever.”
Perhaps today, you could write your song, your own story. What has God done for you? Give thanks! For he is good, and his steadfast love endures forever.
Jodi Swanson
Medical Missionary in Tanzania
https://vimeo.com/drswanson