Oh, give thanks to the Lord for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:1

How amazingly God chooses to speak to us! Often a single word or phrase in the Bible is repeated in different contexts, drawing attention to itself. I call it “the Holy Ghost highlighter.” Recently, such was the word endure or endurance. It is the Greek hupomeno which means to “abide, remain or await under another, not with resignation but with strength and hope.”

I have had to wrestle with Psalm 136 which praises God’s enduring mercy while at the same time describing God’s destruction of Israel’s enemies. The psalmist calls Israel to remember God’s goodness 26 specific times in its historical relationship with God, each time acknowledging that “His mercy endures forever.” Some texts change mercy to “ love, goodness, loving kindness, faithful love and steadfastness.” It raised for me the question non believers ask. How can God be loving and merciful while also showing His wrath and judgment? Thankfully, I learned that the translation, “mercy” is far from complete. The original Hebrew word for our English mercy is chesed which describes God’s covenant relationship with Israel for mercy, protection and provision. It describes the covenant nature and character of God which is far greater, more inclusive and inexplicable in mercy, love, faithfulness, gracious kindness and steadfastness than the translations express. God’s divine chesed is not constrained in any way, but endures (abides) everlastingly and eternally. The Aramaic Bible version says it so well.

“Give thanks to Lord Jehova because he is good and his mercies are to eternity.”

To better understand how God’s chesed endures, consider the layered meanings of endure. The first is “to last indefinitely, to go on existing.” For example, we can say Christian civilization has endured (or lasted) for 2,000 years. In that sense God’s mercy endures forever because God is not constrained by human time. He is the same yesterday today and tomorrow and He does not change. Therefore, His chesed as well as every other divine attribute has and will endure to the end and beyond our world. In this sense, God’s mercy to Israel – and ultimately to us – will never cease, if we remain in His covenant. The promise of enduring chesed is received only through agreement with God’s terms – which are obedience and love.

One meaning speaks directly about God’s merciful endurance. It is to tolerate. Do we not all know people we endure and tolerate for one reason or another? Perhaps a plainly weird relative whom we have to put up with? A loved one with contrary world views. A ministry co-laborer who drives us crazy, but since he’s a brother and she’s a sister, we patiently endure because of love?

God repeatedly showed this kind of endurance to Israel. Each time they rebelled, went after idols or succumbed to the pagan cultures they lived in, “His mercy endured (them) forever.” God never gave up on His chosen people. The essence of the psalm is to remind Israel of God’s goodness in the past and His mercy which does not run out on His children. He eternally endures us exactly because we can never fully endure (bear) the weight of His Holiness.

Another meaning of endure is associated with pain, suffering and trials. The original Greek root word was to bear up under a weight and be strengthened and thus, implies patience, forebearance and not giving up under pressure. It’s more than mere coping. If we know someone who suffers from cancer that kind of endurance is often what we remember most. Jesus taught his disciples that they must endure all manner of trials and persecutions. Likewise, we are not to give up under pressure and in fact are perfected by endurance.

But the person who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew: 23:13
… And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:4

In this age of prophesied persecutions, trials and even physical suffering, we’re being called to a higher standard of both mercy and endurance which is possible only through Jesus. It is under His new covenant that we must faithfully abide. It is through the Cross alone that we receive the Father’s chesed. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are

… strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Colossians 1:11

… Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12

What then is the Psalm we sing to Christ who restored us to the Father’s mercy and who endured all for our eternal salvation? Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His mercy endures forever!