November 26, 2024

Psalms 136:1  says, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Psalms 136  opens with this verse, and ends with it… in between are the reasons why we should be giving thanks for Yahweh’s good mercy. In fact in each of the 26 verses of Psalms 136,  it is said, “For His mercy endures forever.”

Today, as I write these words, it is November 26, 2024;  Yahweh willing, Thanksgiving day, I will be 82 on the 28th.  It has been a life filled with the good and enduring mercy of Yahweh. I often wonder why I have had such a blessed life and why so many have had so many difficult and troubled times. That is not to say that I have not had ups and downs in my life, but in the words of David,

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” ps 34:19 nkjv.

As a message for all of us this Thanksgiving, I wish to use Psalms 119:1-8 nkjv,   as the focus of this moment so that the connection can be made to right fellowship with Yahweh, and Him always remembering our “frames of dust,” [ps 103:14 nkjv].

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!
3 They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.
4 You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently.
5 Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments.
7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!”

I purposely underlined the “bold” font words… You can see the Biblical meaning for them at this link.

To me the Bible is a “mirror,” which when we look into it, gives us a true picture of our real person. As I consider the verses above, and know that they are the key to right fellowship with Yahweh, I know I come up short when measuring myself in the Biblical mirror. Then it gives me cause to repent and seek the cleansing of the WORD of Yahweh… and once again remember that He sees my “frame of dust,” and extends His enduring mercy and forgiveness to me. Yeshua [Jesus] is the “cleaner” of my failed condition; His life, given for me at the Cross, is the most important thing in human history. Then I consider this mysterious cause and effect that Yahweh decided to implement before “the foundation of the world,” when the ordained Lamb of God was slain… it raises this question:

Who am I that a king would bleed and die for… I think the only answer is Yahweh’s great love for us, all of us; and He is not a respecter of persons and but “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 pet 3:9 nkjv

This Thanksgiving, and always, let us remember the most important reason to give thanks… For our Savior Yeshua and His life given for ours… Listen to this song, and think about it.

Shalom, John