“When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests were not able to enter the Lord’s temple because the glory of the Lord filled the temple of the Lord. All the Israelites were watching when the fire descended and the glory of the Lord came on the temple. They bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground. They worshiped and praised the Lord: For he is good, for his faithful love endures forever. The king and all the people were offering sacrifices in the Lord’s presence. King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep and goats. In this manner the king and all the people dedicated God’s temple. The priests and the Levites were standing at their stations. The Levites had the musical instruments of the Lord, which King David had made to give thanks to the Lord—“for his faithful love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 7:1–6). At the dedication of Solomon’s temple, the nation worshipped, singing, the Lord, God Almighty, Jehovah “is good, for his faithful love endures forever.”
The thanksgiving refrain was a favorite. “Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 106:1).
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim that he has redeemed them from the power of the foe and has gathered them from the lands—from the east and the west, from the north and the south” (Psalm 107:1–3).
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever. Let Israel say, ‘His faithful love endures forever.’ Let the house of Aaron say, ‘His faithful love endures forever.’ Let those who fear the Lord say, ‘His faithful love endures forever’ ... You are my God, and I will give you thanks. You are my God; I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 118:1–4; 28-29).
“Give thanks to the Lord of Armies, for the Lord is good; his faithful love endures forever” (Jeremiah 33:11).
Psalm One-Thirty-Six repeats the phrase twenty-six times: “His faithful love endures forever.”
In the Elizabethan English of King James, we read, “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 136:1, KJV). “His mercy!”
The English Standard Version interprets it as: “His steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1, ESV). The New International Version translates it: “His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1, NIV). The New American Standard reads: “His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalm 136:1, NASB). And the Christian Standard Bible reads, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).
A literal translation of the Hebrew might read “His mercy forever.” The Hebrew language implies the fact that His mercy endures. Each of the English translators inserted the word “endures” for clarity.
His love doesn’t just endure until we sin again, until we falter, fail, and fall. We can be certain of His unfailing love, even when we’re alone and it’s dark and difficult. His faithful love endures into eternity!
Let’s be thankful!
All Scripture quotations, except as otherwise noted, are from
Holman Bible Publishers’ Christian Standard Bible.
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