O, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His steadfast love endures forever! ” While this verse has been translated variously, there is no substantial difference from translation to translation. However, a more literal rendering of the Hebrew might read something like this: "O, throw praise/gratitude toward YHWY (or Jehovah), for he is good/pleasant because His goodness/kindness/faithfulness [endures] continually (or perpetually)."
What the psalmist wishes us to understand is that God's goodness-often equated with grace, in Christianity-has no limitations. It has no ending. As a consequence, we owe Him our never-ending thanks. As the Hebrew suggests, we should shower God with gratitude; we should "throw praise" upon Him unceasingly, much as he showers us with blessings unceasingly-because of His "goodness."
God is a perpetual giver. It is His nature to give unceasingly. Sadly, so few of us realize how very blessed we are every day of our lives. We have no limit of blessings, but we also tend to be unaware of how good we have it. A sure sign that we are grateful, one of the greatest proofs that we are aware of God's goodness toward us, is how often we speak to others of God's blessings in our lives, how often we openly praise Him for His undeserved kindness toward us, and how often we think about how very fortunate we are. One of the greatest affronts to God we can commit is to not acknowledge His goodness to us in all things! This is the testimony of the psalmist!
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
