Endure: 1. to suffer patiently 2. remain in existence; last
Dozens of times in these psalms the writer declares, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” I’ve always thought of these phrases as simply saying how much God loves us. But consider the word, “ENDURE.” It means so much more. It means to remain or always be there, but it also can mean – to suffer patiently. It’s obvious that the writer is describing the unending love of the Lord, but what about the other meaning? As I read these psalms of praise to the Lord I’m struck by the thought, the weight, and the seriousness of my sin…of our sin. God is perfect. I am not. He is the opposite of sin. In fact, it’s sin that separates us from Him. He is HOLY. Imagine what it must be like for a holy God to love his creation despite their sin… it must be an ENDURING kind of love. A love that suffers patiently, yet remains steady and lasts forever. It’s that kind of love that endured the cross. This morning I echo the words that were written thousands of years ago…”Give thanks to the Lord, for he is GOOD!”