STEADFAST LOVE

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1 (ESV)

O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good,
for his mercy endureth forever.
Psalm 136:1 (KJV)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 136:1 (NASB)

Praise ye the Lord, because He is good:
for his mercy endureth forever.
Psalm 136:1 (1599 Geneva Bible)

It was a big day in my life. I was a proud first grader. On that day though, I felt ten feet tall because my mother told me I could go to a wedding with her the next Saturday. For some reason, up to that point, I wasn't allowed to go to weddings. I went to friends in the neighborhood proudly proclaiming I was going to a wedding. They all had been to weddings. One very grown up third grade girl said I hadn't been allowed to go probably because the bride and groom kiss each other at the end of the wedding. She thought maybe my mother didn't want me to see that. I was shocked that two people would kiss each other in public but was warned by those girls that it would happen at the wedding. After that encounter, I wasn't even sure I wanted to go but did. Yep, they did it. I covered my eyes but peeked through my fingers to observe the event. To my knowledge, I hadn't seen grownups do that, not even my mom and dad. I thought that would be done in private and not in front of others.

Since that time, I've been to hundreds of weddings, even conducting some wedding rehearsals. I came to learn after a bit of time that the most important part of a wedding wasn't a man and woman kissing each other. That was must meant to seal the important vows a couple would make to each others. The vows may change somewhat through the years and depend on the person officiating the service. For the most part, unless a couple writes their own vows, they say the same thing:

“I take you to be my husband/wife,
To have and to hold from this day forward,
For better or worse
For richer or poorer
In sickness and in health
To love and to cherish
(and obey, for the bride)
Until death do we part.”

Rings are then exchanged with the promise: “With this ring I thee wed in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

I don't think there is another day like it in the life of a young man and woman. It's a feeling we wish could be captured for eternity but that wouldn't be very realistic. The strength of promises are meant to last along with a loyalty and firmness of a family foundation.

In preparing for a ladies Bible study, I came across Psalm 136 in my ESV translation and was struck by that term “steadfast love.” Further research told me that “steadfast love” is found in this translation 127 times so that got my attention. I know the term steadfast means “unwavering, constant and firm.” In our society today, steadfast love doesn't seem realistic. Over half of the couples in our country who took those vows before God, family and friends have divorces. Many are on their second, third and even more marriages. Even engaged couples who have come to a parting of ways are often disillusioned by broken hearts. Love had seemed sure but no longer was.

In this fallen world of ours, love isn't going to be what God has intended it to be. Even with two people deeply in love after 50 years of marriage, have had to weather discouraging times with each other. The love between best friends can at times seem faulty and even fail.

Isn't it wonderful to know there is a place and person where pure and perfect love is found. It is unconditional, unfailing and ever constant. In fact, the love God has for us is everlasting and even eternal. Look at those wedding vows again and hear God speak through them to us. How can any human being resist that kind of love and watch care God provides for us. He is our constant in the ups and downs of life, times of illness, when debts come knocking at our door and even in death, we never part from Him. Scripture tells us that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

When we accept that love by accepting Jesus as Savior, our first step of obedience is baptism. In a sense that becomes my wedding ring, saying to the world that I am His and He is mine.

Love in this world may fail us. We will fail at times in our love for others and others for us. Try as we may, the love in this world will be faulty, but God's love will ever be steadfast, a love where we can find rest and security forever.

Thank You Jesus, for loving like no other ever could or would. You gave Your life for me and in that sacrifice You have given me so many blessed promises. You've kept every one while I have so often failed you. Please forgive the inconsistencies in my spiritual walk. In Your precious name...Amen.