Christmas – God’s Love for Mankind, Psalm 136:21-23

Christ did not come to earth to serve Himself. He came as an offering for sin for God’s children who are completely undeserving of His sacrifice.

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Leading up to verses​​ 21-23 of Psalm 136, we read of​​ God’s power and protection of His chosen people, Israel. ​​ No king was able to thwart God’s plan. ​​ God’s judgement upon those who are against His​​ children is severe and complete.

The repeated phrase in Psalm 136 is “God’s lovingkindness is everlasting”. ​​​​ Let’s review what this means. ​​ His lovingkindness is his mercy and favor towards​​ His children. ​​ Consider Israel’s rebellion against God. ​​ Certainly, they suffered from the consequence of​​ their own sin. Their defiance of God brought difficult circumstances upon them, yet God did not throw up His hands and disown​​ or​​ even​​ neglect them. ​​ He allowed their discipline, yet carried them through, never abandoning them completely.

 What do these truths mean for you? ​​ If you are a child of God – meaning you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord, choosing obedience to Him,​​ and you recognize your need of Jesus as your Savior who died for your sins – then you have God’s protection. ​​ His mercy and favor is showered upon you. ​​ Even when you are unfaithful He will remain faithful in His love for you.

 God’s love and mercy is opposite to the love we often display. ​​ We only go so far, we become discouraged and give up on people, and we​​ tend to​​ display acts of love​​ only​​ when it is earned. ​​ Our love is​​ often​​ conditional,​​ and​​ dependent upon our feelings. ​​ God’s love is perfect, consistent and independent of our actions. ​​ How do you respond to these truths?​​ Is your heart full of thankfulness for God’s unconditional love? ​​ Are you reminded to show this same love towards others? ​​​​ In other words, when God is so willing to shower His love upon you even though you are undeserving, who are you to withhold love from another?

Not only is God’s love perfect, it is forever. ​​ There is no limit, no end,​​ and​​ no point in which He will completely withdraw His love from His children. ​​ Consider this, when you discipline young children​​ does this mean you no longer love them? ​​ Of course not! ​​ It is loving to teach them right from wrong and help them avoid negative consequences.​​ This is​​ only​​ a fraction of the picture of God’s love for​​ you. ​​​​ Perfect, abiding love is incomprehensible, yet because of God’s mercy, we have it.

Psalm 136:21​​ speaks of​​ God’s intended blessing for the nation of Israel, despite their disobedience. ​​ Psalm 136:21​​ says,​​ “And gave their land as a heritage, for His lovingkindness is everlasting”.​​ ​​ This verse follows the account of God’s power​​ in​​ slewing the mighty kings who tried to thwart His plan. ​​ God not only​​ annihilated​​ these kings but also blessed Israel with the spoils. ​​ Why? ​​ Because His lovingkindness is everlasting!

 Read what​​ Spurgeon​​ says in the​​ Treasury of David, “As Lord of the whole earth He transferred His estate from one tenant to another. ​​ The land did not become the property of the Israelites by their own sword and bow, but by a grant from the throne”.

 What inheritance do you have as God’s child? ​​​​ If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and have placed​​ your complete trust in Jesus​​ death and resurrection for the full payment for your sin, then your name is written in God’s will. ​​ It cannot be changed.​​ It cannot be erased or questioned or modified.​​ ​​ What comes with your inheritance is God’s protection, strength and care for your life on earth. ​​ This doesn’t mean there will be no difficulties, in fact we should expect​​ difficult​​ circumstances because​​ people are​​ sinful, but​​ it does mean that you can trust God in all things. ​​ There is no fear of man or things being out of the control of God. ​​ He’s got you​​ covered!

Psalm 136:22​​ goes on to say,​​ “Even a heritage to Israel His servant, for His lovingkindness is everlasting”. ​​​​ Each blessing God chooses to bestow upon His children, magnifies His grace to them. ​​ Having our heritage in Christ is repeated in this verse so we should pay particular attention to this truth.​​ Our heritage is guaranteed.

Israel as a nation is referred to as God's servant​​ in this verse. ​​ Do you serve Christ? ​​ Have you recognized His grace? Do you​​ willingly place​​ yourself at His feet? ​​ What does it mean to serve? ​​ We all serve someone or something. ​​ Often it is ourselves we place on the throne of service – our wants, our needs, our likes, our dislikes, whatever makes us happy and gives us the feeling of fulfillment. ​​ Be willing to ask yourself who you serve. ​​ What is your purpose in life?

 Christ did not come to earth to serve Himself. ​​ He came as an offering for sin for God’s children who are completely undeserving of His sacrifice. ​​ Christ​​ came to serve God​​ as the only way for us to be redeemed. ​​ There is no self in what Christ did. ​​ Philippians 2:5-8​​ reads,​​ “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men. ​​ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”.

God’s lovingkindness assures His children of their inheritance in the kingdom of heaven – even though we are totally undeserving! ​​ This is what​​ Psalm 136:23​​ says,​​ “Who remembered us in our low estate”. ​​​​ Wow! ​​ 

Remember who we are talking about. ​​ 

  • The Lord Jehovah, the self-Existent, Eternal name of God (v.1). ​​ 

  • The God of gods, Elohiym, the supreme God, mighty in all His ways (v.2).

  • The Lord of lords, Adoni, Sovereign over all, the One in control, Master and Owner (v.3).

This is who remembers us! ​​ In our human thinking, we can desire to be known by a certain group or person. ​​ To be part of the life of someone we admire is encouraging. ​​ There are all kinds of groups centered on belonging. ​​ ​​ We feel good when we are part of something bigger.

As God’s child, we are known by Him, we have been adopted into His family, and we belong in His eternal kingdom. ​​ Along with these truths, we are cared for by Him, strengthened by Him, made wise by Him, protected by Him, disciplined for our good by Him, encouraged by Him and unconditionally loved by Him. ​​ And His word says He remembers us – even in our low estate, even though we are undeserving and cannot begin to earn a place in His presence, God reaches down and secures for us a place with Him. ​​ Why?

 Because His​​ lovingkindness is everlasting, God’s​​ mercy to us will endure forever – even​​ though we are undeserving. ​​ Think of the account of Noah and punishment upon the whole earth. ​​ After a time, God caused the water of the great flood to subside. ​​ Genesis​​ 8:1​​ says,​​ “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided”.

We might think we are not good enough to have a place in God’s presence. ​​ We are absolutely correct in that thought. ​​ Yet, we must remember that God did not send His Son for perfect people (there are none). Jesus came to save the lowly, the imperfect, sinners; all humankind are in need of a Savior.​​ Without Christ, no one is ever good enough. ​​ No amount of good works will ever get a soul to heaven. ​​ We simply are unable to earn our own way. ​​​​ Identifying with a certain faith does not save you. ​​ Baptism will not save you. ​​ Going to church every Sunday will not save you. ​​ No amount of anything you do is able to save you. ​​ Complete dependence on the blood of Jesus shed for your sins is the only ticket to eternal life.

 

Psalm 113:7​​ says,​​ “He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap”.​​ 1Samuel 2:8​​ uses similar words,​​ "He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and He set the world on them.

What does this mean practically for God’s children? ​​ How does this truth apply to your life? ​​ God is always here to help us just as He delivered Israel from captivity in Babylon. ​​ If God can deliver an entire nation, do you think He is able to help you?​​ ​​ How big is the God you trust? ​​ News alert – He does not need your intervention to accomplish His will.

I recently had a conversation with someone who is justifiably concerned with​​ the subject of what is being taught and allowed in our public school system. ​​ It is difficult to hear that your young child is being directed to explore ideas that are worldly and sinful and directly against the commands of God. ​​ So, what do we do about this real problem? ​​ Not everyone is able to put their children in Christian schools, and not everyone is able to choose homeschool as an option. ​​ Will God protect His children from the wiles of Satan? ​​ Absolutely! ​​ Are the lies of mankind greater than the power of God? ​​ No way! ​​ But we do have a responsibility to be diligent to present God’s Truth from His word wherever and whenever we are able, especially in our homes and with our families.​​ 

 ​​ God’s lovingkindness is everlasting. ​​ His plan will prevail, He will continue to bless His children and protect them even though they are undeserving.

Author: Sharyn Balogh

You know it's difficult to write about yourself. The most important fact I can disclose is that I'm saved by God's grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My desire is to live a life honoring to God in response for the gift of salvation I've been given. This is so much easier said than done! I struggle daily with right choices, right words, right thoughts, and right actions. My best and only defense against sin is the power of God in me and for that I am inexpressibly thankful. I have three amazing grown-up children who have responded to God's call in their lives along with their spouses. One of the great joys of my life is knowing my children and their families strive to serve and follow God. My grandchildren are another wonderful joy in my life! My husband and I are blessed with four beautiful grandchildren to date with another expected very soon on September 12th. We also are thankful for the comforting knowledge that an additional three of our grandchildren, a set of twins at three months gestation and a little boy, Isaac, at four and a half months gestation, are in our Savior's presence. I have attended the same church since the day my eyes were opened to Truth over thirty years ago. How fortunate it is to have been led by God’s hand immediately to a church body that follows the Bible, no man-made doctrines, just the Word clear and strong. My husband is my best friend, my confidant, my encourager, and I still can't believe how blessed I am by his example of love and generosity towards everyone around him. He is God-fearing, compassionate, and kind and I have learned so much from him. I am a daughter to my almost 92 year-old mother, sister to three brothers, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, neighbor and friend. That means, whomever is reading this, we probably have something in common! I love every unique role I have been placed in. I'm frequently stretched and sometimes feel like silly putty that wants to bounce right back into my comfort zone. My greatest ambition is to be a follower of Jesus; a light that shines for Him at all times, in all circumstances. So, there it is, a bit about me. I guess I was able to write about myself after all! However, my existence cannot be defined without Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior. His love has permeated my life to His glory and my eternal thankfulness.