STEVE WEBB - 0:00 It's a beautiful word. INTRO S12E322 - 0:09 Is it that time again? Well, then, let's go! Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I'm your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we're reading through the entire Bible in a year. What's new? Thanks for being here. Today is Psalms Wednesday, and we'll read chapters 134 through 136. I think you're gonna like this episode. I'll have a brief introduction to each book before we begin reading, and of course, I have some comments. But I'm calling today's episode “Forever is a Long Time”. Today's episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e322. My email address is steve@lifespringmedia.com. Let's begin. INTRO TO PSALM 134 - 0:50 Psalm 134 is very short. As a matter of fact, this introduction will probably take longer than reading the psalm itself. It's the last in the series of fifteen Songs of Ascent. Charles Spurgeon’s interpretation of the song is that it's early morning still dark, and the pilgrims who have journeyed to the temple to observe one of the festivals are now beginning their trek back home. They call to the temple priests and the Levites as they leave, and then they're answered by the priests and the Levites, who call back to them with blessings. PSALM 134 (ESV) - 1:19 Psalms, chapter 134. (1) Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! (2) Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord! (3) May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth! INTRO TO PSALM 135 - 1:38 Psalm 135 has no title nor is there an author credited. In nearly every verse in Psalm 135 either quotes either the words or idea of another Old Testament verse or passage. Included are parts of four different Psalms, two passages each from Deuteronomy, Jeremiah and Exodus. PSALM 135 (ESV) - 1:58 Psalms chapter 135. (1) Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord, (2) who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God! (3) Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant! (4) For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession. (5) For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. (6) Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. (7) He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. (8) He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; (9) who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; (10) who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, (11) Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, (12) and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel. (13) Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. (14) For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. (15) The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. (16) They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; (17) they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. (18) Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. (19) O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! (20) O house of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! (21) Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord! INTRO TO PSALM 136 - 3:56 You might remember that I've said many more times than once, when the Bible repeats something, it's usually because God wants us to remember it or words to that effect. See if you can pick up the important thought in this psalm. PSALM 136 (ESV) - 4:10 Psalms, chapter 136. (1) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (2) Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. (3) Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; (4) to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; (5) to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; (6) to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; (7) to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; (8) the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; (9) the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever; (10) to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; (11) and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; (12) with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; (13) to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; (14) and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; (15) but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; (16) to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; (17) to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; (18) and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; (19) Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; (20) and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; (21) and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; (22) a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever. (23) It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; (24) and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; (25) he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. (26) Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. COMMENTS - 6:26 I have no doubt that it didn't take long for you to figure out that the important thought in Psalm 136 is “His steadfast love endures forever”. And that's how it reads in the ESV or the English Standard Version. Here's how the New American Standard says it: “His loving-kindness is everlasting”. And the NIV says, “His love endures forever”. Many other translations say, “His mercy endures forever”. That's my favorite one. But however you say it, the phrase is repeated 26 times in this psalm. Twenty-six times. Do you think God has a message for us? God's mercy is eternal. It will never cease. Forever is a longtime, Beloved. The original Hebrew word used here is “hesed”. It's a beautiful word. Listen to what Michael Card said about it. MICHAEL CARD - 7:15 One of the newest Biblical Imagination Conferences we're doing is on the Hebrew word “hesed”, which is an untranslatable word. It’s translated 169 different ways in six different English translations. So you can tell right away it's a special word that nobody knows - ultimately knows what to do with. But it's fundamentally “kindness”, “unexpected kindness”, “undeserved kindness”, “love”, “loyalty”, translated lots of other ways. But the word “loving-kindness” was invented in 1535 by Myles Coverdale to translate this one word, “hesed”, this untranslatable word. So the “Hesed” conference is a special one for me, because you have a chance to see people's lights come on, in ways that I think the other conferences don't, don't do. And that is it strikes people on a personal level. Because when you start talking about this unique revelation of God - because it's the word that God uses to define himself to Moses in Exodus 34 - God says, I am full of “hesed”, and I show “hesed” to 1000 generations. And when you see people, you see the lights come on, and they realize that the fundamental characteristic of God… I say it this way: you expect almightiness from God, you expect that he knows everything, you expect that… you expect these kinds of big things from the God of the universe, right, the God who speaks the universe into existence. But to me, one thing you don't expect, I don't think Moses expected or Abraham or any of the Old Testament characters expected - nobody saw this coming - that God was kind. And people begin to connect with that. And, and, and to see how wonderfully Jesus - who is the Son of God, who is the very image of God - Jesus incarnates this kindness. And something resonates, I think, in your own heart, because I think a lot of us are hungry, to experience kindness. And we're hungry to express - to show God's kindness. And so what happens at this “hesed” kindness conference is that people get in touch with this simple fact that God is kind. And that Jesus has come to reveal that kindness to us, this unexpected kindness. Though, though, I have no right to expect anything from him, God shows me his kindness. And that's something that really gets people excited about delving into the Bible and trying to live it out. COMMENTS (CONT’D) - 9:59 Oh, to think that this God of “hesed” would take notice of you and me. How sad it is that some people reject this kind of love. I can't help but believe that they just don't know. Oh, Beloved, that we would be the kind of people who would be motivated to tell them. And by the way, the guy you just heard from, Michael Card, among other things, he's a singer and songwriter with 19 number 1 singles. At the end of the show. I'll share one of his most beautiful songs, which was an early hit for Amy Grant. What are your thoughts? Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e322. And let me know. Tomorrow's Thursday, Poetry Thursday. We'll read Ecclesiastes 9 and 10. Boost. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SHOUT-OUT - 10:52 Today's executive producer is John and he came in with his monthly $50 donation. John, thank you so very much. God bless you, my brother. ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY - 11:13 On this date in church history, July 20, 1922, Belle Harris Bennett passed away. She was a missions leader and social reformer of the American Southern Methodist Church. And in 1892, she helped to found the Scarritt College for Christian Workers which closed in 1988. The campus is in Nashville and it is now the Scarritt Bennett Center. CLOSING PRAYER - 11:43 Let's pray. Our heavenly Father, El-Shaddai, God Almighty, we are so thankful for your “hesed” which endures forever. How we praise you. How we honor you and adore you. There is none like you and you're more than worthy of all of our praise. Hallelujah, we praise You. We pray this in Jesus name, amen. If you have a prayer request or a praise that you'd like to share with the Lifespring family, please do go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com. OUTRO S12E322 - 12:17 Comment on the show and lifespringmedia.com/s12e322. Send me an email at steve@lifespringmedia.com thanks to the team: Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise. And thanks to John for helping to bring the show to you today. And, by the way, that boostagram I talked about yesterday from Sean of San Pedro, the boostagram that was 4,321? Yesterday's episode was 3-2-1. So when he said it, he said 4, as in “for”, for 321. So he send that boostagram in the amount of 4-3-2-1. I can't believe I didn't get that. Probably some of you did. And you're thinking Steve, how could you not see that? He sent me an email to explain. Oh man, sometimes I'm so dense. Anyway, if you're glad the show is here. If you are getting something out of it, please give something back. Go to lifespringmedia.com/support. Coming up is a song written by Michael Card. The name of the song is “El-Shaddai” which means “God Almighty”. The Bible has many names for God and this is one of them. Sidenote: One of the podcasts that I created back in the early days was called “Lifespring’s In Touch With God's Character”. Each name of God reveals an aspect of who he is. And each episode of In Touch With God's Character highlighted one of the names. You might want to check it out at lifespringmedia.com. Each episode is only about three minutes long. Now the song “El-Shaddai” was recorded by Amy Grant back in 1982. And at the 1983 GMA Dove Awards, which is a bit like the Christian Grammys, Amy's recording won Song of the Year and Michael Card won Songwriter of the Year. In 2001, “El-Shaddai” was named one of the Songs of the Century by the RIAA. And I hope you like it. Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Bye. MICHAEL CARD SINGS “EL-SHADDAI” - 14:09 El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai [God Almighty, God Almighty] El-Elyon na Adonai [God in the highest, Oh, Lord] Age to age, You're still the same By the power of the name El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai Erkamka na Adonai [We will love You, Oh, Lord] We will praise and lift You high El-Shaddai Through Your love And through the ram You saved the son Of Abraham And by the power Of Your hand Turned the sea Into dry land To the outcast On her knees You were the God Who really sees And by Your might You set Your children free El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai El-Elyon na Adonai Age to age, You're still the same By the power of the name El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai Erkamka na Adonai We will praise and lift You high El-Shaddai Through the years You made it clear That the time of Christ Was near Though the people Failed to see What Messiah ought to be Though Your Word Contained the plan They just could not understand Your most awesome work was done Through the frailty of Your son El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai El-Elyon na Adonai Age to age, You're still the same By the power of the name El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai Erkamka na Adonai We will praise and lift You high El-Shaddai El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai El-Elyon na Adonai Age to age, You're still the same By the power of the name El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai Erkamka na Adonai We will praise and lift You high El-Shaddai We will praise and lift You high El-Shaddai Transcribed by https://otter.ai