Steve Webb 0:01 It's a beautiful word. Steve Webb 0:03 Hey, how are you? This is the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. My name is Steve Webb and I am your OG Godcaster. It's Psalms Wednesday, and our reading today will be chapters 134 through 136. and we have a prayer request today. The website is Lifespringmedia.com. and I'll have contact information at the end of today's show. Before we read, let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we love you and we thank you so very much for your word. We pray that as we read today, you would bless us we pray this in Jesus name, amen. Okay, are you ready? Let's begin. Steve Webb 0:44 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 15 songs of assent. Charles Spurgeon, his 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. Steve Webb 1:13 Psalms chapter 134. Come Bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who stand by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion who made heaven and earth. Steve Webb 1:31 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. Steve Webb 1:52 Psalms chapter 135. Praise the Lord, praise the name of the Lord, give praises servants of the Lord who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good. Sing to his name, for it is pleasant, for the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as His own possession. For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps, 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 store houses. He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of Beast, who, in your midst of Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants, who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, Sian king of the Amorites, and dog, King of bation, and all the kingdoms of Canaan and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people, Israel. Your name oh lord endures forever. You are renowned, oh Lord throughout all ages, for the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands, they have mouths but do not speak. They have eyes but do not see. They have ears but do not hear. Nor is there any breath in their mouth. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. Oh house of Israel, Bless the Lord, or house of Aaron Bless the Lord. O house of Levi, Bless the Lord, you who fear the Lord bless the Lord. Bless it be the Lord from Zion who dwells in Jerusalem, praise the Lord. Steve Webb 3:50 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. Steve Webb 4:04 Psalms chapter 136. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. To him alone, who does great wonders for his steadfast love endures forever to him who by understanding made the heavens for his steadfast love endures forever to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever. To him who made the great lights for his steadfast love endures forever. The sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever, the moon and stars to rule over the night for his steadfast love endures forever. To him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt for his steadfast love endures forever and brought Israel out. From among them, for his steadfast love endures forever, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm for his steadfast love endures forever to him who divided the Red Sea into For his steadfast love endures forever and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever, but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever to him who led his people through the wilderness for his steadfast love endures forever. To him who struck down great kings for his steadfast love endures forever, and killed mighty kings for his steadfast love endures forever. Sai Han king of the Amorites For his steadfast love endures forever and Og King ovation for his steadfast love endures forever and gave their land as a heritage for his steadfast love endures forever and to heritage to Israel His servant for his steadfast love endures forever. It is he who remembered us in our lowest state, for his steadfast love endures forever and rescued us from our foes For his steadfast love endures forever. He Who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever, give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. Steve Webb 6:20 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. and that's my favorite one. But however you say it, the phrase is repeated 26 times in this psalm 26 times, do you think God has a message for us? God's mercy is eternal, it will never cease. Forever is a long time beloved, the original Hebrew word used here is Cosette. It's a beautiful word. Listen to what Michael card said about it. Michael Card 7:09 One of the newest biblical imagination conferences we're doing is on the Hebrew word hesed, which is an untranslatable word translated 169 different ways in six different English translations so you can tell right away it's a special word and nobody knows ultimately knows what to do with. But it's fundamentally kindness, unexpected kindness, undeserved kindness, love, loyalty, translate in lots of other ways. But the word loving kindness was invented in 1535 by Myles Coverdale to translate this one word has said this untranslatable word. So the HESA conference is a special one for me, because you, you have a chance to see people's lights come on in ways and 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 all mightiness 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. Steve Webb 9:53 Oh, to think that this God of his said 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 one singles. Beloved, we have good news. Share it with boldness. You have thoughts or questions, let me hear from you. Send Boostagram or call the Lifespring family hotline or go to the comments page or write an email. Of course, I'll have the information on how to do all those things at the end of the show. Tomorrow will be poetry Thursday, and we'll read Ecclesiastes nine and 10. Steve Webb 10:46 Jørn Rune Reinertsen came in today with his monthly $20 donation making him today's associate producer. Thank you Jørn. God bless you, brother. and beloved you Yes, you. You can also participate in the value for value method of supporting the show with time, talent or treasure by making a donation to support the show that comes to you seven days a week rain or shine. What shows that? Well, it's this one. Yes, the show is free for you to listen to. But it certainly is not free for me to create. Do you look forward to listening each day? Then there must be some value in the show for you to pray about what the Lord would have you do then go to this website Jingle 11:26 Lifespringmedia.com/support Steve Webb 11:33 Well, Kathi and Del are still sick with COVID. Let's pray for them again. Our gracious heavenly Father, El Shaddai. God Almighty, we are so thankful for your headset which endures forever. How we praise you honor you and adore you. There is none like you and you are more than worthy of all of our praise. Hallelujah Lord, we lift up your name, we praise your name. and we pray now for Kathi and Del, there are so weakened by their poor health to begin with. So we pray that you would strengthen them and bring them healing. Thank you for the Lifespring family and I asked you to bless them. May they feel your presence today. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Sunday will be our next time of prayer. So be sure to reach out if you have something to share with the Lifespring family who rejoice with you and we'll pray for you. Steve Webb 12:29 Well, here's how to contact me call the Lifespring family Hotline at plus 1-951-732-8511 If you've got a prayer request or a praise go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com and if you have a comment or a question for me, go to comment.lifespringmedia.com and my email addresses steve@lifespringmedia.com You can set a Boostagram anytime you want. You never need an invitation for Boostagram. Steve Webb 13:02 Jason Paschall did today's show art Thank you Jason. and also thanks to Sister Denise and Michael Haner Scott Snider and sister Brittaney Thanks to yarn rune Wrightson for helping to make this episode possible. and thank you, beloved, for inviting me to join you today. Lord willing, I will be back with another episode tomorrow. Until then, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb by Steve Webb 13:30 Lifespring media bringing the message of hope, love and good news since 2004 Transcribed by https://otter.ai