God's Steadfast Love in the Present (Part 7 of the Psalm 136 Series)

It is he who remembered us in our low estate,

    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.

Psalm 136:23-26 ESV

We've seen in the previous posts that the Supreme and Good Lord has manifested his faithful love in the creation, in the Exodus, in the wilderness, and in the victory over powerful kings. The remaining verses of the Psalm speaks of God's loyal love in the present-- that is in the time the psalm was written. But we could also take it as applying to our time since YHWH's love, along with his perfect moral attributes are unchanging. God's steadfast love (hesed) always applies in the present, for the God revealed in the scriptures is immutable (Malachi 3:6).

God's love for the lowly
How is God's love shown in the present? By remembering his people who are in low estate. When God remembers certain groups or individuals, it means he is out to show favor (Psalm 115:12). When Rachel's womb was opened, it was said that God remembered her (Gen. 30:22). God does this way of remembering usually to those who are in low estate. So when Mary learned that she was chosen to bear the Messiah in her womb, she sang:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.”

Luke 1:46-48

God's love crushes the opposition
The line about YHWH's rescue of Israel from their foes (verse 24) has an element of reminiscence of their emergence from being slaves to conquerors but it also looks forward  to a future hope. This future hope was expressed by the Spirit-filled Zechariah when John the Baptist, the forerunner to the Messiah, was born. Zechariah said:

"that we should be saved from our enemies

    and from the hand of all who hate us;

to show the mercy promised to our fathers

    and to remember his holy covenant,

the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies"

Luke 1:71-74

The chief foe of course is the Devil. He is the “ancient foe” referred to in Martin Luther's hymn Einfeste Burg ist unser Gott (A Mighty Fortress is Our God). Left on our own, we cannot win against such a cruel, crafty, and powerful enemy. But thanks be to God! By Jesus' work on the cross, all hostile forces had been disarmed (Colossians 2:15). At the consummation of all things, our Mighty God shall put an end to all of Satan's destructive activities (Revelation 20:10).

God's love sustains life
The 25th verse of the psalm talks about God's constant care for the creation; he “gives food to all flesh”. A Judeo-Christian worldview acknowledges the presence of God in the food chain. The ultimate producer behind the green plants who are called “producers” in the food chain is the Judeo-Christian God:

He covers the heavens with clouds;

    he prepares rain for the earth;

    he makes grass grow on the hills.

He gives to the beasts their food,

    and to the young ravens that cry.

Psalm 147:8-9

This should also remind us that God's steadfast love  is not only shown through the spectacular but also in the ordinary day to day outworking of his sustaining grace and care. Psalm 115:4-5 mentions his wondrous works (the spectacular) alongside with his provision of food (the ordinary) to those who fear him.

Give thanks
The psalm ends with the same exhortation given at the beginning. In view of God's steadfast love validated in sundry ways, the redeemed are told to give thanks to the God up above.

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