READ Psalm 136:17–26. 17 who struck down great kings, His love endures forever. 18 and killed mighty kings— His love endures forever. 19 Sihon king of the Amorites His love endures forever. 20 and Og king of Bashan— His love endures forever. 21 and gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever. 22 an inheritance to his servant Israel. His love endures forever. 23 He remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever. 24 and freed us from our enemies. His love endures forever. 25 He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever. 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
OUR LOW ESTATE. God’s love was so great he came into our low estate (verse 23) in Jesus Christ. Meditate on this love in a poet’s imagining of Jesus speaking from the cross:
O all ye who pass by, behold and see; Man stole the fruit, but I must climb the tree;
The tree of life to all, but only me: Was ever grief like mine?
“Now heal thy self, Physician; now come down.” Alas! I did so, when I left my crown
And father’s smile for you, to feel his frown: Was ever grief like mine?
In healing not my self, there doth consist all that salvation, which ye now resist;
Your safety in my sickness doth subsist: Was ever grief like mine?139
Prayer: Lord, your love endures but I wax hot and cold, usually cold. O Holy Spirit, do to me what this psalm is trying to do to me. Relentlessly instill the truth of your love down into my heart until it kindles my love—the love I owe and want to feel. Amen.