Forever by Chris Tomlin, 2001.

Verse 1:

Give thanks to the Lord our God and King
His love endures forever.
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever.
Sing praise, sing praise.

Observe: Transcendence means “above or outside of,” and our God is good and above all things. In our present circumstances, we see the goodness of God in a variety of ways. One person faced with a housing crisis had to move in with a friend. When the shelter in place order came, that friend needed full-time help. A housing crisis, a health crisis, worked for good by the God who is above all things. There are too many examples to cite here, and I’m sure you’ve seen others, which is why we give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love because he is good, he is above all things.

Verse 2:

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever.
For the life that’s been reborn
His love endures forever.
Sing praise, sing praise. Sing praise, sing praise.

Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us, Forever.

Forever is based on Psalm 136, traditionally known as the “Great Hallel,” meaning “great psalm of praise.” The words “give thanks” are repeated or implied in each of the twenty-six verses. We sing praises to his “mighty hand and outstretched arm” that has delivered his people in every crisis, from Eden to this very day.

From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever.
And by the grace of God we will carry on
His 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;” (Psalm 136:7–9, ESV).

Steadfast love is the Hebrew word “chesed” (חֶסֶד, – kheh·sed) that is a covenant fidelity based love to which God has sworn to preserve. Isaiah says The Lord of hosts has sworn: As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand” (Isaiah 14:24), so God’s chesed love is more sure than “the rising and the setting sun.”

So, today, sing praise, sing praise. Because, Forever God is faithful, Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us, Forever.

Blessings, Pastor Don.