Devotion 7.28.26

Psalm 136

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

  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.

It is hard to believe we are in August already, and that school feels as though it was just let out for the summer. It's hard to believe that the World Cup has come and gone having been an event several years in the making. I understand heat is good for cotton to produce the boll, but these temperatures are hard to believe as well, as we prepare for a week of 100+ degree heat.

It is hard to believe the effect of pointing a finger, literally! Sophie Cunningham has become a viral sensation as of a week ago or so as she pointed her finger at a player she felt deserved to have a foul called on her. She kept pointing and worked into the opposing player's mind to the point the player had to be restrained. When she finally shot her free throw for a technical foul called (against Caitlyn Clark), which started the whole incident, she flopped.

The first time I watched the video I laughed hard. The WNBA, in a hurried response to the potential windfall a meme of the event could generate in terms of money, said it would not accept nor seek money from the "derogatory event" (I'm talking about a person pointing a finger like you would if asked, "Who did it?"), but that Cunningham could accept money as part of any NIL

compensation.

When are we prone to point the finger at others in a figurative way? Today's psalmist is telling us why we should give thanks to God. God is a great God, he starts out writing, In the first passages (used as the basis for a devotion Dec 23, 2025), God's attributes as the creator are laid out for us to read and reflect as part of God's "steadfast love." 

Today, we read of the psalmist's acknowledging God is our redeemer and deliverer from our "lowly estate." He rescues us from our "foes," often seen in psalm as enemies of God. Enemies of God are those who have alienated themselves from him through sin and evil acts. As I think of enemies of God, I often wonder when my own behavior puts me in the camp of someone who is alienated from God. When am I pointing a finger at those who I don't think are part of God's kingdom when I should point the finger at myself?

Fortunately for the believer, God has rescued us from getting a finger pointed at us and turning that finger and pointing toward heaven in praise of God. God delivers us, rescues us, and sustains us with "daily bread."

Pray with me: I give thanks to you, O God, for your steadfast love that saves me. I give thanks to you, O God, for rescuing me and providing me with all that I have. Your steadfast love does indeed endure forever within me. Amen

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.