May will be here soon (our anniversary) and so its natural for me to be thinking a little more about love. So, the question comes to mind:What really is love? Is it a feeling;yes. Is it commitment; yes Is it understanding; yes. Is it physical attraction;yes. All these things and more, but what about the love of God towards us? On the way home from work yesterday, I was listening to the Psalms being read by Stephen B. Stephens and the ESV used the words "steadfast love" in place of the more common usage of loving-kindness or mercy. Does it really make a difference? Judge for yourself. So, I printed out several versions for consideration.Ps 136:1-26 (Darby)
1) Give ye thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good; for his loving-kindness endureth for ever:
2) Give thanks unto the God of gods, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
3) Give thanks unto the Lord of lords, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever.
4) To him who alone doeth great wonders, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever:
5) To him that by understanding made the heavens, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
6) To him that stretched out the earth above the waters, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
7) To him that made great lights, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
8) The sun for rule over the day, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
9) The moon and stars for rule over the night, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever:
10) To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
11) And brought out Israel from among them, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
12) With a powerful hand and with a stretched-out arm, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
13) To him that divided the Red sea into parts, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
14) And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
15) And overturned Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
16) To him that led his people through the wilderness, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
17) To him that smote great kings, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
18) And slew famous kings, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
19) Sihon king of the Amorites, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
20) And Og king of Bashan, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
21) And gave their land for an inheritance, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
22) An inheritance unto Israel his servant, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever:
23) Who hath remembered us in our low estate, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
24) And hath delivered us from our oppressors, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever:
25) Who giveth food to all flesh, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever.
26) Give ye thanks unto the *God of the heavens; for his loving-kindness endureth for ever.
Ps 136:1 (AKJV)
1) O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
Ps 136:1 (ASV)
1) Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
Ps 136:1 (EBR)
1) Give ye thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, For, age–abiding, is his lovingkindness.
Ps 136:1 (ESV)
1) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Ps 136:1 (NET)
1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loyal love endures.
Ps 136:1 (WEB)
1) Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.
Ps 136:1 (YLT)
1) Give ye thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age is His kindness.
God cares for us, his love is expressed in the things he does for us, for the kindness of the many mercies he shows for us. Unlike human beings that change with age, He does not change. His love is special; it endures forever. Mercy is that we receive when we should get justice and love is a joint venture of the heart mind and will. It is complicated, but then again, it is a complicated thing to be a human being. God's ways are way beyond ours, but one thing is certain, He looks at those who love him with love in his eye and gives mercy and help when needed. Boy! do I need it!