What does it mean that “His mercy endures forever” (Jeremiah 33:11 and Psalm 136)?

Answer

The prophet Jeremiah lived and ministered during one of the darkest periods in Israel’s history. The tragic fate of his nation had been determined. He witnessed the destruction of Solomon’s temple and the majestic city of Jerusalem, along with the slaughter and captivity of its people in Babylon. Due to their disobedience and faithlessness, would God forever reject and abandon His people? The response, as promised by God through Jeremiah, was a resounding “No!” In time, the Lord would renew His people with a new covenant, leading to the city once again teeming with His redeemed ones singing and rejoicing: “Praise the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His mercy endures forever” «the voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endures forever: and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at first, says the LORD. », (Jeremiah 33:11, NKJV).

One cannot help but recall this refrain and be reminded of Psalm 136, a communal hymn of praise where the psalmist repeatedly urges the worshippers, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 136:1-3;NKJV).

The term translated as “mercy” in the original language conveys “loyal, steadfast, enduring love.” The declaration “His mercy endures forever” (KJV and NKJV) is also rendered as “His faithful love endures forever” (NLT) and “His steadfast love endures forever.”

“ (ESV). Mercy, or loyal love, is one of the most prominent attributes of God’s character. By His very nature, He shows unstoppable, limitless, everlasting mercy, even to those who don’t deserve it: “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” «Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy. », (Micah 7:18).

If ever there might have been a time for God’s mercy to reach its end, it could have been the sin-filled era in which Jeremiah lived. But, thankfully, the Lord’s faithful love does not depend on the whim of emotion or its recipient’s worthiness. God’s steadfast goodness to those He loves is inherent in who He is: “God is love” «He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. », (1 John 4:8,16) «And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. », (1 John 4:8,16). After a time of discipline, God in His everlasting mercy and love would heal His people’s wounds and, like a shepherd, He would lead them home (Jeremiah 32:36—33:26).

Often, when trials come, we feel abandoned by God. Sometimes our sinful disobedience envelops our hearts in such darkness that we believe God most certainly has rejected us forever. Like the people of Jeremiah’s day, we wonder if our troubling circumstances are evidence that God no longer loves us and His mercy toward us has run out. In times like these, we must recall God’s

God’s promise through Jeremiah assures us, saying, “For the LORD is good; his love endures forever.”

The Lord forgives those who repent and return to Him: “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you” (Psalm 86:5; see also 1 John 1:9). He does not hold our sins against us. God remains faithful because He cannot deny who He is, “if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”, (2 Timothy 2:13). He is “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:8-10).

Even to the one who feels least deserving of His mercy, the Bible proclaims, “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23; NLT).

The new covenant God promised to Israel is available for us to experience today through a living and personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who trust in the Lord partake in His love and mercy forever. Even in our darkest moments when all hope seems lost, we must remember His mercy endures forever.