Today is the first Sunday of Advent, and we come now to the first half of Psalm 136, verses 1-12, in which we find the command to “Give thanks to the LORD” repeated three times (verses 1-3), followed by the truth that God’s “love endures forever,” which is repeated twelve times in this section and then repeated another fourteen times in the rest of the Psalm (tomorrow’s section). May I say to you that God wants us to know that His “love endures forever.” Genuine love is an unchanging and unfailing attribute, and it is eternally intrinsic to God’s character. Like truth, love exists because God exists, and like truth, all love finds its Source completely in God alone. There is no other source for love. Because God endures forever, His love endures forever. Therefore, we are told to “give thanks to Him because He is good” (verse 1). In this section of the Psalm, we see that God’s character, His continuity, His comportment, His creation, and His commands are all constant, and they accurately and faithfully corroborate His ways, His wonders, and His works – on behalf of Israel – and for all men everywhere. This evidence is rationally sufficient to call forth our praise of God and our thanksgiving to Him.
In Daniel 5:17–6:28, we see Daniel’s personal integrity and impeccable character. Daniel interprets the handwriting on the wall for Belshazzar, for whom it is not good news. Poor Belshazzar’s “knees knocked together and his legs gave way” (verse 6) because his sins – pride, arrogance, carousing, and idolatry have all caught up with him. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar his father, Belshazzar failed to recognize and honor “the God Whose hand now appeared and held his life and his ways” (5:23). Through this hand, God now prescribes Belshazzar's end – which came “that very night” (verse 30). In Daniel 6, we see Daniel’s experience in the lions’ den – at the hands of jealous, evil co-workers. Why is it that our co-workers are often so treacherous to us? Nevertheless, Daniel’s character remains unfazed by their wicked scheming, and though God allows Daniel to go through this ordeal, God preserves his life through it “because he was falsely accused, found innocent, and he trusted” in God (verses 22-23). Daniel’s accusers then receive exactly what they meant for him. We need to take a serious lesson from this chapter.
In 1 John 1:1-2:11, the Apostle John submits additional evidence for the truth and the goodness of God by taking us back to the beginning concerning “the Word of life” (verse 1). John’s testimony is that of an eyewitness; he has personally “heard, seen, and touched this life which appeared to us” (verse 2). John “declares” that “this life” is inextricably linked to truth, light, fellowship, purity, and forgiveness – all divine elements which we need, understand, desire, and pursue – though we are powerless to generate. Only God can provide them. In 1 John 2:1-11, we see that God has undertaken to address and to meet our need for cleansing from the ever-contaminating power of continual sin in our lives. As believers who still live in an evil world and are still affected by the realities of temptation and sin, we need “an Advocate with the Father” (verse 1). God has provided Him for us in the Person and work of “Jesus Christ, the Righteous One,” Who Himself “is our atoning sacrifice” (verse 2). We receive the forgiveness and cleansing that we need through His advocacy and through the regular confession of our sins (1:9).
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