The Music & the Spoken Word broadcast airs live via TV, radio, and internet stream on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. mountain time. For information on other airtimes, visit “Airing Schedules” at musicandthespokenword.org.

Music

Conductor: Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy
Organist: Andrew Unsworth
Announcer: Lloyd D. Newell

“In Hymns of Praise”
Music: Alfred Beirly
Lyrics: Ada Blenkhorn
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“Awake and Arise, All Ye Children of Light”
Music: Welsh melody
Lyrics: David Warner
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“Early One Morning” (organ solo)
Music: English folk song
Arrangement: Andrew Unsworth

“Let All the Angels of God Worship Him,” from Messiah¹
Music: George Frideric Handel

“Shenandoah”²
Music and lyrics: American folk song
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“The King of Love My Shepherd Is”
Music: Ryan Murphy
Lyrics: Henry Baker

“Standing on the Promises”³
Music and lyrics: Russell K. Carter
Arrangement: Ryan Murphy

1. From the album Messiah.
2. From the albums Spirit of America; America’s Choir; and 9/11: Rising Above.
3. From the album Let Us All Press On.

The Spoken Word

His Mercy Endureth Forever 

August 6, 2023
Lloyd D. Newell

If Psalm 136 had a title, it might well be “His Mercy Endureth for Ever.” That phrase is repeated 26 times—in every verse of the psalm. The psalmist writes of various ways the Lord has expressed His mercy throughout the centuries. But this psalm is more than a history lesson; you get the sense that the psalmist didn’t just write about mercy but had also experienced it.

And so have all of us, even though we don’t always recognize the mercy God extends. Think of the little coincidences—some would call them the little miracles—in your life. Maybe it was the time someone said just the right thing to comfort or reassure you. Or the time a friend showed up just when you needed some help. Think of the times you experienced moments of peace and calm even in difficult circumstances. Those are the Lord’s tender mercies, and they endure forever.

What a comfort that promise is, because we all need mercy. We stumble, we suffer, we fall short. And the Lord is kind, compassionate, forgiving, and patient forever.

In a sense, we help His mercy endure forever as we extend His mercy to others.¹  And when we do, we might find that same mercy returned to us in the most unexpected ways. This happened to the young mother of a two-year-old daughter. So many times, when the toddler woke during the night or cried for comfort, the mother would stroke her daughter’s forehead and sing her to sleep. Then one day, when the young mother was especially exhausted, she lay on the floor in their living room. Before long, her little daughter started stroking her mother’s forehead and softly singing to her. The little girl tried to give her mother a little of the mercy that she had so freely received.

When life is difficult, when mistakes are made, when we feel alone and forgotten, we can look for God’s mercy, and we will always find it. His love is unending. His blessings are available to all who trust in Him. “His mercy endureth for ever.”

Just as that phrase is a continuing, constant presence in the 136th psalm, the Lord’s mercy can be a continuing, constant presence in our lives. Our struggles and suffering are temporary because “his mercy endureth for ever.”

1. See Matthew 5:7; Luke 6:36.