I loved taking a shortcut to high school. Rushing out the side door of our family home, hot-footing it through a neighbor’s backyard, crisscrossing a nearby park, then bobbing and weaving various roads to the school’s back entrance. Saved a lot of time. Thought myself quite the clever boy! Who doesn’t like a shortcut?

Well, not always. Reading Psalm 136 you note something unique. All twenty-six verses have a refrain saying the same thing. Six words repeated over and over again. In the original Hebrew language, only three words say it all. Here goes in English–‘…for his steadfast love endures forever.’ Traversing the same ground twenty-six times.

Often when I’ve read this psalm, I’ve taken a shortcut. I read each verse’s opening part, skip over that ‘steadfast love’ business, and move quickly to the next verse. Saves a lot of time. I’ve got things to do and places to go. Do you think God minds?

You’re right. I think He does, too. After all, the Lord tells us repeatedly, in no uncertain terms, that He loves us. Eternally, with enduring care, through all the messes we make. And all the stuff that’s thrown at us. And I want to hippity-hop over all the love and care God has for me? Not such a clever boy after all!

For His love is steadfast. Hangs in there when everyone else has headed out our heart’s back door. Jesus is steady as can be. No fickle double-crossing two-timer. Never here today, gone tomorrow. His love is forever. He means it. I may or may not. But He does. Who doesn’t need to hear that over again and again? Just me?

Skip over it? Are you crazy? Wait a minute, it’s me that’s done the skippity-do-dah. Not you. Or have you? Glancing at your Bible for only a minute or two? Letting it gather dust while your smarty-phone remains dust-free? Worrying more than trusting Jesus? Forgetting to pray unless all else fails? Displaying little evidence to convict you of being one of His own? A functioning agnostic?

That sounds a bit harsh, doesn’t it? Well, that can happen when I take a shortcut like I have through Psalm 136. So, stop already. Take a gander at that phrase, those twenty-six times reminding us of His love that endures forever.

No more shortcuts for me while traveling the roads of this psalm. I’ve settled for less when He has much more to give me. And you. After all–‘…his steadfast love endures forever.’ Did I hear an echo?

Thank you, Jesus, for loving me so much. I love you. too. Amen.