Repetition: For God's Glory & Our Good

Good morning, Immanuel. We are forgetful, but the Lord is kind to remind us that He is worthy of our trust and our joy.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1-3).

Photo by Daniel Leone on Unsplash

I like discovering new things. Part of that is my curious desire to learn, but another part is how easily I get bored with repetition. However, repetition has a certain beauty that proves helpful to us and glorifies God. The Bible uses repetition to create emphasis. From repetitive words to repetitive themes, God often repeats himself to make a point. Repetition is not for the sake of repetition but to help us take notice. We often forget, but God knows how to get the message across to us. Psalm 136 is a great example of repetition used for our good and God’s glory. Here, we have 26 verses celebrating God. After each verse, the Psalmist repeats the exclamation, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Twenty-six times. What’s the point of all the repetition? Why not just say it once or twice?

Repetition first says something about the Lord. He is the kind of God worthy of constant praise! We have never exhausted our reasons for praising and worshipping the Lord. Jesus is never in danger of being delighted in too much. The repetition first says something about God and His worthiness. But repetition also says something about us. We need constant reminders of the steadfast love of the Lord. He has never failed us. His character is consistent, and he has proven himself over and over again. We are forgetful people, but the Lord is kind to remind us that He is worthy of our trust and our joy.