He Provides Breakfast For A Whale

Psalm 136:17-26

17Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings.

His faithful love endures forever.

18He killed powerful kings—

His faithful love endures forever.

19Sihon king of the Amorites,

His faithful love endures forever.

20and Og king of Bashan.

His faithful love endures forever.

21God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—

His faithful love endures forever.

22a special possession to his servant Israel.

His faithful love endures forever.

23He remembered our utter weakness.

His faithful love endures forever.

24He saved us from our enemies.

His faithful love endures forever.

25He gives food to every living thing.

His faithful love endures forever.

26Give thanks to the God of heaven.

His faithful love endures forever.

Edward Taylor, a colonial minister in New England, was known for his colorful prayers, earning him the nickname “The Sailor Preacher of Boston.” One Sunday as he was about to sail to England for a visit, he took considerable time and flowery speech entreating God to watch over his flock during his absence. Then suddenly he halted his prayer and burst out, “What have I done? Distrust the providence of heaven? A God who gives a whale a ton of herrings for a breakfast, will he not care for my children?” Then having exhausted his emotion, he continued his prayer in a more subdued manner.

When Jesus was given a boy’s lunch of five barley loaves and two fish to feed a crowd of thousands, “Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people” (John 6:11). He thanked his heavenly Father for what little he was given and asked him to make use of it. He knew that his Father could provide anything he needed, for God “gives food to every living thing,” and “his faithful love endures forever.”

“His faithful love” not only gives us our salvation and our victory over the enemy, but it also gives us food on our table, a roof over our head, and clothes on our back. Give thanks today for his faithful love that provides for the necessities of our daily life.

Things future nor things that are now,

Nor all things below or above,

Can make Him His purpose forego

Or sever my soul from His love.

AUGUSTUS TOPLADY

Bible Networking

Check up on the stories behind Sihon and Og in Numbers 21. Why do you think they are singled out in this psalm?

Notable Quotable

“The birds rise in the morning and are saluting the rising sun with their sweet notes on the air. Thus, should we strike up our harps in praising God at the first appearance of a mercy.”

WILLIAM GURNALL