PSALM 136

TEHILLIM 136

5 To Him that by wisdom [tevunah (understanding)] made the heavens [HaShomayim]: [ki l'olam chasdo].

Things could never have made themselves. If ever there was a time when there was nothing, there could never have come a time when there could be anything; for it is impossible that something could come out of nothing. Hence an eternal antecedent is a philosophical necessity; and that eternal antecedent must have had the quality of intelligence as well as force, for all the developments of the universe are characterised by wisdom. It is therefore an easy effort of the mind to grasp the fact that God exists, and that fact once realised, is inexpressibly consolatory.

...In such an ephemeral condition, how comforting to feel that there is a Great Power for ever, the primary energy out of which all things come; and that to that power,

"with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning,"

we sustain the relation of children. How comforting to know the truth of what David says, that

"like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him;" and that "no good thing will He withhold from them that please Him;"

that there is no error or caprice with Him; for He is long-suffering, patient and benevolent to a degree beyond our knowledge; that kindness is the first quality of His being-that God is love. When we feel all that, we are solaced in the midst of life's uncertain experiences. We come to realise by the meditation that comes with the daily reading of the Word-that things will go right; that however wrong they appear to be, they will go right in the end, if we do those things that are well-pleasing in His sight.

Seasons 2.2.