Week 10

When I played volleyball in high school, a teammate’s kill would send us all charging to the center of the court, where we’d punch downward in unison and yell an obnoxious “Hoo-wah!” It was one of the more exhilarating parts of the game. With the middle schoolers at church, we honor people in a quieter but equally powerful way—by giving a single clap instead of applause. When everyone claps at the exact same time, there’s a sense of pride and unity. There’s something deeply bonding about a whole group joining in a single, focused expression together.

In this psalm’s call and response, the rhythmic cadence builds in energy as the verses unfold. Imagine Israel responding in a steady chorus of “His steadfast love endures forever” after each proclamation of God’s deeds. Together, they affirm: God is Good. God is Great. God is Designer. God is Creator. God is Miracle-Worker. God is Protector. God is Provider. God is Restorer. And ultimately, God is Sovereign.

I remember a student we took to camp years ago, one who had no background in church and held a negative view of God, seeing Him as a judgmental figure ready to smite anyone deemed unworthy. But as the camp week went on, what captivated him most was the time of worship. The sight of hundreds of high schoolers praising God with sincerity was compelling. By the end of the week, he concluded that if a room full of people could worship God with such genuine hearts — people whose stories he’d been learning all week — then perhaps God was real, and maybe even worthy of such honor.

There’s something undeniably powerful about the gathering of God’s people, the confidence, and energy that grows as we come together, affirming that God is worthy. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another ...” (Hebrews 10:24–25). Life brings weeks, months, and even years that can be difficult, yet we keep showing up on Sundays, to Community Group, to Bible Study to join others who believe that God is everything. We stand in worship with aching hearts, but as we gather, our spirits rise in agreement: His steadfast love does, indeed, endure forever.