Praise Ye the Lord

For His Mercy Endures Forever

Chapter 1

The title is from Psalm 106:1, and borrows a little from the King James Version, since I'm pretty sure the word “Ye” does not appear in the HBHV.

Here is Psalm 106 from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version--

___Psalm 106

1 Praise the Lord. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.

2 Who can tell the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can show forth all his praise?

3 Blessed are those who keep judgment, and he that does righteousness at all times.

4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that you bear to your people, O visit me with your salvation,

5 So that I'll see the good of your chosen, so that I'll rejoice in the gladness of your nation, so that I'll glory with your inheritance.

6 We've sinned with our fathers, we've committed sin, we have done wickedly.

7 Our fathers didn't understand your wonders in Egypt, they didn't remember the multitude of your mercies, but provoked him at the sea, at the Red Sea.

8 But he saved them for his name's sake, so that he could make his mighty power to be known.

9 He reprimanded the Red Sea also, and it was dried up, so he led them through the depths, like through the wilderness.

10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 And the waters covered their enemies, there wasn't one of them left.

12 Then they believed his words, they sang his praise.

13 They soon forgot his works, they didn't wait for his advice,

14 But lusted very much in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

15 And he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.

16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.

17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

18 And a fire was kindled in their company, the flame burned up the wicked.

19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped the image cast in foundry.

20 Thus they changed their glory into the likeness of an ox that eats grass.

21 They forgot God their savior, who had done great things in Egypt,

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red Sea.

23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, if Moses his chosen hadn't stood before him in the gap, to turn away his anger, so that he wouldn't destroy them.

24 Yes, they despised the pleasant land, they didn't believe his word,

25 But murmured in their tents, and didn't listen to the voice of the Lord.

26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness,

27 To overthrow their descendants also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.

28 They joined themselves also to Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions, and the plague broke in on them.

30 Then Phinehas stood up, and executed justice, and so the plague was stopped.

31 And that was counted to him for righteousness to all generations forever.

32 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes,

33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.

34 They didn't destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them,

35 But were mixed among the heathen, and learned their works.

36 And they served their idols, which were a trap to them.

37 Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to devils,

38 And shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus they were defiled with their own works, and went whoring with their own inventions.

40 Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people, since he hated his own inheritance.

41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen, and those who hated them ruled over them.

42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.

43 He gave them deliverance many times, but they provoked him with their advice, and were brought low for their sin.

44 But he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry,

45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

46 He made them also to be pitied by all those that carried them captives.

47 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks to your holy name, and to triumph in your praise.

48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting, and let all the people say, "Amen." Praise the Lord.

Chapter 2

Verse 1--”His mercy endures forever.”

There was no sin in the world until Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. That was the first sin.

God had said they could the fruit of any of the trees in the Garden of Eden, except for the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

God said don't eat the fruit of that one tree. (Genesis chapter 2)

But Satan used a serpent to speak to Eve, and tempt her. Apparently, some of the animals could speak in the Garden of Eden before sin entered the world.

Mankind took on something of a sin nature after sin entered into the world. Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and murdered Abel.

Paul the Apostle talks like this in Romans chapter 7--

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For what I do, I don't want to do, for what I want to do, I don't do, but what I hate is what I do.

16 If then I do what I don't want to do, I consent to the law that it is good.

17 Now then, it is no more I who does it, but sin that lives in me.

18 For I know that no good thing lives in me (that is, in my flesh), for I want to do what's right, but I don't find how to perform what is good.

19 For the good that I want to do, I don't do, but the evil that I don't want to do, I do.

20 Now if I do what I don't want to do, it is no more I who does it, but sin that lives in me.

21 I find then a law, that when I want to do good, evil is present with me.

22 For my inward man delights in the law of God,

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin that's in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind, I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin.

Consider Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?”

That being the case, this is why we need God's mercy that endures forever, because if God's mercy were not available, we would all be very deep in a manure pile.

Thank you, Father, for your mercy that endures forever, in Jesus' name. Amen.

2 Who can tell the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can show forth all his praise?

3 Blessed are those who keep judgment, and he that does righteousness at all times.

The Psalms are full of worship and praise to God.

It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves.

God knew at the time he created the world that there was going to be a sin problem.

That's why Jesus is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev 13:8)

Of course, Jesus didn't die on the cross until probably more than four thousand years later.

But God knew that it would have to happen to pay for our sins.

But under the laws of Moses, the sacrificial lamb had to be without spot and blemish.

But Jesus qualifies because he never committed sin. (Heb 4:15)

In Rom 3:23, we're told, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

In Rom 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In Rom 10:9,10, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation.”

Pray this easy prayer: “Jesus, save me!”

The Bible says, “All that call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Joel chapter 2)

6 We've sinned with our fathers, we've committed sin, we have done wickedly.

7 Our fathers didn't understand your wonders in Egypt, they didn't remember the multitude of your mercies, but provoked him at the sea, at the Red Sea.

8 But he saved them for his name's sake, so that he could make his mighty power to be known.

9 He reprimanded the Red Sea also, and it was dried up, so he led them through the depths, like through the wilderness.

10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 And the waters covered their enemies, there wasn't one of them left.

After the Children of Israel had gotten out of Egypt, they came to the Red Sea. Things didn't look so good. It looked like a dead end.

So did they do the right thing and say, “The Lord will solve this problem for us?”

No, they grumbled, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt thus with us, to carry us out of Egypt?

Isn't this the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, so we can serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." (from the book of Exodus)

When they said that, they displeased God, and provoked him to anger.

We are instructed in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he's a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.”

You can't please God without faith.

Someone might ask, “But how important is it that we please God?”

Well, you want to go to heaven, don't you, and avoid heaven's alternative, hell, don't you?

Jesus is the Judge of all the earth. Better get on his right side, and not his wrong side, if you're going to go to heaven.

And remember, Jesus said, “You MUST be born again.” (John chapt 3)

Another scripture on the subject is, "The just shall live by his faith." (Habakuk 2:4)

God wants us to live by faith.

If you say, "God's trying to kill us,” that's not faith speaking, it's unbelief.

But some of these faith teachers had not yet come along. Teachers like Kenneth E. Hagin, Dr. Norvel Hayes, Charles Capps.

Moses, of course, was doing what he could. But I rather think he pretty much had his hands full.

To some extent, it was probably a little like trying to herd cats.

Cats are very independent minded. You can herd cows. You can herd sheep. But with cats, it's more challenging.

17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

God did a new thing, and caused the earth to open up and swallow Dathan because he provoked Him to anger.

21 They forgot God their savior, who had done great things in Egypt,

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red Sea.

23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, if Moses his chosen hadn't stood before him in the gap, to turn away his anger, so that he wouldn't destroy them.

Moses interceded to God in prayer for Israel.

29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions, and the plague broke in on them.

30 Then Phinehas stood up, and executed justice, and so the plague was stopped.

31 And that was counted to him for righteousness to all generations forever.

Phinehas did the right thing, and averted the plague for Israel.

43 He gave them deliverance many times, but they provoked him with their advice, and were brought low for their sin.

44 But he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry,

45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

46 He made them also to be pitied by all those that carried them captives.

47 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks to your holy name, and to triumph in your praise.

48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting, and let all the people say, "Amen." Praise the Lord.

___James chapter 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings.

2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations,

3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,

10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away.

11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man,

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brothers.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.

18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God.

21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror,

24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

___James chapter 2

1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also,

3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool,"

4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats?

7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called?

8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well,

9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners.

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law.

12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment.

14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food,

16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that?

17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works."

19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."

24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

___James chapter 3

1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies.

4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants.

5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind,

8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be.

11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace.

___James chapter 4

1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members?

2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask.

3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?"

6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up.

11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else?

13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit,"

14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that."

16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

___James chapter 5

1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten.

3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter.

6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you.

7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near.

9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door.

10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms.

14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven.

16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good.

17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him,

20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.