The Daily Blade: Episode #264 – Kyle Thompson // Give Thanks to the Lord, For He is Good

Date: January 5, 2026
Hosts: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off a week-long devotional series on Psalm 136, focusing on the theme of God’s steadfast love and why Christians should continually give thanks. Kyle Thompson leads today's discussion, unpacking the meaning behind the famous refrain, “For His steadfast love endures forever,” and exploring the nature of God’s goodness and supremacy as revealed in the opening verses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Psalm 136 (00:20)

• Context & Structure:

  • The exact author and date of Psalm 136 remain unknown but it likely originates from the post-exilic period (around the 5th century BC).
  • Psalm 136 is a “liturgical hymn of thanksgiving,” built on the repetitive refrain:

    “For His steadfast love endures forever.”

  • The refrain appears 26 times in the Psalm, underscoring its central message.

• Translation Nuances:

  • Different Bible translations render the refrain with nuances:
    • ESV: "His steadfast love endures forever."
    • KJV: "His mercy endureth forever."
    • CSB: "His faithful love endures forever."
    • NASB: "His lovingkindness is everlasting."

• Key Term:

  • The Hebrew word “hesed” is the focus—difficult to translate, but fundamentally about God’s loyal, committed, covenant love.

  “God's character is the engine of history...” —Kyle Thompson (00:55)

2. Daily Focus: Verses 1–3—Give Thanks for God’s Goodness and Supremacy (02:00)

• Scripture Read:

  • Verses 1-3:

    “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.”

• Two Big Themes:

  • God's Goodness
  • God's Supremacy

A. God’s Goodness (02:35)

• What makes God ‘good’?

  • God’s goodness is foundational—He doesn’t just do good; He is the very source and definition of goodness.

    “He created the morality by which we even judge good and bad.” —Kyle Thompson (02:41)

  • God’s character is intrinsically benevolent, faithful, and kind to all creation.
  • He is not good purely by action; goodness is His essential attribute.

• Supporting Scriptures:

  • Psalm 34:8:

    “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”

  • Psalm 100:5:

    “For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”

  • Exodus 33 (God reveals His goodness to Moses):

    “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you My name, ‘The Lord’... I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”

B. God’s Supremacy (03:52)

• The God of gods and Lord of lords:

  “He is not a god among other gods… He is the Capital G God of gods, and the Capital L Lord of lords.” —Kyle Thompson (03:56)

• Idols and Priorities:

  • Anything—work, fitness, self-improvement—can become a ‘little g god’ or ‘little l lord’ when prioritized above God.

  “Building a successful business is a good thing. It just makes a terrible god or lord.” —Kyle Thompson (04:11) “Even pursuing personal development… that’s a very good thing. But it just makes a terrible god or lord.” —Kyle Thompson (04:19)

• God’s Jealousy:

  • The phrase underscores that God alone is worthy of all worship and trust, eclipsing all other lesser ‘gods’ or priorities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Defining Attribute:

  “Hesed can be difficult to translate, but the meaning implies that God's love is not just a feeling... It is a binding commitment between God and each one of us.” —Kyle Thompson (01:14)

• On False Gods and Priorities:

  “The little g gods and little l lords aren’t inherently bad. They’re just inherently vacuous compared to the goodness of God.” —Kyle Thompson (03:59)

• On Applying the Message:

  “If your life does not align with that, then it needs to. His steadfast love endures forever.” —Kyle Thompson (04:46)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:20 – Introduction to Psalm 136 and its context
• 01:14 – Explanation of “steadfast love” and “hesed”
• 02:00 – Reading of Psalm 136:1-3 and framing key themes
• 02:35 – Exploration of God’s goodness
• 03:52 – Exploration of God’s supremacy over all other 'gods' and 'lords'
• 04:46 – Call to personal alignment with God’s supremacy

Tone and Language

The episode maintains an earnest, devotional tone, blending biblical teaching with practical encouragement. The language is straightforward, relatable, and rooted in scriptural exposition. Kyle speaks conversationally but brings clarity and pastoral warmth to the exploration of these foundational truths.

Summary:
This episode serves as a call to recognize and respond to the enduring, covenantal love of God by giving thanks for His inherent goodness and unquestionable supremacy. As you begin the week, listeners are encouraged to read Psalm 136 in full daily and realign their lives with the truth that above all else, God's steadfast love endures forever.