Psalms 136:20
“Og king of Bashan; for his loving kindness endures forever;”
What does Psalms 136:20 mean?
This verse recalls God's defeat of Og, a powerful giant king whose land lay east of the Jordan River. When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness and needed to pass through his territory, Og attacked them, but God gave Israel the victory despite Og's size and strength. By mentioning this specific enemy in a psalm celebrating God's faithfulness, the writer reminds us that God's care isn't just gentle or abstract, but actively protective, even when we face intimidating obstacles. The repeated refrain "his loving kindness endures forever" transforms what could be just a historical detail into an assurance that the same God who protected our ancestors continues to show us that same steadfast love today.