Psalms 136

1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

2 O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

6 to him who spread out the earth upon the waters, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

10 to him who smote the first-born of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

13 to him who divided the Red Sea in sunder, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

17 to him who smote great kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

18 and slew famous kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures for ever;

25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

26 O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

Psalms 136 Commentary

Chapter 136

God to be praised as the Creator of the world. (1-9) As Israel's God and Saviour. (10-22) For his blessings to all. (23-26)

Verses 1-9 Forgetful as we are, things must be often repeated to us. By "mercy" we understand the Lord's disposition to save those whom sin has rendered miserable and vile, and all the provision he has made for the redemption of sinners by Jesus Christ. The counsels of this mercy have been from everlasting, and the effects of it will endure for ever, to all who are interested in it. The Lord continues equally ready to show mercy to all who seek for it, and this is the source of all our hope and comfort.

Verses 10-22 The great things God did for Israel, when he brought them out of Egypt, were mercies which endured long to them; and our redemption by Christ, which was typified thereby, endures for ever. It is good to enter into the history of God's favours, and in each to observe, and own, that his mercy endureth for ever. He put them in possession of a good land; it was a figure of the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verses 23-26 God's everlasting mercy is here praised for the redemption of his church; in all his glories, and all his gifts. Blessed be God, who has provided and made known to us salvation through his Son. May we know and feel his redeeming power, that we may serve him in righteousness all our days. May He who giveth food to all flesh, feed our souls unto eternal life, and enliven our affections by his grace, that we may give thanks and praise to his holy name, for his mercy endureth for ever. Let us trace up all the favours we receive to this true source, and offer praise continually.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 136

This psalm was very probably composed by David, and given to the Levites to sing every day, 1Ch 16:41. Solomon his son followed his example, and made use of them in singing at the dedication of the temple, 2Ch 7:3,6; as Jehoshaphat seems to have done when he went out to war against his enemies, 2Ch 20:21. The subject of it is much the same with the preceding psalm; its composition is very singular; the half of every verse: in it is, "for his mercy endureth for ever"; this is the burden of the song; and the design of it is to show, that all blessings of every kind flow from the grace, goodness, and mercy of God, which is constant and perpetual; and to impress a sense of it upon the minds of men: the inscription of the Syriac version is,

``it is said of Moses and Israel praising the Lord for those who were delivered; and concerning the deliverance of souls out of hell from Pharaoh, the devil, by Christ our Saviour, the Redeemer of them.''

R. Obadiah says it is an exhortation to the children of God in the days of the Messiah to praise the Lord.