Psalms 136

God's Love Is Eternal

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love is eternal.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love is eternal.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His love is eternal.

4 He alone does great wonders. His love is eternal.

5 He made the heavens skillfully.^[a] His love is eternal.

6 He spread the land on the waters.^[b] His love is eternal.

7 He made the great lights:^[c] His love is eternal.

8 the sun to rule by day, His love is eternal.

9 the moon and stars to rule by night. His love is eternal.

10 He struck the firstborn of the Egyptians^[d] His love is eternal.

11 and brought Israel out from among them His love is eternal.

12 with a strong hand and outstretched arm.^[e] His love is eternal.

13 He divided the Red Sea^[f] His love is eternal.

14 and led Israel through, His love is eternal.

15 but hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.^[g] His love is eternal.

16 He led His people in the wilderness.^[h] His love is eternal.

17 He struck down great kings His love is eternal.

18 and slaughtered famous kings- His love is eternal.

19 Sihon king of the Amorites His love is eternal.

20 and Og king of Bashan- His love is eternal.

21 and gave their land as an inheritance, His love is eternal.

22 an inheritance to Israel His servant.^[i] His love is eternal.

23 He remembered us in our humiliation His love is eternal.

24 and rescued us from our foes. His love is eternal.

25 He gives food to every creature.^[j] His love is eternal.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven! His love is eternal.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gn 1:6-8; Pr 3:19
• [b]. Gn 1:9-10
• [c]. Gn 1:14-19
• [d]. Ps 135:8; Ex 12:29
• [e]. Ex 6:1,6; Dt 4:34
• [f]. Ex 14:21
• [g]. Ex 14:27
• [h]. Dt 8:2,15
• [i]. Ps 135:10-12; Nm 21:21-35
• [j]. Ps 104:27; 145:15; 147:9

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.