Psalms 136:6-16

6 to him who spread out the earth on the water, for his grace continues forever;

7 to him who made the great lights, for his grace continues forever;

8 the sun to rule the day, for his grace continues forever;

9 the moon and stars to rule the night, for his grace continues forever;

10 to him who struck down Egypt's firstborn, for his grace continues forever;

11 and brought Isra'el out from among them, for his grace continues forever;

12 with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, for his grace continues forever;

13 to him who split apart the Sea of Suf, for his grace continues forever;

14 and made Isra'el cross right through it, for his grace continues forever;

15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Sea of Suf, for his grace continues forever;

16 to him who led his people through the desert, for his grace continues forever;

Psalms 136:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

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.