Psalm 136

1 Preiset Jehova! Denn er ist gütig, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich.

2 Preiset den Gott der Götter, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich.

3 Preiset den Herrn der Herren! Denn seine Güte währt ewiglich;

4 den, der große Wunder tut, er allein, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich;

5 Den, der die Himmel gemacht hat mit Einsicht, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich.

6 Den, der die Erde ausgebreitet hat über den Wassern, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich;

7 Den, der große Lichter gemacht hat, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich:

8 Die Sonne zur Beherrschung des Tages, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich,

9 den Mond und die Sterne zur Beherrschung der Nacht, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich;

10 den, der Ägypten schlug an seinen Erstgeborenen, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich,

11 und Israel herausführte aus ihrer Mitte, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich,

12 mit starker Hand und mit ausgestrecktem Arm, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich;

13 den, der das Schilfmeer in zwei Teile zerteilte, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich;

14 und Israel mitten hindurchgehen ließ, denn seinen Güte währt ewiglich,

15 und den Pharao und sein Heer ins Schilfmeer stürzte, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich;

16 den, der sein Volk durch die Wüste führte, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich;

17 den, der große Könige schlug, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich,

18 und mächtige Könige schlug, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich,

19 Sihon, den König der Amoriter, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich,

20 und Og, den König von Basan, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich,

21 und ihr Land zum Erbteil gab, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich,

22 zum Erbteil seinem Knechte Israel, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich;

23 der unser gedachte in unserer Niedrigkeit, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich,

24 und uns errettete von unseren Bedrängern, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich;

25 der Speise gibt allem Fleische, denn seine Güte währt ewiglich.

26 Preiset den Gott der Himmel! Denn seine Güte währt ewiglich.

Psalm 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.