Psalms 136:1-9

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever.

4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever.

5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever.

6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters. His faithful love endures forever.

7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights— His faithful love endures forever.

8 the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever.

9 and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever.

Psalms 136:1-9 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.