Psalms 136:7-17

7 To him that made the great lights: for his mercy endures for ever:

8 The sun to rule in the day: for his mercy endures for ever:

9 The moon and stars to rule in the night: for his mercy endures for ever.

10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endures for ever:

11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endures for ever:

12 With a strong hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures for ever.

13 To him who divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever:

14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endures for ever:

15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endures for ever.

16 To him who led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endures for ever.

17 To him who smote great kings: for his mercy endures for ever.

Psalms 136:7-17 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.