Salmos 136

1 ALABAD á Jehová, porque es bueno; Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

2 Alabad al Dios de los dioses, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

3 Alabad al Señor de los señores, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

4 Al solo que hace grandes maravillas, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

5 Al que hizo los cielos con entendimiento, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

6 Al que tendió la tierra sobre las aguas, Porque para siempre es su misericordia;

7 Al que hizo las grandes luminarias, Porque para siempre es su misericordia;

8 El sol para que dominase en el día, Porque para siempre es su misericordia;

9 La luna y las estrellas para que dominasen en la noche, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

10 Al que hirió á Egipto en sus primogénitos, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

11 Al que sacó á Israel de en medio de ellos, Porque para siempre es su misericordia;

12 Con mano fuerte, y brazo extendido, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

13 Al que dividió el mar Bermejo en partes, Porque para siempre es su misericordia;

14 E hizo pasar á Israel por medio de él, Porque para siempre es su misericordia;

15 Y arrojó á Faraón y á su ejército en el mar Bermejo, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

16 Al que pastoreó á su pueblo por el desierto, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

17 Al que hirió grandes reyes, Porque para siempre es su misericordia;

18 Y mató reyes poderosos, Porque para siempre es su misericordia;

19 A Sehón rey Amorrheo, Porque para siempre es su misericordia,

20 Y á Og rey de Basán, Porque para siempre es su misericordia;

21 Y dió la tierra de ellos en heredad, Porque para siempre es su misericordia;

22 En heredad á Israel su siervo, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

23 El es el que en nuestro abatimiento se acordó de nosotros, Porque para siempre es su misericordia;

24 Y nos rescató de nuestros enemigos, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

25 El da mantenimiento á toda carne, Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

26 Alabad al Dios de los cielos: Porque para siempre es su misericordia.

Salmos 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.