Psalms 136

1 O give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

2 O give praise to the God of gods: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

3 O give praise to the Lord of lords: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

4 To him who only does great wonders: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

5 To him who by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

6 To him by whom the earth was stretched out over the waters: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

7 To him who made great lights: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

8 The sun to have rule by day: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

9 The moon and the stars to have rule by night: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

10 To him who put to death the first-fruits of Egypt: for his mercy is unchanging for ever:

11 And took out Israel from among them: for his mercy is unchanging for ever:

12 With a strong hand and an outstretched arm: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

13 To him who made a way through the Red Sea: for his mercy is unchanging for ever:

14 And let Israel go through it: for his mercy is unchanging for ever:

15 By him Pharaoh and his army were overturned in the Red Sea: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

16 To him who took his people through the waste land: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

17 To him who overcame great kings: for his mercy is unchanging for ever:

18 And put noble kings to death: for his mercy is unchanging for ever:

19 Sihon, king of the Amorites: for his mercy is unchanging for ever:

20 And Og, king of Bashan: for his mercy is unchanging for ever:

21 And gave their land to his people for a heritage: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

22 Even a heritage for his servant Israel: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

23 Who kept us in mind when we were in trouble: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

24 And has taken us out of the hands of our haters: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

25 Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

26 O give praise to the God of heaven: for his mercy is unchanging for ever.

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Images for Psalms 136

Psalms 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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible