Bible Commentaries
Psalms 136

Introduction

The very close agreement of this Psalm with the preceding one is a proof of their having proceeded from the same hand. As the former, so also this seeks to rekindle the hope of the church of God by pointing to the glorious manifestations of God in nature and history; and the very same facts are selected from history. Peculiar to this Psalm is the repetition in each verse of the general principle: for his mercy endures for ever, which it was sought to impress deeply upon the hearts of the people. There is no proper ground for the supposition, that this repetition was sung by a second chorus of Levites, as of such alternate choruses generally there are no certain traces in the Psalms. According to Psalms 135, the priests, the Levites, and the fearers of God, all took part in the praising of God; and it is most natural to suppose, that the people joined in tile repetition. The words of the repetition itself are borrowed from Psalms 118:1, as is also the whole of the first verse.

Verses 1-3

Ver. 1. Praise the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 2. Praise the God of gods, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 3. Praise the Lord of lords, for his mercy endures for ever.

By the mercy of the Lord is specially to be understood his mercy or favour toward his people. Psalms 136:2-3 rest upon Deuteronomy 10:17, “For the Lord your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of lords.” The giving of praise thrice is intentional.

Verses 4-9

Ver. 4. Great wonders did he alone, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 5. Who made the heavens with wisdom, for his mercy endues for ever. Ver. 6. Who stretched out the earth above the waters, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 7. Who made great lights, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 8. The sun to rule the day, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 9. The moon and the stars to rule the night, for his mercy endures for ever.

The reiteration: for his mercy endures for ever, refers; as the commencement shows, to what is always to be supplied: Praise Lord. It is the thought, which must continually arise when the wonderful works of the Lord are to have consoling power, prophetic import. The mercy of the Lord endures for ever, and as it must perpetually unfold itself anew to his people, when sunk in distress, so all it has done in former times contains a consolatory promise for the future.

Upon the waters, comp. on Psalms 24:2.

Verses 10-15

Ver. 10. Who slew the first-born in Egypt, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 11. And brought out Israel from their midst, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 12. Through a mighty hand and outstretched arm, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 13. Who divided the Red Sea into pieces, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 14. And made Israel go through, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 15. And Pharaoh and his host thrust into the Red sea, for his mercy endures for ever.

Verses 16-22

Ver. 16. Who led his people in the wilderness, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 17. Who slew great kings, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 18. And killed mighty kings, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 19. Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 20. And Og, king of Bashan, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 21. And gave their land for an inheritance, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 22. For an inheritance to Israel his servant, for his mercy endures for ever.

Verses 23-26

Ver. 23. Who in our low estate remembered us, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 24. And redeemed us from our adversaries, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 25. Who gives food to all flesh, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 26. Praise the God of heaven, for his mercy endures for ever.

Psalms 136:23-24 refer, like the immediately preceding Psalm, Psalms 115:12, Psalms 107:16, Psalms 107:18, Psalms 107:26, to the redemption from Babylon.— The goodness of God to all flesh, in Psalms 136:25, shows, that He cannot possibly leave his chosen in humiliation and distress, comp. Psalms 104, where the thought only indicated here, is enlarged upon. Calvin: “At length he extends the fatherly providence of God indiscriminately, not only to the whole human race, but to all animals, so that it might not appear wonderful, he should be so kind and provident a father toward his own elect, since he does not reckon it a burden to provide for oxen and asses, swans and sparrows. Since, therefore, men so far surpass the inferior animals,” &c.

The God of heaven, in Psalms 136:26, is the Almighty.