Psalms 136 COMMENTARY (Pulpit)

◄ Psalm 136 ►

Pulpit Commentary

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 1. - Oh give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Identical with the first verse of Psalm 118, which is probably a very ancient formula, and one used at the erection both of the first () and of the second temple ().

O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 2. - Oh give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy, etc. The phrase, "God of gods," occurs first in . It was one very familiar to the Assyrians and Babylonians ('Religions of the Ancient World,' pp. 56, 60, 68, etc.). In the Bible it is used by Joshua (), Nebuchadnezzar (), Daniel (Daniel 11:36), and this psalmist. It sanctions a secondary use of the word "God," such as is found also in ; ; ; .

O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 3. - Oh give thanks to the Lord of lords. "Lord of lords" occurs also first in . It is used likewise by St. Paul () and St. John (; ). For his mercy, etc.

To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 4. - To him who alone doeth great wonders (comp. ). For his mercy, etc.

To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 5. - To him that by wisdom made the heavens. Creation is the work, not only of God's power, but of his wisdom also. Things were made as they are by the exertion of his forethought and understanding (comp. ; ). For his mercy, etc.

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 6. - To him that stretched out the earth above the waters (comp. ; ; ). For his mercy, etc.

To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Verse 7. - To him that made great lights (see ). For his mercy, etc. Ver. 8 - The sun to rule by day (comp. ). For his mercy, etc.

The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 9. - The moon and stare to rule by night (). For his mercy, etc.

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

Verse 10. - To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn. The parallelism with Psalm 135, here becomes very close, and so continues till the end of ver. 22. Five verses, however, are expanded into thirteen. For his mercy, etc.

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

Verse 11. - And brought out Israel from among them (see ; ). For his mercy, etc.

With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 12. - With a strong hand, and with a stretched-out arm (comp. ; ; , etc.). For his mercy, etc.

To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Verse 13. - To him which divided the Red Sea into parts; literally, into section - cut it, as it were, in two (see ). For his mercy, etc.

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

Verse 14. - And made Israel to pass through the midst of it (see ; ). For his mercy, etc.

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

Verse 15. - But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea (see ; ). That the Pharaoh's death in the Red Sea is not necessarily implied has been shown in the comment on Exodus. For his mercy, etc. Severity to their adversaries was "mercy" to Israel, who could not otherwise have been delivered.

To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 16. - To him which led his people through the wilderness (; ; ). For his mercy, etc.

To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Verse 17. - To him which smote great kings (see the comment on Psalm 135:10). For his mercy, etc.

And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Verse 18. - And slew famous kings. Oreb, Zeb, Zeba, Zalmunna, Agag. For his mercy, etc.

Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Verse 19. - Sihon King of the Amorites (comp. ). For his mercy, etc.

And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Verse 20. - And Og the King of Bashan (; ). For his mercy, etc.

And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Verse 21. - And gave their land for an heritage (see ). For his mercy, etc.

Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 22. - Even an heritage unto Israel his servant (comp. ). For his mercy, etc.

Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Verse 23. - Who remembered us in our low estate. When we were brought low. The time meant is probably that of the Babylonian captivity, which is the subject of the next psalm. For his mercy, etc.

And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 24. - And hath redeemed us from our enemies; rather, and redeemed us - or, "snatched us" - from our enemies. For his mercy, etc.

Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 25. - Who giveth food to all flesh. Has a care, i.e., not only for man, but also for animals (comp. Psalm 104:27; 145:15; 147:9; ). For his mercy, etc.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Verse 26. - Oh give thanks unto the God of heaven, "The God of heaven" is a favorite designation of God in the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel (; ; ; ; ; ; ). It was a phrase known to the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians. For his mercy endureth forever.

_{Courtesy of Open Bible}

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Psalms 136 COMMENTARY (Pulpit)