Psalms 136
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“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” — John 5:39
1O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
PSALM 136
Psa 136:1-26. The theme is the same as that of Psalm 135. God should be praised for His works of creation and providence, His deliverance and care of His people, and judgments on their enemies, and His goodness to all. The chorus to every verse is in terms of that of Psa 106:1; 118:1-4, and was perhaps used as the Amen by the people, in worship (compare 1Ch 16:36; Psa 105:45).
1-3. The divine titles denote supremacy.
Oh give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Identical with the first verse of Psa_118:1-29, which is probably a very ancient formula, and one used at the erection both of the first (2Ch_5:13) and of the second temple (Ezr_3:11).
2O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Oh give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy, etc. The phrase, "God of gods," occurs first in Deu_10:17. It was one very familiar to the Assyrians and Babylonians. In the Bible it is used by Joshua (Jos_22:22), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan_2:47), Daniel (Dan_11:36), and this psalmist. It sanctions a secondary use of the word "God," such as is found also in Psa_82:6; Psa_96:4; Psa_97:7, Psa_97:9; Psa_138:1.
3O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Oh give thanks to the Lord of lords. "Lord of lords" occurs also first in Deu_10:17. It is used likewise by St. Paul (2 Timothy 6:15) and St. John (Rev_17:14; Rev_19:16). For his mercy, etc.
4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4. alone--excluding all help.
To him who alone doeth great wonders (comp. Psa_72:18). For his mercy, etc.
5To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5-6. by wisdom--or, "in wisdom" (Psa 104:24).
made--literally, "maker of."
above the waters--or, "higher than the waters" (Psa 24:2).
To him that by wisdom made the heavens. Creation is the work, not only of God's power, bat of his wisdom also. Things were made as they are by the exertion of his forethought and understanding (comp. Pro_3:19; Eph_1:11). For his mercy, etc.
6To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters (comp. Isa_42:5; Isa_44:24; Psa_24:2). For his mercy, etc.
7To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
To him that made great lights (see Gen_1:14-16). For his mercy, etc.
Psa_136:8—The sun to rule by day (comp. Gen_1:16). For his mercy, etc.
8The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The moon and stare to rule by night (Gen_1:16, Gen_1:18). For his mercy, etc.
10To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn. The parallelism with Psa_135:1-21, here becomes very close, and so continues till the end of verse 22. Five verses, however, are expanded into thirteen. For his mercy, etc.
11And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And brought out Israel from among them (see Exo_12:51; Exo_14:19-31). For his mercy, etc.
12With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
12. Compare similar expressions (Ex 3:20; De 4:34, &c.).
With a strong hand, and with a stretched-out arm (comp. Exo_6:6; Deu_7:8, Deu_7:14; Neh_1:10, etc.). For his mercy, etc.
13To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
To him which divided the Red Sea into parts; literally, into section—cut it, as it were, in two (see Exo_14:21). For his mercy, etc.
14And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And made Israel to pass through the midst of it (see Exo_14:22, Exo_14:29; Exo_15:19). For his mercy, etc.
15But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
15. overthrew--literally, "shook off," as in Ex 14:27, as a contemptuous rejection of a reptile.
But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea (see Exo_14:27, Exo_14:28; Exo_15:1-10). 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.
16To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him which led his people through the wilderness (Exo_13:20-22; Exo_40:36-38; Deu_8:15). For his mercy, etc.
17To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
To him which smote great kings (see the comment on Psa_135:10). For his mercy, etc.
18And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And slew famous kings. Oreb, Zeb, Zeba, Zalmunna, Agag. For his mercy, etc.
19Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Sihon King of the Amorites (comp. Psa_135:11). For his mercy, etc.
20And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And Og the King of Bashan (Num_21:33; Psa_135:11). For his mercy, etc.
21And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And gave their land for an heritage (see Jos_12:1-6). For his mercy, etc.
22Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Even an heritage unto Israel his servant (comp. Psa_135:12). For his mercy, etc.
23Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
23. remembered us--or, "for us" (Psa 132:1).
our low estate--that is, captivity.
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.
24And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
24. And hath redeemed us--or, literally, "snatched us"--alluding to the sudden deliverance effected by the overthrow of Babylon.
And hath redeemed us from our enemies; rather, and redeemed us—or, "snatched us"—from our enemies. For his mercy, etc.
25Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25. To the special favors to His people is added the record of God's goodness to all His creatures (compare Mt 6:30).
Who giveth food to all flesh. Has a care, i.e; not only for man, but also for animals (comp. Psa_104:27; Psa_145:15; Psa_147:9; Jon_4:11). For his mercy, etc.
26O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26. God of heaven--occurs but once (Jon 1:9) before the captivity. It is used by the later writers as specially distinguishing God from idols.
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 (Ezr_1:2; Ezr_5:11, Ezr_5:12; Ezr_6:9, Ezr_6:10; Ezr_7:12, Ezr_7:21; Neh_1:4, Neh_1:5; Neh_2:4, Neh_2:20; Dan_2:18, Dan_2:19, Dan_2:37, Dan_2:44). It was a phrase known to the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians. For his mercy endureth forever.
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