Psalms 136

¹O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

²O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

³O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

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.

⁴To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

4. alone--excluding all help.

⁵To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

⁶To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: 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).

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.).

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.