Psalms 136

Psalm 136 is a hymn of thanksgiving, repeatedly declaring that the LORD's mercy "endureth for ever." It enumerates God's goodness as the Creator of the heavens and earth, and the provider of great lights. The psalm also recounts His mighty acts of deliverance for Israel, from the Exodus out of Egypt to the conquest of kings and the granting of their land as an inheritance. It concludes by praising God for remembering His people and providing for all flesh.

Psalm 136 is a liturgical psalm, characterized by its refrain, "for his mercy endureth for ever," which follows each declaration of God's attributes and deeds. It begins by calling for thanks to the LORD as the good God of gods and Lord of lords, who alone performs great wonders. The psalm then praises Him as the Creator, who by wisdom made the heavens, stretched out the earth, and fashioned the sun, moon, and stars. Transitioning to historical acts, it recounts God's powerful deliverance of Israel from Egypt, including the smiting of the firstborn and the parting of the Red Sea. Furthermore, it highlights His guidance through the wilderness and the defeat of kings like Sihon and Og, whose lands were given to Israel as an heritage. The psalm concludes by acknowledging God's remembrance of His people in their low estate, His redemption from enemies, and His provision of food for all flesh, culminating in a final call to thank the God of heaven.

Psalm 136 is a profound hymn of praise and thanksgiving, structured around the recurring antiphon, "for his mercy endureth for ever," which underscores the eternal nature of God's lovingkindness. The psalm opens with a threefold exhortation to give thanks to the LORD, identifying Him as inherently good, the supreme God of gods, and the ultimate Lord of lords. It then proceeds to laud God as the sole doer of great wonders, attributing to Him the creation of the cosmos: the heavens by wisdom, the earth stretched above the waters, and the great lights—the sun for day and the moon and stars for night. The narrative then shifts to God's redemptive acts in history, specifically detailing the Exodus. It recounts His powerful judgment upon Egypt through the smiting of the firstborn, His strong-handed deliverance of Israel, and the miraculous division of the Red Sea, through which Israel passed safely while Pharaoh and his host were overthrown. Following this, the psalm celebrates God's sustained guidance of His people through the wilderness. It further extols His might in conquering formidable kings, specifically naming Sihon of the Amorites and Og of Bashan, whose lands were subsequently bestowed upon Israel as a lasting heritage. The psalm concludes by acknowledging God's compassionate remembrance of His people in their humble circumstances, His ongoing redemption from their adversaries, and His universal provision of sustenance for all living creatures. The final verse reiterates the call to give thanks to the God of heaven, encapsulating the psalm's central message of perpetual gratitude for God's enduring mercy.