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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 136:1-9

The duty we are here again and again called to is to give thanks, to offer the sacrifice of praise continually, not the fruits of our ground or cattle, but the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name, Heb. 13:15. We are never so earnestly called upon to pray and repent as to give thanks; for it is the will of God that we should abound most in the most pleasant exercises of religion, in that which is the work of heaven. Now here observe, 1. Whom we must give thanks to?to him that we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:2

O give thanks unto the God of gods ,.... Not only of the gods of the Gentiles, who are by name and not by nature gods; or of civil magistrates, who are so called, and seem to be designed in the next verse; but the angels, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi. Christ, our Immanuel, is the God of them, the object of their worship and adoration, being their Creator and Preserver, Psalm 97:7 . So the Heathens say F18 Hierocles in Carm. Pythagor. p. 10. of the Maker of all things, him you may properly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:3

O give thanks to the Lord of lords ,.... Which is not only the title of the God of Israel, as the former, Deuteronomy 10:17 ; but of the Messiah, Revelation 19:16 ; who is the Prince of the kings of the earth; under whom they are, by whom they reign, and to whom they are accountable, being higher than they; as nature, so by office, Revelation 1:5 , Psalm 89:27 ; for his mercy endureth for ever ; in putting it into the hearts of kings and princes, which he has in his hands, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:4

To him who alone doeth great wonders ,.... As in the works of creation at first, having no help from angels or men; so in the works of providence, many of which are unsearchable, and past finding out, and in which he has no assistance from creatures; and in the works of grace, redemption, and salvation, which his own arm has wrought out; as well as what he did when here on earth in our nature; the miracles then wrought by his omnipotent arm alone; and even all the wonders which Moses and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 136:2

The God of gods - האדנים לאדני ladonai haadonim . As adonai signifies director, etc., it may apply here, not to idols, for God is not their god; but to the priests and spiritual rulers; as Lord of lords may apply to kings and magistrates, etc. He is God and ruler over all the rulers of the earth, whether in things sacred or civil. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 136:4

Who alone doeth great wonders - Miracles. No power but that which is almighty can work miracles, נפלאות niphlaoth , the inversion, or suspension, or destruction of the laws of nature. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 136:4

Verse 4 4.Who alone hath done great wonders Under this term he comprehends all God’s works from the least to the greatest, that he may awaken our admiration of them, for notwithstanding the signal marks of inconceivably great wisdom and divine power of God which are inscribed upon them we are apt through thoughtlessness to undervalue them. He declares that whatever is worthy of admiration is exclusively made and done by God, to teach us that we cannot transfer the smallest portion of the praise... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 136:1-26

The Divine constancy. The refrain of each verse of the psalm may supply us with a guiding thought in our treatment of it. From the first beginnings of creation (as we are affected by them) to the last hour of human experience, we have evidence of the goodness, the "mercy," of the Lord. It has endured through all generations, is with us now, will attend our race (we are sure) to the end of time. We find it— I. IS THE DIVINE PROVISION . God gave us sun, moon, and stars at the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 136:1-26

Repetitions many, but not vain. Over and over again the refrain comes, "His mercy endureth for ever." But it is never a vain repetition, unless the mind, by its heedlessness, makes it so. It is like the German piece of music which is called 'The Fremensberg,' which tells one of the old legends of the region—how "a great noble of the Middle Ages got lost in the mountains, and wandered about with his dogs in a violent storm, until at last the faint tones of a monastery-bell, calling the... read more

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