Psalm 136

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 136:26

O give thanks unto the God of heaven - The God who reigns in heaven; whose home is heaven.For his mercy ... - In view of all this - of all that he does in heaven and on earth - let praise be ascribed to him. To know the measure of the praise due to him; to see how great is his “mercy,” it would be necessary to know all that he does in heaven and on earth. That will not be known here. It will constitute the theme of contemplation and praise forever and ever. Enough, however, is known here to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136

A.M. 2987. B.C. 1017. This Psalm, which, like the former, is a commemoration of the wonderful things God had done for the Jews, was called by them, The great thanksgiving. Bishop Patrick supposes it was intended to be used in their solemn festivals, and that the continual repetition of the half verse was intended to make them more sensible that they owed all they had to the divine bounty; to excite them to depend entirely on that bounty, and to rest assured that it would never fail them if... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:1

Psalms 136:1. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good “We are called upon to praise Jehovah, first for his own essential attributes; then for the exertion of those attributes in his works. The attributes here mentioned are those of goodness and power; the one renders him willing, and the other able, to save: and what can we desire more, but that he should continue to be so! Of this likewise we are assured, by contemplating the unchangeableness of his nature. His disposition altereth... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:2-3

Psalms 136:2-3. O give thanks unto the God of gods Who is infinitely superior to all that are called gods, whether angels, or princes, or idols: the God whom angels adore, from whom magistrates derive their power, and by whom all pretended deities are and shall be conquered; unto the Lord of lords The Sovereign of all sovereigns; or. as the word אדני , adoni, imports, the supporter of all supports, the stay, basis, or foundation of all creatures. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:4

Psalms 136:4. Who alone doeth great wonders He, and none else; or he, without the help of any other person, or thing: whereas no other being can do any thing alone, or without his help. “All the works of God are wonderful, and speak him alone to have been their author. The established course of the world is, in reality, no less admirable than are those extraordinary interpositions of omnipotence whereby it hath been sometimes interrupted and suspended; though the latter, on account of their... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:5-6

Psalms 136:5-6. To him that by wisdom Namely, by eminent and admirable wisdom, far exceeding the capacity of all creatures, whether human or angelical; made the heavens, that stretched out the earth “The heavens above, and the earth beneath, declare the wisdom of their great Maker, and proclaim aloud, to an intelligent ear, the divinity of the hand that formed them. The heavens display the love of God to man; the earth teaches the duty of man to God. Heaven is glorious and gracious, earth... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:7-9

Psalms 136:7-9. To him that made great lights, &c. Great luminaries, placed in the firmament of heaven, to shed their light and influences upon the earth: see notes on Genesis 1:14-16. “Light is the life and soul of the universe, the noblest emblem of the power and glory of God, who, even in the night season, leaves not himself without witness, but gives us some portion of that light reflected, which by day we behold flowing from its great fountain in the heart of heaven.” read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:10-16

Psalms 136:10-16. To him who smote Egypt, &c. “From the works of creation the psalmist proceeds to those of providence and grace; and celebrates that mercy which rescued Israel from oppression; brought them out of the house of bondage; divided the sea to make a way for them; supported and conducted them through a waste, howling wilderness; crushed the might and power of those who opposed them; and, at length, settled them in the inheritance promised to their fathers.” Two or three... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:22-25

Psalms 136:22-25. A heritage unto Israel his servant He speaks of all that people as of one man, because they were united together in one body, in the worship of one and the same God. Thus God calleth them all his firstborn, Exodus 4:22. Who giveth food to all flesh To all living creatures. For which God deserves great praises, which the palmist, by his example, teacheth us to render for them, because those who are most concerned either cannot or do not perform this duty. Observe, reader,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:1-26

Psalms 135-136 God’s choice of IsraelTwo hymns for use in Israel’s public worship appear here side by side. The first is a hymn of praise, the second a hymn of thanksgiving. The two hymns are similar in that they both recall God’s loving acts in nature and on behalf of his people Israel. These acts display God’s incomparable greatness on the one hand and show up the uselessness of the gods of the heathen on the other.A call goes out to the worshippers gathered in the temple to praise God... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 136:26

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:2-3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:5-6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:7-9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:10-16

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 136:22-25

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:1-26

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