Psalm 136

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 136

The scope of this psalm is the same with that of the Ps. 135:1-21, but there is something very singular in the composition of it; for the latter half of each verse is the same, repeated throughout the psalm, ?for his mercy endureth for ever,? and yet no vain repetition. It is allowed that such burdens, or ?keepings,? as we call them, add very much to the beauty of a song, and help to make it moving and affecting; nor can any verse contain more weighty matter, or more worthy to be thus... read more

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 136:10-22

The great things God for Israel, when he first formed them into a people, and set up his kingdom among them, are here mentioned, as often elsewhere in the psalms, as instances both of the power of God and of the particular kindness he had for Israel. See Ps. 135:8 1. He brought them out of Egypt, Ps. 136:10-12. That was a mercy which endured long to them, and our redemption by Christ, which was typified by that, does indeed endure for ever, for it is an eternal redemption. Of all the plagues... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 136:23-26

God's everlasting mercy is here celebrated, 1. In the redemption of his church, Ps. 136:23, 24. In the many redemptions wrought for the Jewish church out of the hands of their oppressors (when, in the years of their servitude, their estate was very low, God remembered them, and raised them up saviours, the judges, and David, at length, by whom God gave them rest from all their enemies), but especially in the great redemption of the universal church, of which these were types, we have a great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 136 This psalm was very probably composed by David, and given to the Levites to sing every day, 1 Chronicles 16:41 . Solomon his son followed his example, and made use of them in singing at the dedication of the temple, 2 Chronicles 7:3 ; as Jehoshaphat seems to have done when he went out to war against his enemies, 2 Chronicles 20:21 . The subject of it is much the same with the preceding psalm; its composition is very singular; the half of every verse: in it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:1

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good ,.... In himself, and to all his creatures; and especially to his chosen people, who therefore should give thanks to him daily in the name of Christ, for all blessings temporal and spiritual, in faith and fervency, and in the sincerity of their souls, with their whole heart; for his mercy endureth for ever ; it is the same with his love, which is from everlasting to everlasting; and continues notwithstanding the sins of his people, the... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:5

To him that by wisdom made the heavens ,.... In such a curious manner, in such a proper and delightful situation, with such furniture, and for such uses, Proverbs 3:19 ; for his mercy endureth for ever ; which appears in the continued influences of the heaven; the dew, rain, and snow, that descend from it on the earth to water and make it fruitful, and to produce those rich and valuable blessings called the "precious things of heaven", Deuteronomy 33:13 ; and which are of the... read more

Group of Brands