Psalm 136:1

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 136:1

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 136:1

O give thanks unto the Lord: for he is good - This sentiment often occurs: the goodness of the Divine nature, both as a ground of confidence and of thanksgiving. For his mercy endureth for ever - These words, which are the burden of every verse, חסדו לעולם כי ki leolam chasdo , might be translated: "For his tender mercy is to the coming age:" meaning, probably, if the Psalm be prophetic, that peculiar display of his compassion, the redemption of the world by the Lord Jesus. These... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 136:1

Verse 1 1.For his mercy, (172) etc. The insertion of this clause again and again in so many short and abrupt sentences, may seem a vain repetition, but verses repeated by way of chorus are both allowed and admired in profane poets, and why should we object to the reiteration in this instance, for which the best reasons can be shown, Men may not deny the divine goodness to be the source and Fountain of all their blessings, but the graciousness of his bounty is far from being fully and sincerely... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 136:1

Oh give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Identical with the first verse of Psalms 118:1-29 , which is probably a very ancient formula, and one used at the erection both of the first ( 2 Chronicles 5:13 ) and of the second temple ( Ezra 3:11 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 136:1

The enduring mercy. This is very evidently a psalm arranged for alternate singing in the temple service. One section of the singers gives the sentences, and the other section answers with the ever-recurring refrain of the psalm, "For his mercy endureth forever." It is a refrain which has peculiar point and interest when regarded as sung by the returned exiles in their restored temple. They felt very deeply what it was to be "monuments of God's mercy," and that sense of God's mercy to them... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 136:1-26

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 136:1-26

Does his mercy endure forever? How many voices there are that seem to deny the blessed declaration which is repeated in every verse of this psalm, and in so many other psalms and Scriptures beside! I. THE VOICE OF EARTHLY SORROW SEEMS TO DENY IT . "What!" says one, "his mercy endureth for ever? And I, once so happily placed, and to whom all life was bright, and now so utterly poor, a ruined man: how can his mercy endure forever? I cannot believe it." And here is... read more

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