Psalm 136:1-9

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:6

To him that stretcheth out the earth above the waters ,.... Or, "besides the waters" F20 על המים "juxta aquas", Tirinus, Gejerus, Michaelis. , close by them, and yet secures the earth from being covered with them; see Psalm 24:2 ; for his mercy endureth for ever ; it was in mercy he caused the waters to go off the earth which first covered it; that trees, plants, and herbs, might spring up out of it, and that it might be a fit habitation for man; and though for the sins of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:7

To him that made great lights ,.... For the inhabitants of the world to walk and work by, to do all the business of life in a comfortable manner; and which is an instance of mercy and goodness; see Genesis 1:14 ; for his mercy endureth for ever ; these lights continuing for the benefit of mankind. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:8

The sun to rule by day ,.... Which is the greater light, Genesis 1:16 ; for his mercy endureth for ever : this great light, so beneficial to the earth and the inhabitants of it, which was made near six thousand years ago, still continues, and will to the end of time; enlightening the world, warming the air and earth, imparting its light and heat to all creatures on it, and influencing the earth to bring forth a variety of things for the use and delight of mankind, called "the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 136:9

The moon and stars to rule by night ,.... The lesser lights, and which indeed receive all their light Front the sun, Genesis 1:16 ; for his mercy endureth for ever ; in continuing these lights, so useful to men, as well as in making of them: the moon and stars have their benign influences upon the earth, to produce things out of it useful to men; see Deuteronomy 33:14 ; and are of singular service to benighted travellers, and to those that go down to the sea in ships; see Acts... read more

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