Psalm 136:9

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 136:9

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 136:9

The moon and stare to rule by night ( Genesis 1:16 , Genesis 1:18 ). For his mercy , etc. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 136:9

The moon and stars to rule by night - Genesis 1:16.For his mercy ... - As a proof also of his benignity and mercy. By all the beauty of the moon and stars in their course through the heavens - by all that there is in the harmony and order of their movements - by all that there is to make night less hideous and fearful - by all that there is to reveal a countless number of worlds whose existence could not have been discovered but for the night - by all that there is to guide the mariner on the... 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

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

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