Sihon king of the Amorites ,.... A strong and warlike people, and their king a great and mighty one; see Psalm 135:11 ; for his mercy endureth for ever ; since this king would not suffer Israel to go through his borders, but came out and fought against them; and had not the Lord smote him, they must have fallen a prey into his hands, Numbers 21:23 . read more
And Og the king of Bashan ,.... A country large and fruitful, and the king of it of a gigantic stature, see Psalm 135:11 ; for his mercy endureth for ever ; for this mighty king came out against Israel, and threatened their destruction, and it was of the Lord's mercies they were not consumed by him. And it may be observed, whenever tyrannical princes and oppressors are cut off, it is in mercy to the inhabitants of the earth, and especially to the people of God. read more
And gave their land for an heritage ,.... This was taken away from them and their subjects by the Lord, who has the disposing of kingdoms, and given to another people, for an inheritance; for his mercy endureth for ever ; while his justice is exercised on some, in a strict manner, with severity and rigour, his mercy is shown to others. read more
Even an heritage unto Israel his servant ,.... The land of those that served idols, the Lord took and gave to Israel for an inheritance, who served him, the true God. Thus the Lord rewards his servants in a way of grace and mercy, though not as of debt; for it follows, for his mercy endureth for ever ; Aben Ezra and Kimchi make the mercy to lie in this peculiarly, that the lands of these kings were not in the covenant with Abraham; only the seven nations or kingdoms of Canaan, which... read more
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
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
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
From Egypt to Canaan. Almost every reader of Israel's history has seen, as surely it was intended that there should be seen, the pattern and picture of the soul's journey cut of the misery and bondage of sin into the glorious liberty wherewith Christ doth make his people free. It is a long and arduous journey, but blessed are they which take it. These verses imply or state its chief stages. I. THE PREPARATION FOR THIS JOURNEY . This is not stated, but implied. We know the... read more
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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